The Los Angeles Lakers have assembled a squad for the ages going into next season. In an effort to bolster their chances at an NBA championship next season, the Lakers revamped almost their entire roster.
For the most part, the Lakers have targeted veteran players on minimum contracts in order to accommodate the large salaries of players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook.
But despite their reliance on minimum contract players, the Lakers have not sacrificed on quality of players. This offseason, the Lakers signed Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo, DeAndre Jordan, Trevor Ariza, Wayne Ellington, and Kent Bazemore.
The Lakers have one of the oldest squads in NBA history, with only 4 players on the roster being below the age of 30. In fact, the Lakers are just 0.4 years older than the historic 97-98 Chicago Bulls that won the NBA championship.
Many fans have wondered whether this over-reliance on veterans could cost them. As players get older, their level of play drops, and they become more susceptible to injuries on a regular basis.
But the Lakers aren’t worried about this. In fact, Carmelo Anthony believes their veteran presence will work to their advantage.
In a recent interview with Stephen A. Smith, Melo noted that they are a very old team, but the amount of experience they have outmatches any other team’s in the NBA today, and that could become a big tool as the season goes on.
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“That’s a fact. Ain’t nobody saying nothing that isn’t a fact. We old as hell… But I just think what we all bring to the table is a wisdom that a lot of people don’t have. The way we’re going to be able to come together, hold each other accountable, have each other’s backs. We have the most knowledge on this one team than the whole NBA. So if we can’t put something together and make that work, that’s on us. That’s something I’m looking forward to, we all talked about it, all discussed it. We know what’s at stake, we’re going to have fun with this journey…”
These players have shown that despite their age, they can still be reliable contributors on an ambitious NBA franchise. The Lakers haven’t neglected youth, as they re-signed Talen Horton-Tucker, and recruited Kendrick Nunn and Malik Monk to team-friendly deals for the next season.
If the Lakers can develop good chemistry with the roster they have, there is no doubt that they will be one of the favorites to win the NBA championship next season.
