Are the Lakers done being an "elite" Franchise?

[Hook_Em]

First of all, stop giving me that look..

Secondly, they're historically the best franchise in NBA history but I'm talking about on-the-court results for the next decade plus...

But, for the last 33 years the Lakers have had a franchise player from their rookie seasons for 28 of them in Kobe and Magic. Bryant, while still a great player is aging and I don't see him playing into his late-40's with all the wear and tear. He's played over 51,000 minutes between the regular/postseason.

On to the current situation:

- Kobe, Nash, Pau and Peace are 32+
- Dwight has been a disappointment and will probably leave this summer
- Mike D'Antoni is a mediocre coach and they can't fire him because they're still paying Mike Brown
- Buss JR is running the organization and he's come under criticism
- Going forward they're not the best team in their own arena

Counter-argument is everyone said the Lakers would never be the same after Magic retired and Shaq was traded to Miami and they've gone thru 2 dynasties since then. So, will the Lakers be a mediocre team for the next decade-plus or will they find some way to get Lebron/Irving/Love like they always do...?

[doozyj]

No.

[JesusHCoxMd]

All I know Lakers fans aren't as loud on General Boards no more.

[TwentyOne920]

They'll continue to be in the lull until they can entice the best big man in the league to play for them.

[Draper]

All I know Lakers fans aren't as loud on General Boards no more.

That's because most of those 'loud' fans are frontrunners who have probably stopped watching games.

[Optms]

Classic fan knee jerk reaction. All because the Lakers are having a bad year must mean we must question whether they'll lose grip of being the most dominant franchise in the sport from here on out.

[RunSunRun]

Short answer : No

Long Answer : They'll always be the premiere franchise with a huge fanbase and tons of history, that simply doesn't disappear if they suck for a few years. We may see a similar situation as to what the Lakers faced in the 90s. Once Kobe retires that is, they might experience a few years of non-competitive play.

Honestly though, its just a matter of time till they get the next big thing. I'd say its pretty inevitable and I hate the effing Lakers,

[uzy]

Nope. They'll find a way to reload like always. We just don't know when it'll happen.

[Brovva Blaqq]

In the offseason they were praised as the best franchise in the NBA, just because of landing old man Nash and drama-queen Howard.

They will do good in the future, especially with the financial power they have...

[sprint2thecup]

i don't see them really competing in the foreseeable future.

[nikomCH]

Naive kids will believe that, but the Lakers will never be irrelevant for too long.

[Sinant]

To be honest, current team aside, it depends A LOT on the ownership situation. If the current owner is as bad as reports make him seem, they could be in trouble.

Obviously the Lakers will always play with a stacked hand, but if their owner is an idiot who folds every time or calls everybody's bluffs, a great hand can be blown.

The one thing that can screw up any franchise is a terrible owner. Look what Dolan's done to a gigantic market with tons of draw in New York.

[Bskey]

Possible despite what some people want to believe, I wouldn't bet on it though.

[Winsome Gerbil]

6 months after acquiring multiple HOFers and putting together a team many were calling the best in the league, it doesn't work out and so now the Lakers will no longer be an elite franchise? Please.

In two years such a statement will look ridiculous as it always does with them. They are the Yankees of the NBA. They have the most money, the biggest name. The highest expectation of success. Is Kobe/this generation done being elite? Yep. Sure looks like it. But the Lakers always reload. Just being the Lakers gives them a huge and frankly unfair advantage. They'll steal somebody else's superstar, which is a one way street that only favors the Lakers (the smaller team could never steal the Lakers' guy). They'll pull off an unbalanced trade depending on their ability to ignore the luxury cap to resign somebody. And sooner or later, and its normally sooner, there they'll be again.

[DRose4MVP]

All I know Lakers fans aren't as loud on General Boards no more.

That's because most of those 'loud' fans are frontrunners who have probably stopped watching games.

BAM! That's the truth right there.