Do we have a Superstar ?

XXBKXX · Post #1 » by **XXBKXX** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 1:57 am

Do you guys feel one of these kids will be a superstar/franchise player? My fear is we have had three high picks in the the last three years and we still don't have a future franchise cornerstone player. We have drafted well but im not sure we hit one out of the park yet. I know it's still early but I think we got a group of good players/borderline all Stars. But no real superstar.

Don't think DLo has the tools to be a superstar player. At best hes Eric Gordon or poor man's Joe Johnson. His lack of explosiveness and quickness is holding him back. I think we can all agree that Porzingis was the correct pick.

Julius was the best pick at seven the year before. I'm glad we got him instead of Smart. But don't think he's someone you build a franchise around. Clarkson and Nance were good finds but they have a low ceiling. I'm hoping Ingram puts it together and becomes that star for us. I am concerned with his personality though. He seems to be too passive and just settles for set shots. He's more stiff than I thought and I watched a lot of Duke games. I want to see him use his athleticism and length more. He rarely attacks the rim and takes two steps and dunks the ball (off one leg). He needs to be more explosive because This team needs an athletic wing badly. Wiggins/PG13/Westbrook all eat us up when they play us.

Thoughts??

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dAdo dA dEvil · Post #2 » by **dAdo dA dEvil** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 4:08 am

I'm betting on Ingram. At this point he is showing he can play good D and make good decisions whenever he has the ball. He has the length and I thinks he has the ability to play all positions once his body fills up. Gotta wait a couple of years more though.

ALL HAIL · Post #3 » by **ALL HAIL** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 4:39 am

The short answer is no, but Randle comes the closest to having the attitude/drive plus ability of a star.

The reality is the Lakers don't need a star. They just need to be good enough and play with enough fire to make it attractive for a star to come here.

hazy_01 · Post #4 » by **hazy_01** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 4:54 am

Has to be Ingram (when he gets stronger). Plays D, has some handles, play-make and can shoot from anywhere but right now he's too weak to drive in or post up. With his length added to that, he will be extremely hard to stop.

Landsberger · Post #5 » by **Landsberger** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 5:20 am

Superstar?... no. I separate stars and Superstars. There are stars (Harden, Westbrook, Melo, Howard etc.) and there are true superstars of which there is only one or two of at any given time. Right now there is James in that category and maybe one or two others that are close.

I don't see anyone that fits that criteria on our roster. To be fair, in the last 3 drafts there have been no true stars emerge. Ingram has the 2 way tools to do it but needs a lot of growth. Randle will be a very good player but he may never be consistent enough to be a true star. Same for Russell.

No one has the instinct combined with the talent to dominate games and force their will on the opponent. A lot of good parts in place however if we can attract that guy with the killer instinct and talent to go with it.

One Love · Post #6 » by **One Love** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 6:05 am

Ingram, D Lo & Randle aren't All Stars & will most likely come up short... Ingram has the most tools & Randle has the biggest heart... If Ingram can become a Scottie Pippen type player we will be fine... Porzingis has more upside but Ingram & Randle were solid picks... Outside of Ingram, Zubac, who could be the next Marc Gasol, may have the best shot... Our next superstar or star is not wearing purple & gold right now...

Lakeshow Baby...

moonpie · Post #7 » by **moonpie** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 7:52 am

Not at the moment, but I'm willing to bet our current crop of youngsters will produce a couple at the very least

ArC_man · Post #8 » by **ArC_man** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 7:56 am

We had one but we cut him.

larry14r · Post #9 » by **larry14r** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 4:58 pm

I think the Lakers have done a great job in bringing in the coach (Luke), and supporting cast(Russell, Ingram, Randle, Clarkson, Nance, and Zubac) to lure a big name in 2018. They just need to put it together and continue on with the process properly.

Post #10 » by **Kilroy** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 7:27 pm

I've said it before and I'll repeat it... This will be Ingram's team in a year or 2 at the most... He'll be our star player but as to whether or not he'll be a super-star, that depends on a lot of things coming together that I don't think we can project right now.

Randle's going to be a perennial all-star, but I'm not sure he'll reach super star status....

Russell is on the fence right now... He has the skills to be an all star at least, but I'm not sure if he has the athleticism to take it to the Super Star level at his position.... And I worry about him needing platlet therapy... That's usually what you do when you're getting low on cartilage from my understanding, and if that's the case, he's pretty young for that. And I'm not sure he has the determination it requires to get to that elite level. All the pieces are there, he just needs to want it enough basically, and I haven't seen that...

Nance and Clarkson I think are both potential 6moy players... I could see them fighting over that award for years...

All that said, I'm not sure any of these guys are MJ Kobe, Magic, Kareem level super stars... Ingram may be on the KD tract but time will tell if he reaches that...

The short story is, we have the pieces to be an elite TEAM like the 07-12 Celtics or the KD/Westbrook/Beard Thunder, or even the current Clippers... None of those teams had that top tier Superstar (Anymore/yet/or whatever)... And maybe even the GSW model with the exception of maybe not having as good a "Curry" or "KD" but with maybe a better "Green."
We need to find a way to keep these guys together and playing for each other while adding a bit here and there until that legit Superstar shows up.
If we can do that, I think we'll be in the playoff picture every season and maybe just a player away from the championship.

BEazy · Post #11 » by **BEazy** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 7:40 pm

I believe Ingram and Randle will be our future superstars. Dlo and JC will be the sidekicks.

Hope I'm wrong and all 4 of them become special. Can't forget about Zubac. He has the tools to become special also.

Tiesto_Lakers · Post #12 » by **Tiesto_Lakers** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 7:44 pm

Right now, Sweet Lou is the closest thing to a superstar on this team.

All jokes aside, I put my money on Ingram and Randle to eventually become stars one day. They both have the tools.

john248 · Post #13 » by **john248** » Sat Nov 26, 2016 3:38 am

Russell and Ingram would be the best bets. I don't see Randle being on the same level as someone like Blake Griffin. Russell and Ingram will be at least at an all-star level. Superstars? Not sure depending on how you define that. If you define super star as a transcendent talent like Kobe was, then I don't think either gets there. But a player who's between that and an all-star level player, sure, Russell and Ingram could be as good as someone like Paul George.

Mirjalovic · Post #14 » by **Mirjalovic** » Sat Nov 26, 2016 3:54 am

Brandon Ingram
Julius Randle
Dangelo Russell

Princeinrevolt · Post #15 » by **Princeinrevolt** » Sat Nov 26, 2016 8:29 am

Honestly, you can't answer that question, because we don't know, and we can't know... Based on the body, Ingram has the best chance, but to me Russell, and Randle both have a good case to make... We should really try to attract a star in free agency, and continue to develope our young players, in two to three years, we'll be unstoppable

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yitur · Post #16 » by **yitur** » Sat Nov 26, 2016 3:34 pm

Randle showed he can be a 18-10-5 guy which I thought he wouldn't show this early and in this season. When he starts rotating consistently he will be a great star/glue-guy. Russell is the shooter/1st playmaker of our team and Ingram will be the second all arounder that can rebound, push the break, score in different ways. Now we need to find a lockdown perimeter defender next to Russell who can shoot respectably from outside. Going forward Clarkson looks to be the 6th man of this team, scoring quick buckets when we need to. I don't know if Zubac can become one but we need a big rim protecter that can slide his feet and has a good understanding of angles and rotations. Lets say Zubac is that big.

Zubac
Randle
Ingram
X
Russell with Clarkson-Nance-Black coming off the bench is our core guys so far.

I got a little off topic but yeah I think Russell-Ingram-Randle will be the big 3 that fits perfectly with each other going forward.

myersia · Post #17 » by **myersia** » Sat Nov 26, 2016 3:57 pm

You know I kind of feel bad for Russell. If their is anyone who is affected or pressured by the void left by Kobe it's him. Russell wanted to be the man bad and it was obvious after Kobe left through his interviews declaring the team his team. But I think he is overwhelmed now because he wants to be the star Kobe was. However I think he is insecure because he knows he will never be Kobe. If Russell would just settle down and look to run the offense and be aggressive when needed it would help him. But we can't forget he's only in his second year.

Moving on to the thread I don't believe we have a superstar which is not an issue now. Obviously in the future we will need to focus on acquiring one in free agency or trade. But I think we have some really good role players. Ingram has the potential to be pippen-lite. I don't think he will be Durant as Durant is way more of a scorer while Ingram is a all around playmaker. Randle will likely be a Zach Randolph-Lamar Odom hybrid. I don't think Clarkson can get much better and will likely be the one most likely traded at some point in a few years. Nance is our glue guy and appears to be Shawn Marion like. I think we need a vet pg. Russell is a sg. I had a dream we randomily signed Chris Paul next year. A vet pg like him or someone who is not injury prone would be great. I think you can compare us to the suns before Nash. Obviously Russell is not as great as Marbury and Randle isn't amare but it's similar. I think we need that vet pg who can lead us and slow us down in crunch time.

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Landsberger · Post #18 » by **Landsberger** » Sat Nov 26, 2016 9:02 pm

I think the next superstar (not star but superstar) for the Lakers is probably not in the league right now. It took the team 6 years post Magic to get Shaq and we also got a kid named Kobe at that time too. That was very fortunate. That kind of thing doesn't just happen because you want it to.

I actually see this team a lot like the early 90's team. That team of young talent that Laker fans loved was basically turned over to get to the next title shot. Granted those teams were deeper and several of those players were much farther along than our group now but in a couple years we may have the pieces matured enough to get the next great team here.

As for the current group. I've said this before.... I'm not sure more than one or two will be on the next really great team we have. We've done well in getting assets that have value..... that's the first step.

RingsDontLie · Post #19 » by **RingsDontLie** » Sun Nov 27, 2016 5:28 am

Ingram can definitely be that guy. His height and length, and handles are amazing right now. But he just can't seem to shoot the ball well. Notice how teams put their best defender on him. He is still acclimating to playing with grown nba players.

miggs · Post #20 » by **miggs** » Sun Nov 27, 2016 5:52 am

Kilroy wrote:I've said it before and I'll repeat it... This will be Ingram's team in a year or 2 at the most... He'll be our star player but as to whether or not he'll be a super-star, that depends on a lot of things coming together that I don't think we can project right now.

Randle's going to be a perennial all-star, but I'm not sure he'll reach super star status....

Russell is on the fence right now... He has the skills to be an all star at least, but I'm not sure if he has the athleticism to take it to the Super Star level at his position.... And I worry about him needing platlet therapy... That's usually what you do when you're getting low on cartilage from my understanding, and if that's the case, he's pretty young for that. And I'm not sure he has the determination it requires to get to that elite level. All the pieces are there, he just needs to want it enough basically, and I haven't seen that...

Nance and Clarkson I think are both potential 6moy players... I could see them fighting over that award for years...

All that said, I'm not sure any of these guys are MJ Kobe, Magic, Kareem level super stars... Ingram may be on the KD tract but time will tell if he reaches that...

The short story is, we have the pieces to be an elite TEAM like the 07-12 Celtics or the KD/Westbrook/Beard Thunder, or even the current Clippers... None of those teams had that top tier Superstar (Anymore/yet/or whatever)... And maybe even the GSW model with the exception of maybe not having as good a "Curry" or "KD" but with maybe a better "Green."
We need to find a way to keep these guys together and playing for each other while adding a bit here and there until that legit Superstar shows up.
If we can do that, I think we'll be in the playoff picture every season and maybe just a player away from the championship.

Agree 100% with this.

To me, the star of our team is Luke. Our best chance to win every game comes from the system & culture he brings and how it'll attract upcoming stars.

I hope we avoid big signings for this upcoming summer and focus on keeping our guys to let them grow along with Luke so hopefully Young opts in.

If you can get Willie Cauley-Stein or Nerlens Noel for any combo of... Lou, Black, Young or Calderon then you do it. Otherwise, just wait and acquire via FA.

If we miss the playoffs, we have the super long shot of getting lucky and getting a top 3 pick, some team's due to jump big soon lol

2018
- Paul George (PO)
- DeMarcus Cousins [not too interested]
- Nerlens Noel [should he do a QO in '17]

I'd love to just let this team simmer until the 2018 summer, by then I'm confident we'll be a playoff team, if not this year, which we have a window. The best FA classes for us to strike are the 2018 - 2020 summers.

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