With NBA Lakers rumors 2012 swirling around how this team will co-exist, compete, and ultimately win a championship, some are questioning just how good this Los Angeles team is. It features Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, and Steve Nash as major stars along with backup stars like Pau Gasol, Antawn Jamison, and Metta World Peace. Are the Lakers along with their franchise player, a model franchise for other teams?
A new Bleacher Report article says that they should be modeled by other teams who include a "perennial franchise cornerstone," who draws in the attention of the masses, just like Kobe Bryant. The article adds that:
"Mitch Kupchak, though, has managed to keep the Lakers more than relevant for nearly 15 years. He's managed to navigate the mine field that comes with boasting a superstar like Bryant. He's appeased Kobe's ego when necessary and put him in his rightful place when the situation called for it."
The impressive stat regarding Kupchak's current franchise is that in the past 12 years, the team has appeared in fewer than 10 playoff games just three times. That spells success, as they've managed to capture multiple titles during that time. They've captured them by keeping Kobe Bryant as a part of the team, and a part of the decision-making. They've also managed to attract other big stars to the team in serious efforts to win titles. Now they're bringing in another franchise star in Dwight Howard.
Howard's former team probably feels burned right about now, but it seems the truth is they really couldn't keep their big man happy in Orlando. The Magic had a special player who they drafted years ago, but just couldn't get the right personnel to go with him. Rather than making clever trades to upgrade their roster, they really just settled for trying to draft a team around him and add some other "helpful" pieces along the way. The only time that worked was when the team gained the services of Rashard Lewis and he, along with Howard and others, made it to the NBA Finals. However, fans know the story there. They lost to a franchise pieced together and co-existing better: the LA Lakers.
Time will tell how this Lakers franchise does. Winning a championship is goal #1 for the 2012-13 season. They've got their franchise player happy as of this moment, but will it continue as the season goes on? It'll depend on how much success the team enjoys, and whether or not he feels he is contributing in his way to the championship run.
(Image Source: Wikimedia)
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