With Steve Nash injured and Pau Gasol the only viable star on the team, the Lakers need to embrace this year’s losing record and do it with style.
Kobe Bryant is a warrior who would cringe at the thought of tanking games or taking time off like Derrick Rose has, but Bryant would be better placed for another championship or two if he were to find some way out of playing this season.
With teams like Phoenix and Philadelphia who look like they are Wiggins out for the next draft lottery, the Lakers should take a play out of the Admiral’s play book and look to the lottery for their best win this year. Not only will they be able to draft the next superstar in the making, they will give Bryant someone that he can play beside in the twilight of his career.
The Spurs were the third worst team in the league when they drafted Duncan. The next year, they made the largest jump in wins in team history from one season to the next. That is a record Bryant might like to take a run at next season.