Grading Lakers' Biggest Moves from 2022 NBA Offseason
The Los Angeles Lakers' 2022 offseason was somehow both hyperactive and perhaps quieter than expected.
Only in Hollywood, folks.
They overhauled their supporting cast and hired a new coach, but they didn't trade away Russell Westbrook or either of the future first-round picks at their disposal. Or, to put it another way, they haven't brokered any blockbuster deals yet.
Still, they made several moves, so let's put the biggest ones under the microscope and assign a letter grade assessing their value and impact.
Hiring Darvin Ham
It's hard to evaluate a coach without seeing their team in action, particularly for a first-timer like Darvin Ham. Still, there are reasons to feel bullish about Frank Vogel's replacement.
For starters, Ham brings championship experience to L.A. As a player, he won a title with the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons. As an assistant coach, he added another ring to his collection with the 2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks. Considering that every club with LeBron James on the roster will be graded on the championship-or-bust scale, at least Ham has intimate knowledge of what it takes to make a title trek.
Second, the Lakers' willingness to hire someone without head coaching experience could pay dividends. There is risk, of course, but also plenty of upside, and his playing background may allow him to more easily connect with his players, which perhaps gives him the best chance of anyone to solve the Westbrook dilemma.
Finally, Ham appears to be pushing all the right buttons out of the gate. He recently met with LeBron James and seemingly struck the right chords by preaching the importance of accountability and detailing plans to run the offense through Anthony Davis, per Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes. This may guarantee nothing, but at least things are off to a promising start.
Grade: B-
Signing Lonnie Walker IV
Lonnie Walker IV was the only external addition to score more than minimum money. Clearly, the Lakers think they can help him right the ship the way they did with Malik Monk last season.
Walker presents a similar profile. The former first-round pick is loaded with natural ability but has yet to translate it into consistent, efficient production. Over four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, he shot just 41.4 percent overall and 34.3 percent from distance while not putting much of a gap between his assists (1.6) and turnovers (0.9).
He has the athleticism, shake and shooting stroke to be so much more. Hopefully, having shot-creators like James, Davis and Westbrook around will grant Walker cleaner looks at the basket. It'd be even better if a lightened load on offense upped his activity level on defense.
The primary downside is that Walker's contract only spans a single season, so even if the Lakers help him find his footing, they could watch him walk out the door next summer (like Monk did this year). Still, given the ticking clock attached to James, L.A. could get significant mileage out of a productive campaign by Walker.
Grade: B
Reuniting with Thomas Bryant
Thomas Bryant broke into the NBA with the Lakers, though his career didn't take off until he latched on with the Washington Wizards as a sophomore.
His four seasons in the District highlighted how he can make a difference at this level. At least, they trended that direction before a torn ACL disrupted his last two seasons. He has only made 37 appearances since the start of 2020-21, and he looked notably (and understandably) rusty upon his January return.
The idea of Bryant is enticing. His 6'10", 248-pound frame is built for the low post, but he's a smooth enough shooter to step away from it. He also has enough bounce to finish point-blank chances, so the Lakers should be able to utilize him as a ball-screener in both pick-and-pop and pick-and-roll plays.
He has his warts, though, including that injury history and some deficiencies on defense. Considering he's only on a minimum contract, though, the rewards outweigh the risks by a good margin.
Grade: B+