After ending the 2013-14 season with their fewest wins since 1959-60, the Lakers had their work cut out for them this summer. While the current team might not be the star-studded lineup fans are used to, the Lakers have acquired some interesting pieces since last season ended - we've graded their recent moves based on how much they can help the franchise now and in the coming years.
APRIL 30: Fired Head Coach Mike D'Antoni
While we wouldn't give hiring D'Antoni in the first place high marks, this was the right move and long overdue. A
JUNE 26: Drafted PF Julius Randle with the 7th overall pick
Randle was the best player on the board as well as the best fit for the Lakers. A high-potential player who can also contribute right away, scouts see Randle developing into a more offensively-skilled version of Zach Randolph. You can't even nitpick this one. A
JUNE 26: Traded cash considerations to the Washington Wizards for 46th overall pick Jordan Clarkson
Clarkson, a wiry combo guard out of Mizzou, adds depth at the guard position. After impressing coaches with his work ethic, Clarkson has a strong chance at making the final roster - he might not be a future superstar, but opportunities to pick up a solid role player for cash don't come often. B+
JULY 13: Traded rights to PF/C Sergei Lishouk for PG Jeremy Lin, a 2015 first-round pick and a 2015 second-round pick.
Even if Lin can't get back to his Linsanity form in Los Angeles, this trade was a massive win. Lin's contract isn't a major concern for the Lakers, and they gave up virtually nothing (at this point, it'll be a major surprise if Lishouk ever sees NBA minutes) to get a starting point guard and two draft picks. A
JULY 17: Claimed PF Carlos Boozer on waivers
Boozer's best days might be behind him, but there isn't a whole lot of downside here. Boozer's contract expires at the end of the season, and he can help mentor Julius Randle while providing some badly-needed size, rebounding, and grit. B
JULY 18: Waived PG Kendall Marshall
Marshall was considered surplus to requirements after the Lakers traded for Jeremy Lin, but the team could have kept him around and brought him off the bench for less money than they eventually signed Ronnie Price for. C-
JULY 21: Re-signed Free Agent SG/SF Nick Young
Swaggy P was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal season. A fan favorite, he proved his worth as an efficient scorer off the bench, and at 29, he's likely peaking now. His new contract runs for four years and pays him about $5 million a season. B+
JULY 23: Re-signed Free Agent PF/C Jordan Hill
Hill is an incredibly efficient rebounder who never really got a chance in Mike D'Antoni's system. With 17.1 rebounds per 48 minutes last year (good for 7th in the NBA), look for Hill's role to expand significantly under Byron Scott. A-
JULY 23: Signed Free Agent PF/C Ed Davis
Davis has never lived up to the potential he showed at North Carolina, and his this might be his last chance to impress in the NBA after failing to catch on in Toronto and Memphis. While the Lakers badly need frontcourt depth, it's unlikely Davis is the answer. C-
JULY 25: Re-signed Free Agent SG Xavier Henry
It's hard to believe that Henry, entering his fifth NBA season, is just 23 years old. While injuries have severely hampered his development, he's still the same player that had scouts raving at Kansas, and with a one-year deal that pays him just over $1 million a year, the Lakers can afford to see if he makes good on that potential. B+
JULY 28: Re-signed Free Agent SF Wesley Johnson
Johnson is another player with potential signed to a one-year contract, and his versatility alone makes him worth the money (just north of $4 million). B
JULY 28: Hired Head Coach Byron Scott
Scott wasn't the marquee name some fans were hoping for, and his 416-521 overall record doesn't exactly jump off the page. Still, the lack of home-run hires available meant that Mitch Kupchak & co. had to hire the best fit they could find, and a Kobe-endorsed former Laker certainly fit the bill. B
SEPTEMBER 16: Named Paul Pressey, Jim Eyen and Mark Madsen assistant coaches, named Clay Moser assistant coach and head advance NBA scout
Byron Scott's staff gets high marks - Moser is one of the league's best talent evaluators, and former Laker favorite Madsen has been touted as a coaching prospect on the rise. Pressey and Eyen are both highly-regarded veteran assistants. A
SEPTEMBER 22: Signed Free Agent SG Wayne Ellington
Ellington, a journeyman shooting guard who couldn't cut it in Minnesota, Memphis or Post-Lebron Cleveland, is unlikely to see more than garbage time. It doesn't help that the Lakers already had plenty of guard depth when they signed him. C-
SEPTEMBER 23: Signed Free Agents Keith Appling, Jabari Brown, Roscoe Smith and Jeremy Tyler
Mostly camp filler, these signings gave the Lakers the chance to take a longer look at a few young players who had caught their eye. Jeremy Tyler is the only name here who wasn't an undrafted class of 2014 rookie, and he's the only one here with a realistic chance of making the final roster. B
SEPTEMBER 24: Signed Free Agent PG Ronnie Price
Price has somehow managed to play nine NBA seasons without ever averaging more than 15 minutes per game. His most notable Laker moment will probably be throwing his shoe at Golden State Warriors SF Andre Iguodala to stop a fast break during a preseason loss. D
OVERALL GRADE: B+/A-
Since we aren't grading the Lakers front office on how they wound up in their current situation (they wouldn't score highly), we have to give them credit for making the most of what they currently have available. This 2014-15 team will struggle to make the playoffs in the brutal Western Conference, but they've managed to improve while still looking to the the future.
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