Ask those who have gone far in the National Basketball Association, and they’ll tell you to a man that camaraderie counts as one of the most important factors to success. Talent is still at the top, of course, but esprit de corps counts as 1B on the list, and figures to be far more elusive. The annals of pro hoops are littered with examples of superstar-laden lineups that ended up being spectacular busts. In this regard, the job of the general manager is never-ending, fraught with obstacle after obstacle through a continual search for improvement.
Which, in a nutshell, is why the Lakers are hard-pressed to tinker with their roster. They’re compelled to tread lightly, and not just because of salary cap constraints. Not for nothing are they ruling the West two-thirds into the season: They have learned to be collectively better than the sum of their individual selves. From one to 15, they genuinely like — and pull for — each other, even off the court, as much a reflection on the leadership of LeBron James and Anthony Davis as on the willingness of the rest to subscribe to common goals.
True, the Lakers have evident weaknesses they need to address if they truly plan to meet their championship expectations. And even as they’re trying to do so, they have seemingly been thwarted by circumstances beyond their control. They were spurned by Nick Collison, who decided to stay retired. They flamed out on Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris. Meanwhile, they have kept winning, and GM Rob Pelinka has kept looking. The buyout market is open until March 1, so he has a little more time left to convince potential cogs to don purple and gold.
If plans turn to reality, the Lakers are about to get a vital three-and-D veteran who can complement a small-ball lineup with Davis at the five spot. Markieff Morris may not be the better of the twins, but his capacity to ball isn’t the question. However, his fit with the tightly knit group is. And it isn’t simply because he will be disrupting the status quo; it’s that Pelinka will have to bid goodbye to DeMarcus Cousins — hitherto unable to suit up because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but nonetheless a popular presence who brings countless intangibles to the equation — in order to make room for him.
Ideally, Morris’ acquisition should be a plus. And, for all the right reasons, the Lakers should have little to no trouble adjusting on the floor. They’ll have to deal with Cousins’ departure off it, though. Never mind his nonexistent stat line. Forget about his once-familiar sight at the end of the bench. He won’t be easy to replace. They hope to move on soonest, and how fast they do may well determine how far they ultimately go.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
