It's fascinating to watch, the reinvention of the storied Lakers in an NBA that resembles its roots less and less by the jump shot.
The purple and gold will tinker as free agency hits stride this week, but is unlikely to commit in any major way beyond a stabilizing one-year deal or two.
The Ghost of Showtime, as the Los Angeles Times reported, is hoarding pennies for the class of 2018 and potential free-agent megastars like Paul George, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook.
No matter what the franchise looks like in a couple of years, this won't be your father's Lakers. Why? Because that's not the NBA these days. It's not Magic and Kareem, or even Kobe and Shaq.
Yesterday, the sport revolved around the fiber-and-vegetables balance of an inside-outside game. Today, shooters, shooters and more shooters dominate as defensive rules allow them to roam without fear of any Bill Laimbeer-esque front-court justice.
When the Lakers last won a title in 2010, the team shot 34.1 percent from 3-point range. Last season, 23 teams hit at that clip or higher.
When the franchise included Kareem and Shaq and, to a lesser degree, Pau Gasol, it could rely on finishers at the basket. Now, more than ever, NBA finishers are quick-wristed sharks hunting prey 24 feet away from the hoop.
Magic dissected the lane to find his shot — or uncork a bullet pass to a cutting Kareem or James Worthy. Golden State's Steph Curry runs a defender through three screens and pulls up from deep with a hand in his face.
Of the Lakers' 10 championship seasons dating to the birth of the 3-point shot, the team finished 13th or lower at converting those shots in all but one — dropping to dead last in 1982. In 2010, they end up 23rd. The title-winning season before that, 19th. In 2001, 20th. In 2000, 24th.
Long-range shooting — and volume shooting — rules the day.
Four of the five best records in the NBA last season came from teams that attempted the most 3-pointers. Fire-happy Houston built the third-best record, while Cleveland (tied for the fifth-most victories), Boston (fourth) and Golden State (first) shot themselves to prosperity.
The Lakers? Nineteenth.
So what's that mean to this under-construction bunch playing for San Diego's Luke Walton? For one, snapping up UCLA's Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 overall pick signals a smart start. He splashed 41.2 percent of his 3-point shots, despite setting the Bruins' single-season assist record under the weight of running the offense.
Like Magic, he can pass. Like Magic, he can score. Unlike Magic, he's a fearless long-range shooter.
Does that blink-and-miss-it release remind you of anyone? That's Curry.
Peek ahead to 2018 and what could materialize begins to take shape. George hit 39.3 percent of his 3s last season, Westbrook recorded the 11th-most 3s in the league and James can score from anywhere.
Plodding is out. Jacking it up is in. Hey, Phil Jackson: How did that triangle offense work out for the Knicks?
Look at the players who attempted the most 3-pointers last season. Curry was first, while teammate Klay Thompson sat just three spots down the list. Houston, with the third most victories, owned No. 2 (James Harden), No. 3 (Eric Gordon) and No. 9 (Trevor Ariza). Boston, which won 53 games a season ago and is the most obvious up-and-comer in the East, parked Isaiah Thomas at No. 5.
The Lakers, for context, barely placed someone in the Top 20 (Nick Young, T-20).
Remember your old coaches yelling at you to box out? Rebounding is far less of an indicator of success in the modern game than ever before. Among the NBA's winningest teams — Golden State, San Antonio, Houston, Boston and Cleveland — none finished among the Top 6 in rebounding margin.
Only one team among that statistic's Top 6, Oklahoma City, managed to put together a winning regular-season record.
It's all about shooters.
When the Warriors added Kevin Durant, the team became un-guardable. Toss a 7-footer who can handle the ball and hit 37.5 percent of his 3s into a lineup with Curry and Thompson and the matchups became a Mensa test.
The Lakers should be in the market for at least two more proven long-range hammers. The two most interesting players could be available via the draft, if the Lakers can acquire a high pick through a trade: Real Madrid forward Luka Doncic and Missouri's Michael Porter Jr., a 6-10 freshman who's amazingly comfortable around the 3-point line.
Stir that type of player with a big-name free agent and a more experienced Ball and you're dabbling in a formula that could end an unprecedented, four-year playoff drought.
The NBA is more interesting when the Lakers are relevant.
Now that they've picked up Ball, there's a chance for that to happen more quickly in an NBA that values the long view.
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