If Wes Anderson made a movie about an NBA team it'd be about the Lakers: The once great team with a proud and storied history, built around an aging star who doesn't realize how far he's fallen, an owner living in the shadow of his father, and his sister who is a better exec but cruelly made powerless (and romantic with the coach that brought them last glory but has moved on). Sounds kinda Royal Tenenbaums esque to me. My point is this: I think this is the end of Lakers dominance. Through generations the Lakers got what they wanted by having a magnetic personality in their owner, tons of money, and the ability to create bigger than life stars out of their players. Well, their owner has sadly passed away and left heirs in charge that can't match him. The new salary cap rules even the playing field and make it difficult for the Lakers to throw as much money around as they used to (and impossible when recruiting stars, since their max is less than other teams' max when factoring in state taxes). And lastly, in this internet age, geography matters less than ever. World-wide stars can play in Oklahoma and no one in China bats an eye. The only thing the Lakers still have above other teams is mystique, an allure. Fans might be drawn to it, but when stars go to meet with the Lakers brain trust, the reality is always sobering. Your worst fear won't be realized. The Lakers dynasty is over. The San Antonios, Miamis and Oklahoma Cities over the league will live to see another day, but the sun has set on the Lakers.
Litany against fear I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. Spoiler
my biggest fear is that the rockets do nothing in free agency because they're waiting on players that will not come. Aka lebron. Melo .love etc etc
