Los Angeles
Lakers

Lakers Team Report

Updated: May 27, 2012 05:34 EST

The Lakers are getting used to disappointment.

One year after failing to earn a third consecutive NBA title under Phil Jackson, the Lakers again failed to advance beyond the playoffs' second round.

Their faith in their talents wasn't really shaken, but it remains to be seen if the roster does get shaken up now.

"Definitely underachieved," Lakers forward Metta World Peace said. "The best team in the NBA lost in five (games to Oklahoma City)."

Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and World Peace are all under contract for next season if Bynum's team option is exercised, as expected. However, the Lakers' weaknesses with regard to team speed and perimeter scoring punch have been made clear.

Gasol is a candidate to be traded, but it remains to be seen whether the Lakers bring back point guard Ramon Sessions, who can opt out of his contract and explore free agency.

Bryant stated confidence in Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak to figure out what is the best next step for the team to return to the NBA's elite. Bryant pointed to the San Antonio Spurs as the model for a team that can retool while staying a contender.

"It's kind of unfamiliar territory; I'm really not used to it," Bryant said. "It's pretty odd for me. I'm not the most patient of people and the organization's not extremely patient either. We want to win and win now."

SEASON HIGHLIGHT: The Lakers generated conversation about themselves as a championship contender again by showing impressive grit and winning while Kobe Bryant sat out late in the regular season with a sore left shin. The Lakers won at San Antonio 98-84 on April 11 to improve to 37-22 on the season. Bryant was widely acclaimed for being stellar as "Coach Kobe" in advising teammates, and the Lakers showed flashes of recapturing the early-season intensity on defense that coach Mike Brown demanded with the playoffs nearing.

TURNING POINT: With a 3-1 lead in their first-round series against an inexperienced Denver team, the Lakers lost Game 5 at home on May 8 by a 102-99 score. The Lakers missed suspended Metta World Peace as Andre Miller carved them up for 24 points, and JaVale McGee shined after Lakers center Andrew Bynum had suggested playoff closeout games could be easy with fast starts. The Lakers' loss set up the series to go seven games, sapped their energy and confidence and led into a disappointing second-round series with Oklahoma City.

--Although the Lakers' recent playoff runs have been short, they remain a fixture in the NBA postseason. This season featured the Lakers winning their fifth straight Pacific Division title (23rd overall). The playoff berth marked the Lakers 59th postseason appearance in 64 NBA seasons -- as well as their 31st playoff berth in 33 seasons since Jerry Buss purchased the team prior to the 1979-80 season.

--One thing the Lakers can look forward to in trying to be optimistic for next season is that coach Mike Brown will get a full training camp to teach and preach about his defense-first principles. Many players pointed to the limited lead-in to the lockout-shortened season, along with a lack of practice time in the compressed schedule, in explaining the Lakers' struggles at times. Said Josh McRoberts, the team's main free-agent signing: "Finding a comfort level this year was a little bit tough on everybody with a shortened season and no practice, especially for a guy in my position coming into a new place where you don't really have time to prove yourself in training camp."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Obviously I want to be a Laker, but you never know what is going to happen." -- Andrew Bynum on his future.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Kobe Bryant finished fourth in balloting for NBA MVP for the second consecutive year. He led the NBA in scoring most of the season before being edged by Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant for the title. Bryant showed he is still potent at age 33 by averaging 30 points in the playoffs. Andrew Bynum replaced Pau Gasol as the Lakers' second All-Star, but Bryant was the Lakers' main weapon even more this season despite an early-season wrist injury.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Pau Gasol didn't make the All-Star team and came up small in key playoff losses. He faced considerable challenges this season after being included in the Lakers' aborted trade for Chris Paul, but Gasol didn't find a consistent role outside of the now-gone triangle offense with Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum often dominating the ball in the post. Gasol was asked repeatedly in the postseason by Lakers coach Mike Brown to be more aggressive.

BIGGEST NEEDS: The Lakers want to get more easy baskets and keep up better with the NBA's faster teams. Having Ramon Sessions, who can opt out of his contract, back would change the team's dynamic. But the Lakers would like their bench to have more speed and dependability.

FREE-AGENT FOCUS: The Lakers are more likely to change their roster via trade than free agency, where they can only offer an estimated $3 million mini mid-level salary-cap exception. But point guard is a point of emphasis. If Ramon Sessions opts out of his contract and doesn't re-sign, the Lakers will be left at point guard with journeyman Steve Blake. Rookie point guard Darius Morris is also a restricted free agent, as is Devin Ebanks. Jordan Hill, Matt Barnes and Troy Murphy are unrestricted free agents, and it's possible none will be back.

PLAYER NOTES:

--G Kobe Bryant is running out of Lakers records to break, but he fell short of one this season. He remains two steals shy of Magic Johnson's franchise record of 1,724. Bryant was NBA All-Defensive second team this season and has in the past been more of a defensive player than top scorer in international play, and he is scheduled to help lead Team USA in the 2012 Olympics in London.

--C Andrew Bynum said he intends to return next season a better player, even though he made his first All-Star team this season. Bynum is looking forward to another full offseason to train instead of rehab injuries. He said he can improve his face-up jump shot and turnaround jump shot.

--F Metta World Peace's late-season success was offset by his seven-game NBA suspension for elbowing James Harden. But World Peace said his considerable improvement was rooted in improved health and being in better shape after a nerve problem was diagnosed in his back. World Peace said his goal is this: "I've gotta come back just how I left off."