Team Overview

Offensive:
105.9, 11th

Defensive:
101.1, 6th

Under contract:
F: Ron Artest
G: Kobe Bryant
C: Andrew Bynum
F: Pau Gasol
F: Lamar Odom
G: Sasha Vujacic
F: Luke Walton

Free agents:
G: Shannon Brown (Player option)
G: Jordan Farmar (restricted)
G: Derek Fisher (unrestricted)
C: DJ Mbenga (unrestricted)
F: Adam Morrison (restricted)
F: Josh Powell (unrestricted)

Areas of Strength:
The Lakers are a good defensive team, able to play big or small, and have several players who move the ball and can handle. It helps, naturally, to have stars to build upon, but Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol have a lot of help.

Needs work:
They have so much invested in Andrew Bynum, financially and in commitment while turning down numerous trades through the years, but no sign his body is likewise dependable.

Two Stats That Matter:
3 -- Consecutive seasons the Lakers have been in the Western Conference finals.

4 -- Consecutive seasons the Lakers have brought back at least 11 players from the previous seasons, a sign of stability in what too often appears to be an unstable locker room.

The Way To Go:
The Lakers generally don't bother much with the draft. Their offseason tinkering usually involves free agency, and this summer it won't be anything more than the mid-level exception, if that. A lot about the potential next step will depend on whether L.A. wins another championship, but Jerry Buss will probably be looking to shed salary rather than add.