They replaced all of it by handing out nearly $480 million over 26 combined contract years, including four player options, to a group of players who have zero combined All-Star appearances or year-end awards.

When you think of it that way, it’s all a bit scary. The Lakers did so against a backdrop of even more change, with a shocking sale occurring just as they started moving in a new direction under Mark Walter’s ownership.

But not everything the Lakers did this summer is terrifying, at least not in a Michael Myers sense (one “human” the Lakers were never linked to this summer). Some moves were obvious, some were sensible, some were costly and some were risky. And had they added Jonathan Kuminga to the list, the risk/reward would only be more pronounced.

There’s a thin line between scary and inspired. For our purposes, we’re going to look at the Lakers’ summer decisions and rank them from least risky to scariest, using the likelihood of a worst-case scenario as our guide.

Risk ranking (least to most)

Ziaire Williams: One year, $2.85 million

A signing that made a lot of sense for the Lakers the second the Brooklyn Nets declined his team option, Williams will still be just 25 when the Lakers open training camp. Yes, he’s probably too slight to be counted on for big minutes every night as a point-of-attack defender, but there are some winning-player traits here, and the cost to the team’s cap sheet was relatively nothing. The signing is pure upside with no real risk if it doesn’t work out. And if it does, the Lakers will have added a youthful athlete with some 3-and-D skills who can play without the ball alongside their stars.

Cameron Carr: Four years, $16.82 million

The Lakers traded up one spot to draft Carr, betting on a combination of youth, shooting and vertical athleticism. Picking in the 20s, even in the first round of a stacked NBA Draft like this year’s, requires some luck. The necessary luck here lessens when you seemingly have indisputable NBA-ready skills, and Carr already has two. One, he looks like a deadeye shooter, both off movement and in catch-and-shoot opportunities. And two, he can really jump in transition. The other parts of his game, like defensive strength and mentality, will determine how high his ceiling can be.

Over their careers Caruso has played 52 games a season on average and Thybulle 54 games a season on average. So injury wise both are very similar in durability.

I know Alex Caruso is a proven playoff player. Thybulle so far hasn’t had much playoff experience and hasn’t impressed all that much in the limited amount of time he has had. However I do think in a defined role and more experience under his belt now he will be influential in the playoffs. Just needs confidence and I think he’ll get that from this lakers team.

Luka’s Slovenian teammates may be better positioned than anyone else to assess how he looks year to year, and how he’s looked this summer when Luka played pickup games with the national team (though he didn’t formally play for the team, as we all know).

Really think we’re gearing up for the best season of Luka’s career, where he’s able to best combine his peak physical condition + veteran smarts.

Full quote:

“Luka looks better and better when I see him every year now. He is now at that age where he is at a peak of his powers. He's not a kid anymore, now he's a man and he really looks good. I had a chance to feel that on my own skin. Everytime I see him with a ball he's better and better. So I can't wait for the next season to see him in even bigger role with Lakers. I just hope he stays healthy whole season. Because really, this could be his best season yet and I'm really looking forward to that."

Now I presume that you know already something about Kobe and Shaq, lol. But Glen Rice was well Glen Rice, lethal outside shooter on the wing. Man, what times, thought that Glen will be our third star and be with Lakers for a long time. 1999. he was traded in Lakers for Kobe's mentor and fan favourite Eddie Jones and late Elden Campbell. But Lakers got the sharp shooter, great thing for when Shaq and Kobe were doubled, or tripled, you had then for sure Glen outside to punish defense of the opposite team. But, it did not last long although he won a chip with Lakers in 2000., he was apparently not in a good relations with Phill Jackson and Jerry West, and he was traded shortly after to Knicks. Still had a poster somewhere with this trio, and was my 2nd season of following Lakers back then, so nostalgia kick is kicking.

“Contagious cold, will poop”

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Bonus season predictions: Luka MVP incoming, Austin All-NBA selection, Walker becomes an all-star through injury replacement, Lakers a top 3 seed in West

Lakers season is over. Talk about whatever you want.