'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The LA Lakers are looking to win their second title in three seasons in the upcoming 2021-22 NBA campaign. They have made huge roster changes to make that happen in the offseason.
The Lakers acquired former MVP Russell Westbrook via trade while also managing to sign veteran free agents like Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard. In doing so, they once again had to part ways with rising young players like Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and Alex Caruso.
This isn't new for the franchise as they have gone down this road in their quest to add Anthony Davis to their squad in 2019. The move paid off as the LA Lakers won the 2020 NBA title in Davis' first season. They had to part ways with stars like Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart to make that deal happen, though.
One thing that has been common among the majority of the young players that have left the LA Lakers in the last few years is that they have flourished playing for other teams in the NBA. The likes of Lou Williams, Brandon Ingram, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle have all won individual accolades since leaving LA.
Five former LA Lakers players, including a few mentioned above, could end up winning an award in the NBA next season too. In this article, let's take a look at the five players who have a great chance of winning individual awards this season.
#5 Montrezl Harrell
Montrezl Harrell had an underwhelming stint with the LA Lakers during the 2020-21 NBA season. A lot was expected of him, especially because he had won the Sixth Man of the Year award a season before.
He averaged 13.5 points per game, five points less than what he was averaging with the LA Clippers in the 2019-2020 NBA season. Harrell did not fit well within the Lakers setup. They did not have many shooters on their roster, which meant Harrell's presence on the floor would clog the restricted area for others to attack the rim.
Harrell wasn't as efficient on the defensive end, either, due to his smaller frame compared to other bigs in the league. He eventually fell out of the LA Lakers' rotation in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Harrell will now be playing for the Washington Wizards after the Lakers packaged him in a deal to acquire Russell Westbrook.
Harrell will likely receive more playing time and opportunities as a sixth man. The Wizards struggled to find efficient scorers off the bench last season, which could see them use Harrell a lot more than the Lakers did. If the 6'8" center can find his form again, there is reason to believe that he could end up winning his second Sixth Man of the Year award in three seasons.
#4 Alex Caruso
If there is any player the LA Lakers fans were sad to see leaving this offseason, it was Alex Caruso. In his four seasons with the club, Caruso had become a fan favorite in Hollywood. His energy off the bench and the impact he had on the game on both ends of the floor played a huge role in the Lakers' championship-winning run in 2020.
Caruso's basketball intelligence was even applauded by 'King' LeBron James last season. Despite playing roughly 20 minutes per contest for the LA Lakers in the last two seasons, Caruso had a massive impact on the team's performance. He will now be playing for the Chicago Bulls, where he could receive more playing time than he did with the Lakeshow.
Caruso is likely to come off the bench to play rotation minutes for either Lonzo Ball or Zach LaVine. He could even feature in a three-guard lineup for the team. If that does happen, his scoring numbers could see a rise.
That could help him enter the conversation for the Sixth Man of the Year award next season.
#3 Kyle Kuzma
Kyle Kuzma was one of the top young prospects for the LA Lakers in his first two seasons with the team. His average dropped to roughly 12 points per game in his third and fourth season, six points less than what he was averaging in his sophomore year.
The inclusion of LeBron James and Anthony Davis complicated Kuzma's role with the squad. He failed to perform consistently because of that but did develop his all-around game in the meantime. Kuzma was traded to the Washington Wizards in the offseason as part of a trade package that saw Russell Westbrook join the LA Lakers.
Kuzma could flourish as he did in his first two seasons or even do better with the Washington Wizards in a clearer role. He has been under the wing of LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the last two seasons, which could come in handy as well.
Former LA Lakers players like Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle won the Most Improved Player of the Year award after leaving the Lakers, and there is a great chance Kuzma could replicate that kind of achievement.
#2 Jordan Clarkson
Jordan Clarkson is coming off a career-high season with the Utah Jazz. He is also the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year. Clarkson was instrumental in helping the Jazz achieve the best record in the league last season and finish atop the Western Conference standings.
He is expected to play a similar role in the 2021-22 NBA season as well. He averaged a whopping 18.4 points per contest and shot a career-best 3.1 threes per game. Clarkson's staggering production was crucial in helping him land the Sixth Man of the Year award last season. If he can replicate those numbers, it won't be a surprise to see him win the award for a second consecutive season.
#1 Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball is coming off a career-best season with the New Orleans Pelicans. He averaged 14.6 points per game and shot 37.8% from the three-point line last season on eight attempts. He joined the Chicago Bulls this offseason. The Bulls have added a plethora of stars like Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan as well, which has given them an edge to make the playoffs next season.
Ball has shown steady improvements over the last few years. With the Bulls looking like a winning team at the moment, he could do much better and end up winning the Most Improved Player of the Year award. He has the tools and a legitimate shot at making his first playoff appearance, which will only bolster his chances of winning an individual NBA award like the MIPOY.
