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Los Angeles Lakers
Overall: 109
Title track: 29
Ownership: 73
Coaching: 72
Players: 109
Fan relations: 112
Affordability: 116
Stadium experience: 80
Bang for the buck: 120
Change from last year: -8
Coming off their worst season in franchise history and after missing the playoffs three straight seasons, is it any wonder the rebuilding Lakers continue their Ultimate Standings slide? The (somewhat) bright side: Kobe Bryant and Byron Scott are out, which gives Luke Walton and the Lakers' kids a chance to start anew.
What's good
The Lakers boast the most wins in NBA history and the second-most titles (16). With their Hollywood allure and deep pockets, history has shown that this franchise is always one big move from greatness, so the title track remains strong (29 overall). Fans are hoping those big moves might have already happened: The team's all-under-24 core, headlined by Brandon Ingram and D'Angelo Russell -- the past two No. 2 overall picks - offers hope. But the Lakers will still get crushed most nights, especially in the merciless Western Conference. The good, old days grow ever distant. For now, fans can count on another draft lottery appearance -- the team's fourth straight.
What's bad
Bryant and his two-year deal for $48 million are out the door, but beyond the unproven potential of fledgling talent (with a 109th-place ranking in players, fans clearly aren't convinced), there isn't much to be excited about on the court. With Bryant departed, the Lakers' bang for the buck ranking fell to last among NBA teams and third-worst overall. Even if the Mamba wasn't always his old self, he was appointment viewing (reference: his 60-point finale). The Lakers' tickets remain pricey -- an average $103 a ticket, cheaper only than the Knicks -- so their affordability is also quickly approaching rock-bottom.
What's new
The Lakers lost a franchise-worst 61 games in Byron Scott's first season, then lost four more than that in his second. Along the way, his old-school rhetoric -- such as lambasting the deluge of 3-pointers -- and penchant for roasting young players wore fans' patience thin. Enter Luke Walton, a former Laker who played (and won titles) under Phil Jackson and coached alongside Steve Kerr. Walton is a rising star and a much-needed upgrade (hence the 29-point boost in coaching, up out of the triple digits), but the league's youngest coach (age 36) has a long road ahead to return the cellar-dwelling Lakers to contending status.
Next: Brooklyn Nets | Full rankings