Mychal Thompson believes Kobe Bryant will average 21 points in 28 minutes in 2015-16 season

Even if his torn rotato cuff causes Kobe Bryant to miss the rest of the 2014-15 season, don’t think this is how the Lakers superstar will go out. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer)

Even if his torn rotato cuff causes Kobe Bryant to miss the rest of the 2014-15 season, don’t think this is how the Lakers superstar will go out. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer)

Below is part 2 of a Q&A with former Showtime Laker and KSPN-710 AM color analyst, Mychal Thompson, who provided his two cents on the Lakers getting the No. 2 pick, Kobe Bryant’s recovery and the team’s playoff chances next season.

What are your expectations for Kobe this season?


Thompson:
“28 minutes a game. Play 75 games. Average 21 points. He’ll be the Tim Duncan of the team where he doesn’t have to carry the team because he’ll have a bunch of good guys around him with the new lottery pick coming in, Julius Randle coming back, the development of Jordan Clarkson and signing some players. He’ll carry the team on some nights, but not every night. He’ll stay healthy and just miss back-to-back games. They’ll have him on the Tim Duncan plan and he’ll survive just fine.”

What will be the key for that to happen?

Thompson: “The supporting cast around him. Role players have to step up like the San Antonio Spurs players have done and take their game to the next level. Then Byron won’t feel like he has to be dependent on Kobe to carry the team every night.”

What was your outlook two weeks ago heading into the lottery?

Thompson: “It was great to see the Lakers get the second pick. It’s the first step of the Lakers coming back. They’ll draft a good, young stud to build around and be the foundation of the future. I was so excited. I was in Oakland waiting for Game 5 against the Grizzlies. We were watching the TV and seeing the lottery unfold. When the Knicks logo came up at No. 4, I said, ‘Yes!’. That means the Lakers jumped up.

Were you nervous beforehand?

Thompson: “Oh, I was very nervous. I was praying for the Lakers to get in the top three. Even the top four or five player are good players. But I was hoping for top three. No. 1 would have been perfect.”

Did you do any superstitions?

Thompson: “No, I don’t believe in superstitions. Do things right and it will work out for you.”

What’s your perspective on Byron Scott’s argument that the Lakers were awarded the pick because the team still competed for most of the season?

Thompson:
“I definitely subscribe to that. I don’t know why the NBA won’t adopt my lottery plan. To eliminate tanking, whoever is in the lottery, you have one ping pong ball each for 14 teams. Then you do it like a drawing. Your ping pong ball drops one at a time. It’s all equal. It will stop all this tanking and there will be no extra odds. Plus, it would be great television.

My other idea is you have 14 cards. Have the 14 representatives line up one at a time and pick up a card. You don’t know whose card you are picking up. There can’t be any frozen envelopes because they’re all seen. That would be great television instead of all the secrecy. It will stop the tanking.”

Do you think teams tank?

Thompson:
“On purpose? Not players.”

But do teams purposefully construct their roster so that it’s set up to fail?

Thompson:
“Teams may not have the best roster out there. But players, whether it’s Minnesota or Philadelphia, are trying their hardest. In management, some may be trying to increase their odds a little bit. There are suspicions.”

Which teams do you think do that?


Thompson:
“I have no idea. But we all know the suspects out there. The Lakers aren’t one of them. Byron was out there getting those guys to try as hard as he can. Byron is a kind of guy who is trying to win. So is Mitch. Mitch doesn’t play that kind of stuff. He’s all about going out there and trying your best. If it’s not enough, the Lakers will try to make it work out somehow.”

Who do you think the Lakers pick at No. 2?


Thompson:
“I like the main three guys. I actually like Kristaps Porzingis (from Latvia). But no one is brave enough to pick him. I think he will be one of the great players. But if the Lakers chose to go with D’Angelo Russell at No. 2, that’s fine. But whichever big guy is left over, that’s who they’ll go with.”

Say Minnesota doesn’t take Anthony-Towns or Okafor, who’s your pick.

Thompson:
“I would say Okafor, even though I like Anthony-Towns too. If I had to choose one, I’d go for Okafor. He’s so skilled. Towns is a good player too. So if they took him, I’d be fine with it. But if Mitch says, ‘Mychal, you make the decision,’ I’ll choose Okafor.”
You think Mitch will call you?

Thompson:
“I’ll be on standby [laughs]. But I’m not expecting a call.”

The overall read on Okafor is that he’s the best offensive player, but he’s not good on defense, while Anthony-Towns is the better overall player. What’s your perspective with all that?


Thompson:
“That’s why Okafor will have coaches to teach him how to play defense. Defense is easy to learn once you put your mind to it. He can do it. Okafor is a smart player. If he was a Laker, Byron will insist that he play defense and clog up the lane. He’ll figure it out. It’s not hard.”

Which free agents do you think the Lakers have a good chance at getting?

Thompson:
“The restricted free agents are a waste of time to try to sign. Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard are going to get matched. Chicago and San Antonio won’t let those guys go. There are good guys, and depending how the Lakers structure their contracts, there might be a surprise to get. But the big guys everyone would like to see in a Laker uniform, you can offer them. But they’ll be matched.”

Ok, well let’s go down the line. Marc Gasol

Thompson:
He’s not leaving. He’ll stay in Memphis. He’s close to those guys

LaMarcus Aldridge.

Thompson:
“He’s not leaving. If he does leave, he’ll go to Dallas to go home.”

Kevin Love

Thompson:
“Kevin will stay. The Lakers are a huge temptation for him. But if nothing else, he’ll at least stay in Cleveland one more year. I would be shocked if he left, especially if Cleveland wins.

Goran Dragic.

Thompson:
No, he’s not leaving Miami. For $100 million for five years, he’ll stay. You ever been to Miami? Why would you leave. L.A. is nice. But if you can’t play here, Miami is awfully nice. Plus there’s no state taxes.

What’s your take on Rajon Rondo?


Thompson:
“I like Rondo. It didn’t work out with him Dallas. But I like how tough and competitive he is. If the Lakers showed interest in him, I couldn’t blame him.

Why is he worth the risk given what happened in Dallas and his back?

Thompson:
I think he still is. He and Kobe are close and he understands when you play for a coach like Byron, there’s zero tolerance. He’s at least worth taking a serious look at.

There’s uncertainty with free agency. But knowing Kobe is back, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson are returning and there are three draft picks, how do you think the Lakers will be next year?

Thompson:
“The Lakers can be a playoff team. Don’t’ laugh or scoff. Eveybody scoffed at me about Golden State. With Julius Randle back, Kobe healthy, Clarkson’s improvement, the No. 2 pick and the No. 2 pick coming in and how will they restock the roster through free agency, this will be a playoff team next year. They can definitely get to the second round. They won’t be the favorites obviously to the NBA Finals. That will be Oklahoma City if they’re healthy. Same with Golden State and Houston. But the Lakers can upset someone in the first round.”

What were your initial expectations for Clarkson?


Thompson:
“I knew he was a good player. When I first saw him play, I saw his talent and passion for the game and his willingness to learn. He doesn’t surprise me that he can do that.”

After rehabbing the whole year, what do you think Randle will become?


Thompson:
“He will remind people of Lamar Odom. He can take the ball off the glass and lead the break. That’s how skilled he is. He’s a little bit shorter than Lamar, but he can do all those things all over the floor.”

Knowing Byron Scott well, what was your sense on how he handled everything last year?


Thompson:
“Despite the record, he did a great job. Every game, except for a few, the team was comptetitive. The way they had to restock the roster with all the callus, 85 to 90 percent of the games, they competed. That’s a reflection of the coach.”

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