That is it. Mathematically, the Lakers cannot make the playoffs.

There’s a lot of tidying up to do with the rest of the season. Every game, players must feel like it is the last day of school and they are just waiting for the bell to ring and get the year over with.

But, does anyone remember what happened before you entered summer break? I don’t know about you, but we cleaned chalkboards, washed the desks, cleared the classroom of decorations, and got ready for the following year.

The Lakers have to do the same.

So, what does that mean for an NBA team? It means practicing the culture the organization is trying to uphold. It means trying new things on the floor so players can expand their skill set. It means playing the guys that haven’t had as much opportunity.

Moe Wagner Needs More Playing Time

LeBron James is on minutes restriction. Alex Caruso is getting quality reserve minutes behind Rajon Rondo. Johnathan Williams has been in every game since March 6th, with a couple games nearing 30 minutes. But, the Lakers invested a 1st round pick in Moe Wagner, and his playing time has been terrible inconsistent.

Wagner Has The Skill Set

It wasn’t even that long ago when he lit up the Celtics for 22 points. He showed all of the skills that made him worthy of being a 1st round pick in the modern NBA:

1. He runs the floor well.
2. His motor doesn’t quit.
3. He can exploit mismatches in the post with soft touch.
4. He can attack closeouts.
5. He has 3-point range.
6. He can find cutters from post position.

His energy and enthusiasm should be the standard for how the Lakers should play every game. That effort is all Laker fans can ask for.

Development is Valuable

It is rare for NBA teams to have minutes to give to younger players, but in a losing season it is the best time for guys to develop individually.  There is a possibility where Wagner could eventually resemble the careers of Vlade Divac or Brad Miller in terms of skill set. Both guys had long NBA careers, were valuable to their teams, and were part of high-octane offenses, whether it was the Los Angeles Lakers or the Sacramento Kings. Stretch-fives that have a triple threat skill set (shooting, passing, dribbling) are insanely valuable to half-court offenses, especially in regards to opening shots up for other wings and guards.

Where Did The Playing Time Go?

Unfortunately, despite the great game against the Celtics, he has not been rewarded for his great game. His playing time since has tremendous variance, between four minutes to eighteen minutes of playing time. Simply put, a player cannot build any kind of rhythm on a game-to-game basis. It’s one thing when a coach tells a player that he should always be ready to contribute, but Wagner has been recovering from a pre-season injury for most of the year. He never really had rhythm this season to begin with.

Maybe This Reveals The Bigger Problem

I think Luke Walton has been a fine coach, especially for a first stint with his own team. There are positives to his coaching career, especially in building top-10 defensive teams with players that aren’t actually known for being highly reputable defenders. The way he handled the previous season gave optimism for Laker fans going into this season, and the injuries from that year possibly prevented a potential playoff run back then too. At least the Laker young players were developing their talent and revealing what they were capable of on the NBA floor.

But, one of the criticisms has been his rotations. It wasn’t that long ago when Laker fans watched hockey substitutions. There has been a better effort lately, but it’s too little, too late.

Simulate the Season With Sliders Please

Even with this disappointing season, the chalkboards are messy, the desks are dirty, and the classroom is still a mess. Guys are still getting hurt on the floor. The South Bay Laker players seem to be setting the culture for the Los Angeles Lakers, and not the other way around.

But, if there’s one thing I could ask for, it’s a fixed rotation. Really, it shouldn’t be too difficult, even with the injuries of the current team, to find out what skill sets complement each other best on a game-to-game basis. If Luke can’t figure it out, maybe an assistant coach can.

Giving Moe Wagner the playing time, and rewarding him for good play, would at least be a positive sign of preparing the team for the upcoming season.