What Went Right?
Kobe Bryant had one of the best individual seasons of his career. He was simply all the team had most nights and expended a ton of energy on both ends of the floor. He averaged 31.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He led the team with 137 three-pointers made. He shot 86.8% from the charity stripe and got to the line 10 times per contest. Lamar Odom averaged 15.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game despite battling injuries and the aftermath of the sudden death of his infant son earlier in 2006. Luke Walton filled in nicely for whoever was injured. He averaged 11.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Andrew Bynum showed signs of life at times. The Lakers battled through injuries and won 42 games while securing the 7th seed in the West.

What Went Wrong?
The Lakers went through a a tough stretch of battling injuries. Lamar Odom missed 26 games and battled bad shoulder injuries. Luke Walton missed 22 games. Kwame Brown missed half of the season by only playing 41 games. Brian Cook missed 17 games. Vlad Radmanovic had a bad snowboarding accident and ended up missing a total 27 games. The team actually had Smush Parker play the full season and Shammond Williams rose from utter obscurity and actually played 30 games. The combination of Parker playing every game and Shammond actually being on the team is never a good combination for any team at any level. The defense was pretty terrible and gave up 103.4 points per game.

Off-Season Overview
Kobe Bryant decided to demand a trade if GM Mitch Kupchak couldn't bring in some superstar help. So what did Kobe get from Mitch Kupchak? He got to watch Paul Pierce make the same threat and get rewarded with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. He got to watch the biggest move by Kupchak end up being re-signing an aging Derek Fisher. Or how about when he drafted Javaris Crittenton? Or re-signed Luke Walton? So what's Kobe complaining about? Those sound like dynastic moves.
Players Added- Center Chris Mihm (Re-signed), Small Forward Luke Walton (Re-signed), Point Guard Javaris Crittenton (Draft), Forward Sun Yue (Draft), Center Marc Gasol (Draft), Guard Derek Fisher (Free Agent, Utah)
Players Lost- Point Guard Smush Parker (Free Agent, Miami)

Phil Barnett's Impact Players-
It’s hard to believe that there is a professional basketball team in Los Angeles with the Clippers looking more like UCLA’s junior varsity team and the media not realizing that Kobe Bryant isn’t the only guy that wears the Forum Blue and Gold. Another year of Lakers mediocrity will be overshadowed by the NBA’s own reality show staring Bryant, Phil Jackson and a few Buss’.

Breakout Player: Jordan Farmar started earning his keep late in the season when Smush Parker and head coach Phil Jackson feuded. I’m usually not too big on pre-season statistics, but Farmar has been shooting great from behind the arch this pre-season. With a mentor in Derek Fisher back in Los Angeles and a consistent jump shot, Farmar could have a very productive season along side Bryant in the back court.

Disappointing Player: League sources are saying that Lamar Odom just doesn’t have his mind set on basketball. He’s hinted at an early retirement, he’s moved some of his old friends from New York to California and he still isn’t healthy. If the Lakers want to be remotely successful they will need Lamar Odom to produce, but it doesn’t seem like he’ll have it together mentally any time soon.

FantasyInsideronline.com Fantasy Sleeper
Luke Walton, Small Forward- Luke Walton is one of the best all around players in fantasy basketball. He shoots solid percentages and gets great numbers in points, rebounds, and assists. He's always a threat to get a triple-double. And he's a Phil Jackson favorite so he's bound to get a lot of minutes. With Lamar Odom's focus and health in question, getting Luke Walton in the mid to late rounds could end up being a big steal.

Best-Case Scenario
Kobe decides that he doesn't want to leave Los Angeles and the Lakers find a way to deal for Jermaine O'Neal. Javaris Crittenton and Jordan Farmar form a great combination at the point guard position. Luke Walton is able to stay healthy and be the playmakers that Kobe needs to help this team. Kwame Brown finds his balls and decides to play like a man of his size. Radmanovic and Brian Cook are able to provide a consistent outside threat that spreads the floor and allows Kobe more room to dominate.

Worst Case Scenario
Kobe grows more discontented with every passing day and the Lakers are unable to bring in a star that could help Kobe towards winning a title or at least being a legit contender. Andrew Bynum fails to improve enough to be any sort of relevant help and Kobe hates him more and more with each day that goes by without a deal. Lamar Odom and Luke Walton suffer injuries all year long and the team is forced to play Maurice Evans way too often. Phil Jackson is unable to get this team to come together and they miss the playoffs for the second time in 4 years since Shaq left.

Talkhoops.net Prediction- 2nd in Division, 7th in West
I think that Kobe will stay in line with what Phil Jackson wants the whole season but will find a way to force a trade once the season is over. Kobe will have an MVP caliber season and win the Defensive Player of the Year award. Lamar Odom will not be healthy enough to offer a consistent Robin to Kobe's Batman. Andrew Bynum has a decent year but isn't consistent enough to help the Lakers win against the best teams in the league. Javaris Crittenton will take a while to become consistent in the Lakers' system but by the end of the year will be the clear cut point guard of the future for this squad. The Lakers win about 45 games and secure the 7th seed.