Los Angeles Sports Roundup - February
By Peyton Schultze
A week ago, LeBron James took the main stage with a powerful message to Laker fans in front of an emotional STAPLES Center crowd following the tragic passing of Los Angeles legend, Kobe Bryant (via Business Insider).
Hello there, and welcome to the newest edition of Los Angeles Sports Roundup. During this monthly series, we’ll dive into some of the biggest news in the world of sports, all of which surround the teams found within the Los Angeles community. From professional sports to college competition, this series will vary in its coverage from month to month so that it can evolve with the ever-so-changing landscape.
There has been an abundance of action over the course of the last few weeks in Los Angeles, especially in professional sports. Whether it is the Lakers’ response to the tragic passing of former great Kobe Bryant, the Dodgers’ major power move that could finally vault them to the top, the Chargers’ curious quarterback situation, or the Clippers’ mad dash toward the top of the Western Conference, there has been plenty of news surrounding LA’s finest home teams.
With that being said and without further ado, here’s the February 2020 Edition of our coverage of sports news within the Los Angeles community.
Los Angeles Lakers
It has been a rough two weeks for the Lakers following the sad news, but hopes lies on the other side with LeBron James leading the organization forward (via Los Angeles Times).
A Tribute to a Legend
Regarding the news and legacy of Kobe Bryant, there is not much more that can be said that has not been said already. The outpour of support from fans and citizens of the city of alike has been nothing short of exceptional, and it has been truly touching how the community has responded. But what the Lakers did in the first game following his passing was nothing short of breathtaking, including a great video tribute to the legacy of #24, a superb performance by Usher, and some great words to the crowd from forward LeBron James. In such a time of sadness and sorrow, that night gave the city some time to ease with one another to celebrate the legacy of the late great, Kobe Bryant.
As the Lakers look to recover from such news, the clear face of the organization has become clear in the form of their veteran leader in James. Since coming to the Lakers two seasons ago, many questioned how invested James was in with the organization and what his true motives were for joining the Lakers. But LeBron’s words and actions in the past few weeks have helped to sooth over any doubts that fans had about him: he is a Laker and he wants to do all that he can to connect with this fan base. Right now, the Laker fan base is beaten and in search of a hero to help them recover. LeBron has a chance to be that savior for the entire organization, and it seems like he will do everything in his power to carry this team through the tough times and into the Finals for the first time since 2010. An appearance, and a Finals win, would go quite a long way in honoring Bryant, and everyone now knows what is at stake from now until the end of the season.
In terms of the on-the-court play, the Lakers have not been quite as sharp lately against Western foes such as Portland and Houston, but made the very tough choice of holding onto all of their plays past the trade deadline. With players such as Kyle Kuzma and Alex Caruso being featured in rumors for the past week, it was interesting to see the Lakers not bite and keep their current group together. Especially in a tough time full of tragedy around the organization, this could be something that keeps the current version of the Purple and Gold even tighter and plays well later in the season. Although the Lakers have been linked to other players such as J.R. Smith and Darren Collison, who could both join the squad in the coming weeks, it is clear that the Lakers think they have all that they could need to win a title this year. As an entire group, the Lakers will need to step up their play in the coming week before the All-Star Break (which comes at a very timely period for Los Angeles) with the Clippers and Nuggets on their heals for first in the West. But as for the rest of the season, only time will tell if the Lakers made the smart move of standing pat and trusting their superstar talents to carry this team to their 17th championship in franchise history.
Los Angeles Dodgers
If the trade for Mookie Betts and David Price ends up going through, the Dodgers could be the favorites to get back to the World Series in 2020 (via Yahoo Sports and InsideHook).
Rolling the Dice
It may have finally happened. Not quite yet, but the chaos may have finally ended for the Dodgers’ mysterious offseason.
After being questioned by fans for the majority of the offseason, the Dodgers have reportedly agreed to send outfielder Alex Verdugo to the Red Sox and pitcher Kenta Maeda to the Twins in exchange for the 2018 AL MVP, Mookie Betts, and former Cy Young Award winner David Price. Although Price should prove to be a solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher for the Dodgers alongside Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw, the real prize in the middle of this trade is Betts, one of the best overall players in the sport. With a miraculous glove in right field, plenty of speed on the bases, and some of the best overall skills at the plate, Betts figures to be the typical leadoff hitter that the Boys in Blue have been missing for years. Although the Dodgers’ acquisition comes at somewhat of a steep price with another separate trade with the Angels (see Angels’ section below), this is a move that Andrew Friedman and company needed to make. With Betts potentially in the lineup along with the likes of All-Star talents such as Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner, Max Muncy, and Corey Seager, the Dodgers have a chance to form one of the best offensive units in the league with so much power across the board.
One of the Dodgers’ biggest faults in past postseason experiences has been their lack of clutch hitting against great starting pitching. When the Dodgers met the Red Sox back in the 2018 World Series, Betts proved to be a key contributor to their series win with a crucial home run off Kershaw in their Game 5 clincher on the road at Dodger Stadium. Now, as Betts joins the Dodgers in hopes of securing their first title since 1988, the front office hopes that he can provide that same kind of spark to the top of the Dodgers’ lineup in 2020, especially in the playoffs. Betts is not guaranteed to be back after this season, as he’ll become a free agent after this season in hopes of a major $400 million dollar deal, so the Dodgers are in a position where they must make this season count or face the consequences of another disappointing offseason.
With the Dodgers and Yankees as the clear favorites to represent the NL and AL in the 2020 World Series, Los Angeles now has plenty of pressure applied with so much conversation around the league. There’s a long time between now and October, and that journey begins in a couple of weeks when the Dodgers report to Camelback Ranch for Spring Training. But as baseball season begins to wind around the corner, you can guarantee all eyes will be on Betts, Price, and the rest of the Dodgers in their pursuit of a championship.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have started to turn up the heat in recent weeks, including eight impressive wins in their last ten games (via Clips Nation).
Pressuring the West
In January, the Clippers seemed like a team that was cruising along in preparation for a grueling Western Conference playoff run later in the year. Although they still trail the Lakers by a few games for the top seed in the West, the Clippers have really powered up their efforts in the past few weeks, including an 8-2 stretch that they are riding right now. With Kawhi Leonard (27.0 PPG, 7.5 REB) and Paul George (22.7 PPG, 6.1 REB) playing at such a high level right now on both sides of the ball, the Clips have begun to turn the corner in terms of their effort as the regular season begins to wind down.
Although there have been reports of unease in the Clippers locker room lately, head coach Doc Rivers seems to have quieted any turmoil that may have existed with how well they have played recently. One of the Clippers’ clear strengths is not only their star power with Leonard and George, but how deep their roster is with so many good players flowing in their rotation. With stud ballers such as sixth man Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, Pat Beverley, and Landry Shamet filling out the depth on the bench, Los Angeles has been able to create a solid rotation where every player clearly knows their role. This is a very dangerous trait that could play well for the Clippers against some of the best teams in the league, especially against their Western Conference foes in the Los Angeles Lakers.
But even with the Clippers clearly ranking as one of the best teams in basketball, they decided to be even more aggressive at the trade deadline in hopes of giving them a better shot of winning their first title in franchise history. In somewhat of a surprising three-way deal with the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards, the Clippers were able to acquire forward Marcus Morris and point guard Isaiah Thomas to add to their rotation. Although the Clippers will not keep Thomas around for the rest of the season, Morris figures to be a major factor in the rotation for a team that lacks some strength inside. Morris is also known around the league as somewhat of an enforcer on the defensive end, which could also help the Clippers set the tone against fellow contenders around the league. Whatever way there is to spin it, the Clippers took another significant step forward in their title quest with the addition of Morris, who has been a great veteran player in the league for several years. It may take somewhat of a growing period for the Clippers to adjust to Morris’ playing style in their rotation, but look for him to make a big impact on both ends of the floor for the rest of the season.
Los Angeles Rams/Los Angeles Chargers
It is a mystery who will suit up for the Chargers at quarterback next season, but it is clear that they have plenty of options (via Inside the Star, The Athletic, and Stampede Blue).
Mystery in the Air
With the NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers being the team to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this season, it is obvious that the Rams will have a tough mountain to climb in pursuit of winning the division. In addition to the Niners, the Seattle Seahawks figure to once again be a Super Bowl contender with Russell Wilson at quarterback and the Arizona Cardinals may have a bright future ahead of them with solid building blocks such as Kyler Murray and Chandler Jones. So how can the Rams continue to compete for a Super Bowl with limited cap space and a lack of draft capital? For one, the Rams should improve next season with an easier schedule in front of them after finishing third in the division this season. In addition, the Rams should have a full season of elite cornerback Jalen Ramsey once he is signed to an extension, as well as the return of starting left tackle Andrew Whitworth to bolster their offensive line. While the Rams can not add a whole lot of talent on the field during this offseason, this team remains one of the most talented groups in the league with stars aplenty such as Aaron Donald, Robert Woods, Todd Gurley, Jared Goff, and Ramsey. Sean McVay and his coaching staff will face a long offseason after a disappointing 2019 campaign, but 2020 could easily see a bounce back season for Los Angeles in their first year in the new SoFi Stadium.
Continuing off last month’s discussion about the potential directions the Chargers could choose to go in at quarterback, the picture now seems a little bit clearer about who will suit up under center for the Bolts in 2020. For starters, Chargers’ legend Philip Rivers appears to have already found his way completely out the door, as the former Pro Bowler has moved his family out of California and into the state of Florida. It is unclear if Rivers has an interest in playing for a team based in Florida such as the Miami Dolphins or Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but one thing is obvious: Rivers will not be back with the Chargers next season. As for the swirling rumors surrounding future first-ballot Hall of Famer Tom Brady, last weekend’s Super Bowl appeared to provide even more discussion. In addition to starring in a Hulu commercial that essentially announced that he was returning next season, it has been reported that the Patriot quarterback will be pursued by teams such as the Las Vegas Raiders. If the Chargers are unable to secure a deal with Brady, look for them to turn in other directions such as free agency. There, solid quarterback options such as Ryan Tannehill, Teddy Bridgewater, Jameis Winston, and Marcus Mariota could be available, and it will be interesting to see if they sign a player that is capable of helping them win now. If not, the Chargers could always sit back and wait for the NFL Draft, where prospects such as Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, and Justin Herbert are on the board. The Bolts have been especially linked to Herbert from mock experts, so it will be interesting to see how the dominoes fall in the first five picks above them.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
After being acquired in a stunning trade with the Dodgers, power-hitting outfielder Joc Pederson figures to a major contributor in a loaded Angels’ lineup (via Los Angeles Times).
Even More Pop
Although it has not been confirmed quite yet, early reports have shown that the Dodgers will be sending outfielder Joc Pederson and starting pitcher Ross Stripling to the Angels in exchange for infielder Luis Rengifo. The move, which was orchestrated by the Dodgers in their attempt to acquire Mookie Betts and David Price from the Boston Red Sox, is somewhat of a surpising one for the Angels, but adds even more potency to the Anaheim lineup. Pederson’s extreme power and solid glove in the outfield expects to translate very well to the American League, especially at Angel Stadium where the pull side for a left-handed batter can play into the hitter’s hands. A season ago as a platoon player for the Dodgers, Pederson hit .249 with 36 home runs and 74 RBIs in what could have been considered the best season of his young career. In addition, Pederson has been a solid contributor in the playoffs for the Dodgers in recent years, which could be a major advantage if the Angels take the jump this season into the American League postseason. If the trade goes through, here’s what the Angels’ potential starting lineup on Opening Day could look like:
2B Tommy La Stella
CF Mike Trout
3B Anthony Rendon
DH Shohei Ohtani
LF Justin Upton
1B Albert Pujols
RF Joc Pederson
SS Andrelton Simmons
C Jason Castro
Just like that, the Angels have formed one of the most explosive offenses in all of baseball with a projected offensive WAR of 32.4 according to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times. It’s a stretch to say the Angels are now World Series contenders with a lack of great starting pitching, but Anaheim is certainly taking some nice steps in the right direction with Spring Training only weeks away.
UCLA/USC Athletics
Ranking third in the PAC-12 with a 17-5 overall record, the Trojans have given themselves a solid chance of qualifying once again for the NCAA Tournament (via USC Athletics).
Ups and Downs in the City
With the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament right around the corner, the Trojans have put themselves in a solid position to make yet another appearance in the March Madness. Although they are unranked and they’ll have to overcome solid teams in the conference such as Stanford, Oregon, Colorado, and Arizona, there is still a clear enough path in sight for USC to slip into the tournament. Meanwhile, while UCLA would likely need a stunning run in the PAC-12 Tournament to secure an appearance on the men’s side, the Bruins are a near-lock to make an appearance on the women’s bracket. Ranking 10th in the country at 19-2, UCLA Women’s Basketball looks like they have a great shot of making a deep run in the tournament this season.
Although basketball seems like it is making some serious noise in the city, college football in Los Angeles could not have had much worse of a week for UCLA and USC. With UCLA ranking 8th in the PAC-12 and with USC ranking 10th in terms of national recruiting in the conference, both schools seem to have hit a major low in recent years. It is especially appalling for USC, who decided to keep head coach Clay Helton on board for another season despite major push-back and constant rumors of a firing, and there are now legitimate concerns about how prominent this program really is at this time. With make-or-break seasons upcoming for Chip Kelly at UCLA and for Helton at USC, things need to start turning around as soon as possible if those programs plan on retaining their head coaches for the long run.
Los Angeles Kings/Anaheim Ducks
It has been as rough of a season as any in recent memory for the last-place Los Angeles Kings (via LA Kings Insider).
No Sun in Sight
Not much has changed for the Kings and Ducks in the past month, especially considering how other teams have begun to rise in the Western Conference. With both of Southern California’s hockey teams sitting at 14th and 15th in the conference respectively, there is little hope of any kind of turnaround this late in the season. Although the Kings just traded Kyle Clifford and goalie Jack Campbell to the Maple Leafs, there have been a ton of questions surrounding the team in the cases of who they will keep. Will veteran King legends such as Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar be back next season, or will they be moved to a contender that could use their talents? Will key players such as Tyler Toffoli and Jeff Carter be moved for prospects? And maybe most importantly, has the end really come this quickly for Jonathan Quick? The Kings, to put it easily, are a mess across the board and need to make some key choices to protect the future of the franchise. With a mere 43 points in the standings and with another horrible stretch in their last ten games (2-7-1), the end of the season could not come soon enough.
As for the Ducks, it is very difficult to say things are really any better. Although they rank a spot higher than the Kings in the conference with 50 points in the standings, there is just about no chance that the Ducks could get on a roll and make a playoff appearance in a loaded Western Conference. Joining the trend of poor hockey play in the state of California this season (the Sharks rank 13th right above Anaheim with 52 points), the Ducks are going to be forced soon enough to figure out what direction this team wants to go in. Rebuilds can either be grueling and never-ending in hockey, or they can spark a turnaround within a year. With the Ducks lacking a ton of assets and starpower in their lines, they may be forced into the organizational rebuild for the first time in years in hopes of returning to their former glory from the early 2010’s.