The Los Angeles Lakers are second most winning team with 16 championships, only trailing the Boston Celtics with 17 championships. This team has always been known for winning, whether it be in the 80s or now, the Los Angeles Lakers have attracted big names to their town to win championships. 

Whether it be getting some great picks in the draft like Magic Johnson or James Worthy, or by trading for amazing players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers are known for winning. But since 2010, after the Lakers won their fifth championship, they have experienced a consistent drought in wins, slowly diminishing their skill, getting rid of excellent players, and worst of all, they are now losing...a lot. And for the last couple years, the Lakers have completely lost what they once had: their prowess for wins. 

The team is not what it used to be anymore. In the 2013-2014 season, the Lakers faced their most troubled season ever with a record of 27-55, the most losses in franchise history, and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004-05. But this season, the 2014-2015 season, is a new start, just like it is for every team. Many moves have been made for teams, including the Lakers, who are trying to bounce back from the most horrific season ever witnessed by any Laker.  

They acquired Jeremy Lin and Ronnie Price, hoping that would alleviate the struggle they have in the point guard position, with an ailing Steve Nash. At his age, the man is on his way out and the Lakers are trying to look towards the future with Lin. 

Next, the Lakers won the bidding war for Carlos Boozer, an aging PF/C who use to be an All-Star in this league, but recently hasn't been worth the money of his previous team, the Chicago Bulls. But Laker fans are hopeful he can return to his star days from Utah. 

And the next big names the Lakers acquired this year was a new coach, Byron Scott, and the 7th pick in the draft Julius Randle. After a disaster of Mike D'Antoni, a former Laker who has an old-school, defense-oriented player should be a nice addition for the Lakers this season. The rookie Julius Randle, considered one of the most NBA ready players in the draft, needs to prove his worth this season. He has a lot of potential and if worked properly into this new system and surrounded by veterans, he can have a blowout season and help push the Lakers back into playoff contention, where they belong. 

The Lakers also acquired many small name role players this season including, the rookie Jordan Clarkson, and Ed Davis from the Grizzlies. But so far into this preseason, the Lakers have already been hit by the injury bug, losing at least 5 players and have yet to impress many with their 2 wins. 

But, with an optimistic attitude, the Lakers could turn some heads this season, and with the amount of potential on their bench, and of course never forgetting Kobe Bryant, the Lakers could work their way back into playoff contention. Let's hope the "new Lakers" have what it takes to return this franchise back to its winning ways.