Count Charles Barkley among those who refute Lakers owner Jim Buss' claim that the team has turned the corner.
The NBA Hall of Famer and current TNT analyst said during a conference call Monday that the once-proud Los Angeles franchise is now the fourth best team in California, according to CBS Sports.
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The fifth best, if the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks are included in the conversation.
Charles Barkley: "The #Lakers are the fourth-best team in California. They lucky the Sparks ain't playing, they'd be the fifth." #TNTNBA— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) October 26, 2015
The Lakers, on paper, seem to have added some talent to a roster that sunk to a franchise-worst 21 wins in 2014-15. L.A. added free agents Lou Williams -- the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year last year with the Hawks -- Roy Hibbert, Brandon Bass, Metta World Peace and Brazilian import Marcelo Huertas.
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They drafted point guard D'Angelo Russell and big man Larry Nance Jr., and a potential rising star in guard Jordan Clarkson. Also, Kobe Bryant will enter the season healthy, although he'll be on a nightly minutes count.
That makes at least Buss optimistic about the team's prospects this season and beyond, per his conversation with USA Today Sports.
"I think we've done a great job (rebuilding)," Buss said. "Yeah, I think we're in dynamite position. Not good position -- dynamite. I think we've turned the corner. I don't know if you discount that terminology, 'turn the corner.' But when you're headed down the wrong road, and you can finally get off that road and turn the corner, that's huge in my opinion."
Apparently, that won't be enough for the Lakers to overtake the defending champion Warriors, the Clippers or even the Kings in 2015-16.
The Sparks finished their season with a 14-20 record, although they were a much better team in the second half of the season with a recharged Candace Parker, who sat out the first 16 games to give her body a rest.
There has been no word whether UCLA men's basketball coach Steve Alford took exception that Barkley ranked the Sparks ahead of his program.
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