Comparing this rebuild to the last rebuild ('91-'94)

Here is how the Lakers are doing in rebuilding compared to when the rebuilt after Magic retired (the '91-'92, '92-93' and '93-'94 seasons). Below are the top 8 in terms of total minutes played from each team with their age at the start of the season:
'91-'92 (43-39)
Sedale Threatt, 30, 15.1 ppg, 7.2 apg, 37.4 mpg
AC Green, 28, 13.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 35.4 mpg
Byron Scott, 30, 14.9 ppg, 32.7 mpg
Sam Perkins, 30, 16.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 37.0 mpg
James Worthy, 30, 19.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 39.0 mpg
Elden Campbell, 23, 7.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 23.2 mpg
Terry Teagle, 31, 10.7 ppg, 19.5 mpg
Vlade Divac, 23, 11.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 27.2 mpg
With the exception of Campbell and Divac, these players were too old to contribute when the Lakers had enough talent to contend again. This was essentially Teagle's last season in the NBA. I think Divac had an injury has he played in only 36 games.

'92-'93 (39-43)
Sedale Threatt, 31, 15.1 ppg, 6.9 apg, 35.3 mpg
AC Green, 29, 12.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 34.4 mpg
Vlade Divac, 24, 12.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 30.8 mpg
James Worthy, 31, 14.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 28.8 mpg
Byron Scott, 30, 13.7 ppg, 28.9 mpg
Anthony Peeler, 23, 10.4 ppg, 21.5 mpg
Sam Perkins, 31, 13.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 32.4 mpg
Elden Campbell, 24, 7.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 19.6 mpg
Peeler was added through the draft. Sam Perkins was traded mid-season for Doug Christie and Sam Bowie. AC Green left after this season through free agency. Byron Scott went to Indiana (trade? free agent?).

'93-'94 (33-49)
Nick Van Exel, 22, 13.6 ppg, 5.8 apg, 33.3 mpg
Vlade Divac, 25, 14.2 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 34.0 mpg
Sedale Threatt, 32, 11.9 ppg, 4.2 apg, 28.1 mpg
Elden Campbell, 25, 12.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 29.6 mpg
George Lynch, 23, 9.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 24.8 mpg
Tony Smith, 25, 8.8 ppg, 22.2 mpg
James Worthy, 32, 10.2 ppg, 20.0 mpg
Doug Christie, 23, 10.3 ppg, 23.3 mpg
Van Exel and Lynch were added through the draft. The Lakers at this point had three young, quality players in Van Exel, Divac and Campbell. Threatt would be a reserve for two more years before moving on. Peeler was injured and only played in 30 games, but Lynch and Peeler would never do much as Lakers and were eventually traded for next to nothing so that the Lakers could sign Shaq. Tony Smith was a journeyman who would play one more season for the Lakers before bouncing around 5 other NBA clubs. James Worthy's knees gave out and he retired after this season. Christie would be traded after this season for two future second-round draft picks.

'04-'05 (34-48 )
Chuck Atkins, 30, 13.6 ppg, 4.4 apg, 35.4 mpg
Caron Butler, 24, 15.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 35.7 mpg
Kobe Bryant, 26, 27.6 ppg, 6.0 apg, 40.7 mpg
Lamar Odom, 25, 15.2 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 36.3 mpg
Chris Mihm, 25, 9.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 24.9 mpg
Jumaine Jones, 25, 7.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 24.1 mpg
Brian Grant, 32, 3.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 16.5 mpg
Brian Cook, 6.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 15.1 mpg
Of these 8, only Atkins and Grant are too old to contribute when the Lakers have enough talent to contend again. Bryant and Odom are better than Van Exel and Divac were. Butler is better than Campbell was. I hope that Jones, Mihm and Cook will turn out better for the Lakers than Lynch, Smith, Christie and Peeler did. Looking further down the bench, this year squad has Walton and Vujacic, which have far more potential to break into the top 8 than Reggie Jordan and Antonio Harvey had.

Overall, the Lakers look to be in better shape after one year of rebuilding than they were after three seasons that last time they rebuilt. As in the '94 off-season, the Lakers have the #10 pick this year. In '94, the Lakers drafted future All-Star Eddie Jones, traded their '95 #1 draft pick for All-Star and head case Cedric Ceballos, then brought in as coach Del Harris, which was a much better fit for a young, rebuilding club than Randy Pfund was. If the Lakers make similar caliber moves this off-season, they too could start contending next season.

Posted here at LG.net