In the second and final matchup of the 2017-18 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers came away with a 127-113 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers behind Julius Randle's 36 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists in 38 minutes. As the Lakers reached the 30-win mark for the first time since the 2012-13 season, much of the credit goes to head coach Luke Walton.

Although Walton was heavily criticized during the team's nine-game losing streak, the young Lakers are now playing their best basketball of the season despite losing key rotation players to various injuries. Following the impressive win, LeBron James had high praise for Walton and the style of play he has implemented from his time with the Golden State Warriors:

“Since Luke took over, they've improved every single season I think,” James said. “And you just try to implement that ball movement, that body movement, that he got when he was in Golden State.”

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After President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka traded D'Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Brooklyn Nets, it is no secret they are trying to create enough cap space to sign two max contract players in James and Paul George. They took another major step at the trade deadline when they traded Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2018 first round draft pick.

With the Lakers finally establishing not only a young but competitive core led by Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Kyle Kuzma, it will be interesting to see how that translates into free agency. Unlike past years where the Lakers struck out in free agency, the product on the basketball court is starting to match up with the off-the-court opportunities.