For the last four years, the Los Angeles Lakers have progressively gone through a thorough rebuilding process, ramping up over the last couple seasons.

In light of that, new Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka stated that this upcoming season is going to be something much more than a rebuilding year.

From Brook Lopez‘s introductory press conference on Wednesday, via ESPN's Baxter Holmes:

“We don't see next year at all as a rebuilding year,” Pelinka said at the team's practice facility. “We see it as a Lakers year. A lot of that is going to be centered around [Lopez] and what he stands for and what we know he'll give this organization.”

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The new management has put forth a few intriguing moves in the offseason that would suggest otherwise. They added a proven center in Lopez while shipping away young guard D'Angelo Russell and veteran big man Timofey Mozgov to the Brooklyn Nets.

This move has paved the way for rookie point guard Lonzo Ball to orchestrate the team's uptempo offense, joining the young core of Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, and Jordan Clarkson. On top of that, Los Angeles has also put forth a concerted effort to acquire Paul George, and the front office is expected to add outside-shooting in free agency.

Even if the Lakers don't trade for George this offseason, they are in the position to put together a much more competitive team than in the last few years.