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NBA

This is officially the worst Lakers team of all time

By Jovan Buha FoxSports
Published | Updated
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Nov 9, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) and head coach Byron Scott in the second half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Staples Center. Lakers won 107-92. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

It's official: The 2015-16 Lakers are the worst Lakers team of all time.

Following a 91-81 loss to the Clippers on Wednesday night, the Lakers dropped to 16-62, ensuring that this year's team will finish with the worst record in the franchise's storied history.

The larger issue, of course, is that the Lakers have now set this record three years in a row.

In the 2013-14 season, the team finished 27-55, marking the worst record at the time. Then last season the team was even worse, finishing just 21-61 and setting a new all-time low.

The Lakers would be lucky to win out and finish at 20-62. At this point, it's unlikely. A more realistic outcome would be a 16-66 or 17-65 record, depending on how things shake out against the Pelicans on Friday.

With Kobe Bryant retiring at season's end, the Lakers' future may be brighter than their current record indicates, though.

If the young core of D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. continues to develop, and the franchise can catch a lucky break and keep it's top-3 protected pick, the Lakers may be able to snag a star free agent in one of the next two offseasons.

At least Wednesday's loss left them four games behind Phoenix (20-58) with four games to play for the second-best chance of winning the NBA draft lottery, trailing only Philadelphia. If the Lakers' pick doesn't land in the top three, they will lose it to the 76ers under the terms of a long-ago trade.

At the very least, they should be around five to 10 wins better next season off player development alone, which is a start.

It's unfortunate Bryant has to go out in such a low manner, but to him, anything less than a championship is irrelevant:

Well, Kobe, I guess you and your teammates are [expletive] this season. Hey, he said it himself.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.