LOS ANGELES -- After a half-decade of excruciating decline, the future has finally arrived for the Los Angeles Lakers.Kobe Bryant is gone. A talented young core is in place. Luke Walton is in charge, and the promising young coach has the luxury of time to rebuild a 16-time champion franchise in ruins.It could be multiple seasons, Walton said. It could be six months. You just never know. Its part of whats fun about sports -- to see what you can do as a group. How good can you be as a group? It doesnt matter what other people say, or the expectations that they have. The only thing that matters is how much we believe we can do.The near future might resemble the recent past for the Lakers, who are coming off the worst season in franchise history (17-65).While Walton is receiving rave reviews from his players for the Lakers new up-tempo approach, that hasnt translated into victories during the preseason. Most prognosticators expect them to stay near the bottom of the Western Conference, likely extending their franchise-record playoff drought to four years.But the excitement of the new is still strong with the Lakers, who clung to Kobe and the past for several years after it was advisable.In fact, the Lakers essentially have been waiting five years to start the process that finally began in earnest this summer.After NBA Commissioner David Stern rejected a trade that would have landed Chris Paul with the Lakers in December 2011, they were swept out of the second round of the playoffs for the second straight season in 2012. Dwight Howard and Steve Nash couldnt stop the slide, and the Lakers then produced the three worst seasons in franchise history.Lakers basketball hasnt been much fun since 2013, when Bryants health no longer allowed him to dominate. Bryants binary assessment of the franchise as either a champion or an utter failure was shared by coach Byron Scott, which meant the Lakers constantly felt like losers.The championship clock is off, and the fun is back. The Lakers are practicing to music, and they no longer need to worry about letting down the living legend in their midst.DAngelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and rookie Brandon Ingram are free to grow into whatever their talent allows, and the Lakers intend to let them percolate.Patience will be very important, Walton said. Not only for me and the rest of the coaching staff, but for the players, the fans, everybody. I think its important we set our foundation, our goals, and not let whether were winning or losing games take us from that path. Obviously you make adjustments as you go, but weve got to stay the course and pay attention to the big picture.---Here are more things to know going into the Lakers season:NEW VETS: The Lakers have a promising seven-player core from the past three drafts, but they paid top dollar to sign forward Luol Deng and center Timofey Mozgov in free agency before trading for Jose Calderon. While Mozgov fills a major deficiency in the middle, the Lakers are hoping Dengs veteran savvy and hustling style rub off on his teammates. For me, its a different role, Deng said. Its a new beginning, but its also a new system that I really like.D-LOS RISE: With the ball-dominating Bryant gone, Russell will be in charge of the Lakers new offense, which should bear a strong resemblance to the schemes used by Golden State. The 20-year-old point guard will be asked to advance in his development, increasing his assists from 3.3 per game while keeping up his steady outside shooting, which improved down the stretch. Oh, and he should probably stick to minimal use of social media, too.INGRAM ARRIVES: The No. 2 pick in the draft carries constant comparisons to Kevin Durant on his skinny shoulders, but the Lakers will be cautious with Ingrams development under minimal pressure. He already might be one of the Lakers better defensive players, and hell get plenty of outside shots in Waltons sets. He also appears to be adjusting well to the pro lifestyle heading into the 82-game grind.PEACE IN OUR TIME: Final roster decisions havent been made, but Metta World Peace is hoping to stick around for a 17th NBA season. He is four months older than Walton.Wholesale LeBron James Shoes . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. 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The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July.Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merricks resignation has kick-started a frantic early-season hunt for his replacement with former Sydney FC captain Mark Rudan among the frontrunners.Merrick told players of his decision after Sundays 2-0 loss to Adelaide United left them bottom of the table with two wins and six losses from eight games this A-League season.With a run of home games looming, beginning on Saturday against Central Coast in Hamilton, Merrick said the time was right for him to step aside.I think this will give my successor the best opportunity to take the team forward, said the 63-year-old Merrick.Assistant coach Chris Greenacre and goalkeeping coach Des Buckingham have been appointed joint head coaches until Merricks replacement is found.Greenacre, a former Phoenix striker, filled a similar role for five games after Ricki Herberts resignation in 2012.A statement from the Phoenix on Monday said a thorough process was underway to find a new head coach.Wellington Phoenix chairman Rob Morrison and Merrick will front a media conference on Tuesday at midday in Wellington, with no comment available from the club before then.Among the candidates for Merricks job is Rudan, who has just completed a four-year stint at Sydney United culminating in their National Premier League title win.He is currently assistant coach for Australias under-20 side.Auckland City coach Ramon Tribulietx, linked with Brisbane Roar ahead of the 2015/16 season, is also among the candidates.Tribuulietx is in Japan, as Auckland prepare for their Club World Cup playoff against Kashima Antlers on Thursday.ddddddddddddormer Phoenix assistant coach Luciano Trani, who has also spent time at Melbourne City, Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United, and foundation Phoenix captain Ross Aloisi - currently assistant coach at the Roar - are also in the mix.Merrick said in a statement that he had taken the team as far as he could.I take full responsibility for position the team is currently in.I feel that I have not performed well enough as head coach, as we have a very strong squad that should be higher up the table.Merrick, who led Melbourne Victory to A-League titles in 2007 and 2009, took over from Herbert in May 2013, and his initial two-year contract was renewed in March 2015 for another three years.A Wellington Phoenix statement said Merrick, 63, had been a consummate professional during his time at the club.He had been instrumental in overhauling the way the team performed on the field and how it conducted itself off the field.Merrick had also played a significant role in developing young players through the Phoenix academy, with many now breaking into the first team and representing New Zealand at international level.The club understands the decision and thanks Merrick for the hard work and dedication he has put in during the past three years. 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