When the Los Angeles Lakers added 37-year-old Carmelo Anthony, Russell Westbrook (32), Dwight Howard (35), Deandre Jordan (37), 17-year vet Trevor Ariza and Rajon Rondo (35) to their roster, they officially became the NBA's oldest team -- by a bunch.
Signing that group to a squad that already includes LeBron James (36) gives them seven primary players well into their thirties -- way more than any other club in the league.
Many look at their older player additions as a last desperate attempt by the Lakers to win one more title while they still have James, now in his 19th NBA season.
The future is apparently now for the Lakers after they surrendered promising young Turks Kyle Kuzma, just 24, as well as Kentavius Caldwell Pope and Montrez Harrell (each in his twenties) in the trade with the Washington Wizards that landed them Westbrook.
So why did the Lakers go all in on experience, youth be damned?
Well, in the past two seasons James has finally been showing signs of slowing down.
For the first time, he has missed large chunks of those campaigns with either nagging injuries or just recuperating during the long grind of an NBA season.
Who knows how soon a no-longer-in top form James will finally call it quits. So, it might be now or never for LA. It looks like that's the best guess.
LBJ scoffed at the notion, though, that LAL are now a retirement home waiting to happen.
"Nah. we're not too old," opined James, "we've still got a lot left in the tank."
For now James is preaching patience.
"It's going to take more than a minute for us to become the team we're capable of becoming," stated LBJ.
How well the old newcomers mesh with team star Anthony Davis, a power forward and one of the few Lakers still in his twenties (28), will go a long way in determining how well LAL will do in the upcoming season which begins next Tuesday.
Spacing the floor, sharing the ball and making sure Davis gets enough touches will be critical.
One big reason for the Westbrook acquisition was to finally add a point guard to relieve James of those responsibilities.
For most of last season, LBJ was the Lakers de facto point guard.
Rondo, a proven play-off point guard vet, was also added to help run the show.
Now James can concentrate more on his former duties as a front court do-it-all and better contribute to that necessary floor spacing.
One thing you can look for is the Lakers to run more this campaign.
"We were a great running team two years ago [when the Lakers captured the NBA title]," said Laker coach Frank Vogel. "We took a step back last year. I think Westbrook is going to get us back to being one of the best."
James, as senior statesman on the ballclub, is doing all he can to bring the disparate parts assembled together.
"Me as a leader, it's my job to not get frustrated," contended James. "If I don't get frustrated it will trickle down to everyone else on the team."
Staying the course, though, could be a time-consuming affair with this bunch. "It could take all year to really be at our best," said Vogel, "even going into the play-offs."
Meanwhile, continue talking about the Lakers being too old at your own peril.
"The great ones," said Vogel, in regard to James, "they enjoy being counted out or doubted. "And I think he hears all those whispers about our team."
Contact Wiggins' World at davwigg@gmail.com.