The Lakers can see the light at the end of a dark tunnel

The Lakers’ youth movement came about by accident. The front office actually tried to sign or trade for established stars to avoid it, but couldn’t. They had to bottom out because of win-now moves that didn’t pan out, but it was never the plan to go this route.

But after several painful years, hope is on the horizon. Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, and D’Angelo Russell showed on opening night that they can play, combining for 63 points and leading their team to an unexpected 120-114 opening-night win against the Rockets.

The Lakers’ youngsters are starting to show that they are talented enough to build around and, more importantly, that they fit together well.

Russell is clearly the centerpiece. He’s exactly the type of scoring lead guard with a deadly pull-up that causes defenses so many problems. He went 4 of 10 from beyond the arc on Wednesday and is learning how to use the threat of his shooting to draw fouls. Unlike most point guards, his size is also a plus. At 6’5, he can post up smaller defenders and either attack them or find his teammates.

There aren’t a lot of 20-year-olds with that skill level. He’s a work in progress on defense but his 6’9 wingspan could help him become one of the few two-way players at his position as well. As far as young prospects go, there aren’t a lot better than Russell.

It’s early, but it seems Mitch Kupchak made the right call going with him instead of Jahlil Okafor.

The selection of Julius Randle in 2014 was more questionable. Undersized power forwards who can’t protect the rim or shoot three-pointers simply have a hard time making an impact in the league. He had no choice but to evolve from the post bully who dominated in college into something else completely if he hoped to live up to his lottery pick status.

That process is coming around. Randle is now more comfortable pushing the ball up the floor like a point forward and taking bigger guys off the dribble. He’s also improved his defense on the perimeter, managing to stay with guards on switches. His mobility is his best asset and he used it against Houston to score 18 points, dish out six assists, and come up with two huge stops on Harden late.

The 21-year-old Randle needs to show that he can perform at that level consistently. If he can, his emerging perimeter game combined with his strength and interior scoring could make him a tough matchup.

Clarkson, the 46th pick in the 2014 draft, broke out in the second half of his rookie season. As a sophomore, he became a starter. Now in his third year, he might have found his ideal role: sixth man.

Against the Rockets, Clarkson led the Lakers in scoring while coming off the bench. He took a back seat as first Russell and then Randle carried the Lakers before taking over in the second half. He scored 23 of his 25 points in the last two periods and made play after incredible play in the fourth quarter, from grabbing a key offensive board to getting a steal on James Harden.

Every team needs an X-factor who can make things happen on his own. If Clarkson can get more comfortable, the Lakers might have found theirs.

Now, obviously it’s still too early for that core to carry the Lakers back to relevance. The win against the Rockets might be one of the few Los Angeles gets this season. Consistency will be an issue for the young players throughout this year, and probably the next. It will be a while before the Lakers are a playoff contender.

Some of the pieces needed to build a winning team are in place, though, and they may actually fit. Randle and Russell could develop a killer two-man game and Clarkson should provide secondary scoring and playmaking off the bench. If 2016 No. 2 overall pick Brandon Ingram can grow into his body and matures into a two-way force at the wing, he should find the perfect role waiting for him in the starting lineup.

After a few years of tearing things down, the Lakers finally have a foundation. Now the real fun begins.