<P> The Lakers found their way back the playoffs in 1957, when they lost to the Hawks once more . The following year was disastrous, however, as Mikan became head coach before finding he was not suited to the task . After compiling a 9--30 record, he stepped aside in favor of Kundla, but the Lakers found themselves last in the league that year with a 19--53 record . </P> <P> Last place, however, meant the first pick in the draft, and the Lakers chose wisely, picking Elgin Baylor, who went on to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 24.9 points per game and 15.0 rebounds per game...In 1959, Baylor and Mikkelsen were able to lead the team past their recent nemesis, the Hawks, and into the Finals, where they fell to the then - emerging Boston Celtics in the first four - game sweep in NBA Finals history . This marked the start of the long rivalry between the two teams . 1960 saw the Lakers start poorly, but they managed to make the playoffs with a meager 25--50 record . They were defeated again, however, by the Hawks . </P> <P> In 1958, the Brooklyn Dodgers of Major League Baseball moved to Los Angeles and quickly became a huge financial success . Short did not fail to notice this . After considering moves to Chicago and San Francisco, he decided to move the franchise to Los Angeles prior to the 1961 season, making the Lakers the NBA's first West Coast team . The Lakers did not change their name after this second move, despite the general scarcity of natural lakes in southern California . Minneapolis, meanwhile, would remain without an NBA franchise until the debut of the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1989 . </P> <P> Besides the relocation to Los Angeles, a second big change to the team was the addition of point guard Jerry West . A third was the hiring of West's college coach Fred Schaus to helm the team, and a fourth was the post-season addition of Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn as the Lakers' play - by - play announcer . Hearn would go on to hold that post for the next 41 years . </P>

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