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Los Angeles went into the summer, looking for some utilitarian incorporations to their roster and came out on the other side, getting more than what they had ever bargained for. While the Lakers were able to keep their full young core intact, it came at the expense of adding Kawhi Leonard to the roster.
If we look across the roster, there are guys who can play multiple positions and can create variegated opportunities to score. That, in today's NBA, is a weapon.
By far, LA houses the squad which everybody in the league is dying to watch. When the season kicks off, it would be really interesting to see Bron team up with the extremely talented roster along with some bonus veteran additions like Rondo & Stephenson, and how it will unfold during the course of the season. It’s an unbelievable opportunity for everyone on the team to learn from one of the best to ever do it.
Let's take a look at how they shape up as a team for the 2018-19 season:
Offseason Activity
There is no arguing the fact that the past summer was a summer like none other for the Lakers front-office. Though LeBron signing the blockbuster $154M/4-year contract with the franchise was the highlight, there was much more happening than what met the eye.
To make things even more interesting, they brought along one of the superstar's "rivals" in the name of Lance Stephenson who signed a one-year, 4.5 million dollar contract.
JaVale McGee agreed to a one-year contract along with Michale Beasley who came in on a $3.4M/one-year contract.
Also, the addition of Rajon Rondo($9M/one-year contract) and the re-signing of Kentavious Caldwell Pope helped an ever-growing cast of one-year signings as the Lakers continued to load up on playmakers to help out Bron.
While the franchise added loads of talent, many of the older ones declared free-agency. Some of the prominent ones being Julius Randle, Isaiah Thomas, Brook Lopez and Channing Frye.
The latest update of change to the LA roster came when the Los Angeles Lakers waived forward Luol Deng two years after signing him to a four-year, $72 million free-agent contract.
Squad Weaknesses
Lonzo Ball averaged 10.2 points in the 52 games that he played last season. The overhyped kid fell short of the expectations from an elite UCLA No.2 draft pick and had an average 6.3 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game to take home as his saving grace.
He needs to step up as rumours suggest he will still be prioritised over Rajon Rondo, who will come off the bench.
Also, Beasley had a career resurgence last season with the Knicks, but his usage remains fairly unclear as he plays the same position(s) as LeBron James, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma.
Another blur on the roster is provided by the infamous Lance Stephenson. He shot just 29 percent from behind the arc last season and so, Josh Hart & KCP might be picked over him.
While McGee proved he could be effective on both ends of the floor in limited minutes on the Warriors, it's unclear whether or not he will get the same opportunities in Los Angeles as he fights with rookie Moritz Wagner for minutes in the frontcourt.
The team is young and playoff-inexperienced. But if the 2017-18 season has taught us anything, it is the reality that LeBron can make do with an unseasoned squad and will it to new heights.
Team Strengths
Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram have both averaged a sliver above 16 points in the 2017-18 season and showcased maturity uncharacteristic of their respective ages.
Josh Hart had an intense summer workout therapy and looks promising too. These youngsters needed a leader badly, one which could hold it all together for the team while they do their thing in the middle.
And what they got in LeBron is just the right mindset needed to compete for a Championship.
Kyrie would have been playing the best basketball of his life in Cleveland, but what really transformed him from a great ball handler to a champion was indeed The King.
LeBron seems genuinely excited and has stated time and time again about the confidence he has in the collection of young players.
And James is the NBA’s best player, so when he says he’s confident in a roster, it’s the safest route to believe him.
Opportunities and Threats
LeBron James' fitness level and ability to dominate in every single one of the 82 games during the season, has left everyone around the NBA universe in awe.
Though his fitness is something that's taken for granted, it also provides the biggest threat to the basketball topography of the Lakers next season.
If he goes down with an injury(which probably never happens) for a stretch of games, it'll take some serious firepower on the team's part to fill up the void in the meantime.
Also, Lonzo Ball has undergone a successful knee surgery to repair his torn meniscus and is expected to attend training camp and be ready, in time, for the regular season.
He needs to extrapolate the bright spots he showed(when he was healthy) during the past injury-riddled season and with consistency this time around.
Ironically, the opportunities for the Lakers squad that has been put together are more or less, threats in disguise.
The revamped version of the team may thrash all opposition that comes their way if the role players play to their strengths and support Bron & the youngsters or it might as well turn out to be a hastily assembled assortment of NBA stars.
Predictions for the upcoming Season
As though landing James wasn't enough, Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and the rest of their staff in the front office are looking ahead with their sights set on the cream of next offseason’s free agency crop.
Some of the names on their radar being Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and surprisingly, Klay Thompson. I hope they get at least two stars from the names provided above, just so we can have a REAL rivalry with Warriors in the near future.
History has shown that whenever LeBron arrives, he doesn't need a whole season to acclimatize with the new system and get used to their style of play.
He has carried teams to the NBA Finals in his very first season playing with the franchise, and for some inexplicable reason, that seems like the norm.
In my personal opinion, I expect the Lakers will make it to the West Finals at least and yes, my imagination gave up on me after that.
I think they are capable of competing with the Rockets, Spurs and Thunder in the West if LeBron can streamline the talent pool they have accumulated in LA, something he's so adept at pulling through.
Guess the Lakers players!
