2018-19 Los Angeles Lakers Preview And Predictions

by
Former Writers
October 11, 2018

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We are one week away from Los Angeles Lakers basketball ladies and gentlemen. Let that sink in. Fans and writers like myself have had October 18th marked on our calendars for quite some time. There is a lot to be excited about this season.

The Lakers swung for the fences in free agency and finally got their next franchise superstar in LeBron James. The prospect of a super team with James, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard had been talked about, but never became a reality. With a solid young core and the best player in the NBA, this team has the potential to be special. Before predicting where they will finish in the west, there are some key aspects that need to be analyzed.

Los Angeles Lakers Key Additions

Magic Johnson brought the biggest fish in the pond to Los Angeles this offseason. The Lakers signed James this offseason to a four-year, $154 million contract. The idea behind the four-year deal is a four-year plan constructed by Johnson. James knows the Lakers aren’t winning a championship this season.

However, the Lakers have one of the best young cores in the league. They also have a max contract slot available for the 2019 offseason. Aligning a superstar such as Kawhi Leonard or Klay Thompson alongside James is the plan. Having two All-stars to go along with the young core can build the next Lakers dynasty. Year two or three of the James era is when I would expect them to be serious title contenders.

The Lakers also brought in a strong veteran presence in to the locker room this offseason. Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Javale McGee, and Michael Beasley all signed one-year deals. Realistically, I do not see these veterans being longtime Lakers. I can see players like McGee and Stephenson returning on veteran minimums if the Lakers were to acquire another All-Star.

The idea behind this is that the Lakers do not want to outshoot teams like the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets. Instead, the plan is to be more physical than these teams, and this roster definitely has more physical presence than those two teams. Time will tell if the Lakers roster as it stands is enough to compete with the two Western Conference juggernauts.

Los Angeles Lakers Key Losses

Julius Randle without a doubt is the biggest loss for the Lakers. Randle signed a two year, $18 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans in the offseason. Randle did not want to be a third or fourth option, which is totally understandable.

Post All-star break, Randle averaged 19.5 PPG 9.4 RPG and 3.2 APG. Randle’s ability to run in transition would have made him one of James’ favorite targets. The Lakers would have had the ability to play small and run Randle at center alongside James and Brandon Ingram. Randle was getting better year in and year out, and looked poised to have a strong season if he re-signed.

Brook Lopez is another key loss for the Lakers. Lopez signed a one year, $3.4 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason. The loss of Lopez leaves the Lakers without a true stretch five.

Lopez shot 34.5% from downtown last season. Lopez would have been able to drive big out the paint and let James or Ingram run isolation sets. Also, James and Lopez could’ve had an insane amount of pick and pop sets ran through one another.

Season Prediction For The Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are perhaps the most interesting team to watch this season. The biggest name in the league in James is on the biggest franchise in terms of history in the NBA. Do I expect the Lakers to win a championship this season? Absolutely not. However, this team will be a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference. Any team with James on it is at least guaranteed a playoff appearance.

However, there is much more to this roster than James. Lonzo Ball, Ingram, and Kyle Kuzma. They all have play styles that will flourish with James. Ball and James in transition should instill fear in any defense. Ingram has shown strong signs of development in the preseason. Also, Kuzma can be the new Kevin Love for James and run some interesting pick and pop sets.

As far as a win total goes for the Lakers, there are a few things to consider. This team will definitely get off to a slow start. There are so many new faces on this team and chemistry will definitely be an issue.

Also, Ball and James are two ball dominant players that will have to learn how to play together in half court sets. With that being said, I think the Lakers will finish with a 52-30 record, which should be good enough for third in the Western Conference. It should put James in the MVP conversation.