Purple & Gold set up for glory in 2020
The Los Angeles Lakers have missed the playoffs each of these past six seasons. During that time, the team's front office personnel has proven to be one of the most tumultuous in the league. As far as the product on the court, it's been a relatively mediocre showing in the initial post Kobe Bryant era. Fitting for the Hollywood locale they play in, the Lakers have been a reality show filled with drama recently. They're the true "Keeping up with the Kardashian's" of the sports world.
The arrival of the great LeBron James in the summer of 2018 only upped the ante in the drama department. But more importantly for Laker fans, it gave them a small championship window they can be optimistic about moving forward having acquired the best player in the world for a decade straight now.
In the NBA, one or two significant offseason moves can change the entire complexion of a team's playoff outlook. After much struggle to get a deal done last season, the Lakers finally acquired Anthony "The Brow" Davis via trade back in June. "AD" will arguably be the best teammate LeBron has ever had in his career.
Davis is coming off a season in which he averaged 25 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks per game. He's established himself as a top five player in basketball. Pairing a 26 year old player of his caliber with someone as great as LeBron alone makes their team a serious title contender next season.
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The rest of the Los Angeles roster is filled with experience, grit, and shooting ability. All of these characteristics are conducive to a squad built around LeBron. Expect role players Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo, and Quinn Cook to all thrive playing alongside the dominant games of LeBron & AD.
The 2019-2020 NBA season may have the most parity in league history. But LeBron has appeared in the finals nine times. He's dragged far less talented rosters than this 2019 Lakers one to the finals before. He also doesn't have the daunting "Hamptons Five" Kevin Durant Warriors, who broke up this summer, to compete with. There's plenty of reasons to believe the Lakers will hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy come next June.