With the 2019-2020 NBA season fast approaching, Our First Draft is providing team previews for all 30 NBA teams. These are intended to inform the reader about important roster changes for all teams, as well as summarizing the outlook of the team ahead. This includes the Vegas Over/Under line, OFD’s recommendation on which side to take, as well as a projected record for the team.
Team: Los Angeles
Conference: Western
Wins O/U: 50.5 (Over +100, Under -120)
Last Year’s Record: 37-45
Projected Roster (Projected Starters marked with asterisks): K. Antetokounmpo, A. Bradley, K. Caldwell-Pope, A. Caruso, Q. Cook, T. Daniels, A. Davis*, J. Dudley, D. Green*, T. Horton-Tucker, L. James*, K. Kuzma*, J. McGee*, Z. Norvell Jr., R. Rondo
Key Offseason Moves: Traded L. Ball, B. Ingram, and J. Hart for A. Davis, Signed D. Green, Signed Q. Cook, Signed T. Daniels, Lost R. Bullock, Signed J. Dudley, Signed A. Bradley,
Overall Summary: The other team in the City of Angels was also one of the winners of the offseason, but the rest of the summer has not been so kind. After giving up a then-record haul (before the Clippers traded for PG) of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and a lot of first round picks to the Pelicans in exchange for Anthony Davis, the Lakers hoped to sign Kawhi Leonard and make themselves the clear title favorites for the 2019-2020 NBA season. Unfortunately, Steve Ballmer and the Clippers intervened, and while Kawhi will be playing in Staples Center next season, it won’t be in purple and gold. Then, during an August workout, summer signing DeMarcus Cousins tore his ACL, an injury which will end his season before it even started – and which leaves questions about whether he will ever play again. The Lakers seem so desperate for center depth that they are believed to have reached out to former Lakers center Dwight Howard (Yikes!). Weirdly, if the Lakers stop obsessing over center depth, and instead choose to play Anthony Davis at the position, the Cousins injury could actually help the Lakers’ hopes. It is known around the league that Anthony Davis would prefer to play power forward and LeBron James would prefer to play small forward, but these aren’t the right positions for them in today’s league. If they shifted up to center and power forward, Kyle Kuzma could play the three, far more natural for him than to be a way too-big shooting guard. If this is the crunch-time lineup they opt for, surrounded by Danny Green and Quinn Cook, two excellent shooters, then the Lakers will be formidable. The coaching issue is another question, with three former head coaches on the same bench, in head coach Frank Vogel and assistant coaches Jason Kidd and Lionel Hollins. If Vogel can keep control of the bench, then the Lakers should be heading back to the playoffs for the first time in quite a few years.
Verdict: Since I think the Boogie injury might actually help the Lakers, and because I think people are underrating the insane potential of the Lebron/AD duo, I would recommend taking the over, though due to the inevitable drama surrounding both Lebron and the Lakers franchise, it’s not one of my favorite bets. The Lakers’ stars don’t have the same injury concerns as their Clippers’ counterparts, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see Anthony Davis holding up the MVP trophy next season. I project the Lakers will finish with the same 52-30 record as the Clippers.
