The Los Angeles Lakers are going through a wild summer, with the whole roster looking totally different than it did last season. LeBron James, after making it clear he was moving on, officially left the organization for good, heading to the Philadelphia 76ers for his unprecedented 24th NBA season. Now, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz is dropping a brutal prediction for the Purple and Gold: this could be the Lakers’ worst regular season since JJ Redick took over as head coach. Talk about a tough start to life post-King James!
The King’s New Kingdom and LA’s Rebuild
It became super clear last season that LeBron James was probably not coming back, and he quickly let the Lakers know they could move on without him. Then, the news dropped that James, at 41 years old, officially signed with the Philadelphia 76ers for what he called his “final run at another NBA championship.” He inked a two-year, $8 million deal that includes a player option. Meanwhile, the Lakers are now building around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. They’ve added a bunch of new faces to the roster this summer, trying to make up for the massive void left by their longtime superstar. Swartz pointed out that Kessler is a huge upgrade over Ayton, and guys like Grimes, Thybulle, and Mamukelashvili are strong two-way floor-spacers next to Doncic. It sounds like they’re trying to shift the team’s identity, but are these moves enough?
The Tough Road Ahead for the Lake Show
Despite all these new pieces, the outlook isn’t exactly sunshine and rainbows. Greg Swartz believes the Lakers will flirt with 50 wins but ultimately finish in the high-40s this season. If they fail to win 50 games, it would be the first time they fell short of that mark since JJ Redick became head coach. That’s a huge drop-off, right? The team won’t just miss James, either, they’re also going to miss Smart. Last season, when both James and Smart were off the floor, LA had a net rating of minus-6.1 across 2,252 possessions. That’s a serious defensive and offensive hit. Swartz still thinks the Lakers will punch their ticket to the West playoffs, but it’s tough to tell if these summer moves are enough to make them legitimate championship contenders.
This season is set to be a really interesting one for the Lakers, as they definitely have plenty to prove. Their first season without James in nearly a decade could be a challenging one, and fans will be watching every single game to see how this new era plays out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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