ESPN’s “Summer Forecast” just dropped a bomb, straight up naming the Los Angeles Lakers as the team most likely to be the biggest disappointment in the upcoming NBA season. You’d think after Luka Doncic put up an MVP-caliber campaign with 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, winning his second scoring title last season, expectations would be through the roof for all the *right* reasons. But nope, the insiders are already calling it.
The Shadow of Expectations And a Risky Rebuild
The reason ESPN’s insiders are so down on the Lakers? It’s that classic NBA cocktail of sky-high expectations mixed with an organizational standard for perennial championship contention. This isn’t just about last season; it’s the weight of always being a championship-or-bust franchise. After two straight 50-win seasons, including a 53-29 record last year that saw them upset Kevin Durant’s Houston Rockets in the first round before getting swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the next round, the pressure is undeniably real. Major changes this summer, including an ongoing ownership saga and the departure of key players like LeBron James, meant they brought in nine new faces. If they can’t build on those consistent 50-win seasons, everyone’s gonna be questioning how they handled LeBron’s exit all over again. The heat is on, big time.
Question Marks Surround Doncic’s Supporting Cast
Even with Austin Reaves blossoming into an All-Star-level guard, there are huge question marks surrounding the rest of the squad. The Lakers still don’t have enough plus defenders on the perimeter, a problem that’s haunted them for the last five years. Plus, some folks are worried they lack the team speed and 3-point shooting to hang with contenders like the Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers. Then there’s the Walker Kessler sign-and-trade. Yeah, he’s a defensive-minded, backboard-gobbling center they need, but did they overpay? Two future first-round draft picks, two pick swaps, and a four-year, $130 million contract feels steep. And let’s not forget the health concerns: he missed a handful of games in his four NBA seasons and only played five games last year before a torn labrum shelved him. Yikes.
Look, it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s certainly the opportunity for the Lakers to pleasantly surprise people, especially since they’ve gotten younger and built the team around Doncic to complement him better and make more sense. But for now, the buzz from ESPN is that this Lakers squad is ripe for disappointment, carrying a heavy weight of expectations. We’ll all be watching to see if they can flip the script when the games actually start. Get ready.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply