The Los Angeles Lakers have the potential to be a completely different animal this coming season. With sights firmly set on the Larry O’Brien trophy, we take a look at the best closing lineup the team could deploy this upcoming season.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, hindsight is both a wonderful and terrible thing. This time last year, the expectation in Lakers Nation was sky-high. Former president of basketball operations Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka had just pulled off a franchise-altering free agent signing in landing superstar small forward LeBron James.
This move, along with having Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart on the roster, had Lakers fans across the globe rejoicing. The Lakers had the heir to Kobe Bryant in LeBron James, whilst also maintaining the young core. Not only this but the purple and gold were a few minor moves away from having enough room to add two max slots in the summer of 2019.
Fast forward 12 months and things have not exactly gone to plan.
The Lakers didn’t make the playoffs due to several injuries including one to James.
While the Lakers have the 2nd star in All NBA power forward Anthony Davis, it came at great cost as the Lakers handed over Ball, Ingram, Hart, the 4th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, as well as future picks and pick swaps. It was a huge haul for the New Orleans Pelicans for a player who was a free agent in 12 months.
With AD now on the roster, along with a fully healthy and motivated LeBron James, things seem to be looking up for the purple and gold.
With some serious talent on the Lakers roster, let us take a look at what would be the Lakers’ most dangerous and potent line up during crunch time to finish a game.