Los Angeles Lakers: 3 reasons why the title chances shrink next season

1. The Golden State Warriors are going to be back to contend with the Los Angeles Lakers

Many people wrote off the Golden State Warriors this season and they were absolutely correct. Not only did the team lose Kevin Durant to the Brooklyn Nets and Klay Thompson to injury, but Stephen Curry also missed most of the season, causing the Warriors to go from the best team in the league to one of the worst.

The Warriors had the worst record in the league, 15-50, at the time of the season suspension. That might not seem scary next year, but the Warriors are going to undergo one of the largest win differentials from a year that we have ever seen.

Not only are Curry and Thompson going to be back in the fold, but they are going to be rested. Making it to five consecutive NBA Finals is a taxing thing and with both guys getting significant rest this season, and Draymond Green getting rest from not playing in the playoffs, the Warriors are going to be rejuvenated.

Plus, the team has assets. They did a great job of flipping KD for D’Angelo Russell and then flipped Russell for Andrew Wiggins and a 2021 top-3 protected pick.

Wiggins alone is not a big reason to be excited, as he has not been great thus far in his career, but he is a flippable asset with their draft capital that could either A) be flipped for a star or B) be a great fourth/fifth option for the Warriors.

Plus, the Warriors have been one of the best teams in the league with player development.

So the two routes are either having Wiggins and a likely top-three prospect from the NBA Draft or flipping Wiggins and that pick for a star that becomes available on the trade market.

Whatever it is, the Warriors are going to have their core back and rested and they are a legitimate title-contender that plays in the Lakers’ division. This could be the start of a second dynasty chapter for Golden State.