Brooklyn Nets
This is the NBA Finals matchup that most NBA fans believe we are heading towards and it certainly would be the most star-studded matchup. You could even make the case that this matchup would be more star-studded than the Golden State Warriors-Cleveland Cavaliers matchups.
This NBA Finals matchup would have five players who are all in the top-15. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant and James Harden are all in the top six/seven while Kyrie Irving is somewhere from 10-15.
The Nets have more star power, which is typically concerning as star power usually decides NBA Finals matchups. However, even with Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge, the Lakers have a distinct advantage over the Nets with Drummond: size.
I know, this sounds ironic after talking about the mismatches against the 76ers and Nuggets but those are the two best centers in the league. This Nuggets team is a team that lacks a dynamic rim protector and does not match up well defensively against the Lakers.
Kevin Durant is going to have to play a lot of small-ball center and I just do not see how the Nets can handle the size of LeBron, Davis and Drummond all on the court. Drummond is not the most gifted offensively, but he still creates a huge mismatch down low no matter who is guarding him.
This Lakers team forces the Nets to use more of Jordan, which they likely do not want to do. Against a team like the 76ers the Nets can commit to Joel Embiid getting his 35 and 10 and focus on stopping the shooters. They cannot do that against both LeBron and AD with how well they can get to the rim.
Drummond going to the Nets would have been disastrous for LA. Instead, they now have a certain matchup advantage over Brooklyn.