Los Angeles Lakers: Is this the end of a championship era?

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 25: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half of Game Two of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Phoenix Suns Arena on May 25, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

What about the Los Angeles Lakers next season?

The players, coaches and front office all believe that the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t get a fair opportunity to defend their title because of injuries.

Instead, this year’s NBA champion will either be a team that has never won a title before (any of the Western teams plus the Nets) or a team that hasn’t won in at least 38 years. The Sixers last won in 1983, the Bucks in 1971 and the Hawks in 1958.

The West will remain a tough conference. The Clippers, Suns, Jazz, Nuggets, Warriors, Blazers and Mavs are all strong teams, and the Pelicans are on the threshold of taking the next big step. And the East will still feature Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Boston and Miami along with Atlanta and New York.

Pelinka must make some major personnel decisions this offseason regarding which players to re-sign and which new ones to acquire. His goal is to strengthen the roster even though he will be limited by the salary cap.

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But if their two stars are healthy, the Lakers can still compete with any other team. It is premature to think that the LeBron-AD era has ended. Before anyone does that, let’s first see how well both James and Davis can recover from their injuries. Because if their Big Two are at full strength, the Los Angeles Lakers will be gunning for title number 18.

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