Los Angeles Lakers
2019-20 record: 52-19; won NBA championship
Additions: C Montrezl Harrell (two years, $18.9M); C Marc Gasol (two years, $5.2M); G Wes Matthews (one year, $3.6M); G Dennis Schröeder (acquired from Oklahoma City); F Alfonzo McKinnie (acquired from Cleveland)
Subtractions: G Danny Green (traded to Oklahoma City); C JaVale McGee (traded to Cleveland); F Jaden McDaniels (draft rights traded to Oklahoma City); G Avery Bradley (signed with Miami); G Rajon Rondo (signed with Atlanta); C Dwight Howard (signed with Philadelphia); G Quinn Cook (waived)
Retained: G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (three years, $39M); F Markieff Morris (one year, $2.3M)
Projected Lineup (via RealGM):
The King in the West: Lebron James. We know how great Lebron is and has been. There is no reason to expect him to slow down until he shows it. The Lakers remain title favorites.
I want to start this preview by taking a moment to remember the late, great Kobe Bryant. The impact of Kobe will never be forgotten. And although this will be the first full NBA season since his passing, his impact on the Lakers and the entire world could never be understated. He will never be forgotten. And truly, Kobe’s impact has risen. In true Mamba fashion, Kobe exudes greatness through life and through his passing. Rest in Power, Kobe Bean Bryant. Basketball would never be the same without you.
What will make them successful?
Running it back in every sense of the phrase. I thought they were the clear favorites going into last year and even may have put a little bit of guap on that and they proved me right by dominating the West throughout the season and then walking through the West playoffs pretty easily on their way to their 17th championship and Lebron’s 4th title.
So no one is going to doubt them this year. And honestly, they got better. Replacing Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo, Danny Green, and Javale McGee might have sounded daunting before the last offseason. But Rob Pelinka pulled off smart, shrewd moves to keep this roster fresh and infuse it with younger, hungry talent.
Dennis Schroeder and Montrezl Harrell finished 1st and 2nd respectively for the 6th man of the year award last year. Bench scoring, which once was a weakness for this Lakers team is now one of its strengths. Marc Gasol kind of looked like he lost a step in the Orlando Bubble but I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt to all players who struggled in the bubble. He’s a champion and all-world defensive player who in theory should be a big upgrade from last year. Maybe Pau gets some run with this group in what would be an emotional return to LakerLand.
This team was BRUTAL when Lebron was off the floor last year even with the greatness that Anthony Davis flashed the entire season. Pelinka knew that going into the offseason and delivered. This team is built for a repeat as long as…
Biggest Question Mark?
Will LeBron’s age start showing during the quickest turnaround for an NBA champion ever? That’s the only question. Lebron has already spoken out and said he would take time to ramp it up early in the season. Luckily for him, Anthony Davis still exists and will be playing at an MVP level again. This team is set up to dominate yet again.
Breakout player: Anthony Davis
He is going to win MVP. Book it now.
Best Bet: Anthony Davis to win MVP + 700 (via VegasInsider)
Prediction: First in the West
Los Angeles Clippers
2019-20 record: 49-23; lost in Western Conference semifinals
Additions: C Serge Ibaka (two years, $18.9M); G Luke Kennard (acquired from Detroit); C Reggie Perry (draft rights acquired from Brooklyn); 2023-26 second-round picks (acquired from Detroit); hired coach Tyronn Lue
Subtractions: C Montrezl Harrell (signed with Lakers); F JaMychal Green (signed with Denver); G Landry Shamet (traded to Brooklyn); G Rodney McGruder (traded to Detroit); fired coach Doc Rivers
Retained: F Marcus Morris (four years, $64M); F Patrick Patterson (one year, $3M)
Projected Lineup (via RealGM)
Former King in the North: Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi was looking for the storybook ending last year. He reigned supreme with the Toronto Raptors, stepping into a role with a great roster that just needed a star to fulfill his destiny. He thought he would do the same with the Clippers, even bringing along his own chosen knight in Paul George… uhhhh… yeah maybe he could’ve stuck with what he had.
What will make them successful?
Basically just, don’t be the shitshow they evidently were at the end of last year. The chemistry was lacking the entire year. It was truly a collection of talented individuals who weren’t willing to sacrifice their own self-interests for the betterment of the team, including their two star players who decided they did not need to have a hands-on leadership role and left that to the head coach, who’s messages clearly fell flat at some point during the season.
They never recovered. They never discovered identity and it cost them. They were embarrassed by the Nuggets. Can they bounce back? Time will tell. The talent is there. They must play as a unit and Ty Lue must define this team’s roles and assert the hierarchy. If they play up to their potential, the rest of the league will be put on notice.
Biggest question mark?:
Their starting guard rotation. There has been some talk of using Paul George as a point guard in a triangle style offense. That does not solve their Lou Williams, Pat Bev, and Luke Kennard problem. None of those guards blow me away. Especially in playoff minutes. The Ibaka signing is huge for their front line and to improve chemistry with Kawhi. How the rest of the rotation sorts itself out will determine how far this team goes. But the stars are there. The roster talent around them is there. They just have to do some soul searching and figure out how badly they really want it.
Breakout Player: Paul George
LOL. Needed to include one jab in here.
Best Bet: Kawhi Leonard Defensive Player of the Year +3000 (via OddsShark)
Prediction: Top 3 in the West
Golden State Warriors
2019-20 record: 15-50; did not make playoffs
Additions: Kelly Oubre, Brad Wannamaker, Kent Bazmore, James Wiseman with the second pick in the draft
Subtractions: Waived Guard Ky Bowman, Klay Thompson will miss a second straight season without playing a game.
Projected Starting Lineup (via RealGM)
The King in the North(Cal); former King in the West. Stephen Curry secretly has not been very healthy the last three years, including last year. Years removed from his former reign in the West, Curry and his band of Warriors look to recapture some of their 2015 magic, where they were coiunted out by the entire league and the superstar guard captured the hearts of NBA fans everyone on his way to an MVP and their first NBA Title.
What will make them successful?
Stephen Curry getting back to an MVP level and elevating the young talent around him. That’s the thing about this team. There is a LOT of talent. People’s opinion on some of the players may vary such as Oubre, Wiggins, Paschall, Chriss, and Poole. Personally I think in the proper rolls with the hierarchy clear on this team, they could succeed.
James Wiseman, their #2 overall selection in this year’s draft has the most pressure on him to perform. Draymond Green must return to close to an All-Defense level as well. He is in the unenviable position of being anointed as the bridge between the previous era of Warriors greatness and promise to a greater future.
The Prince that was Promised, if you will. He has a lot of pressure to perform immediately, but if he is as good as his potential predicts him to be, it will bring the Warriors an element they never have had in the Steph Curry Era, a dominant pick and roll. If Wiseman is effective as a roller, the Warriors will have a top 10 offense. If Wiseman is better than just effective? Teams playing the Warriors are basically fucked. Imagine dealing with Curry as the ball handler and the threat of the roller is great enough that Steph gets a few clean looks a game? Scary.
Biggest Question Mark?
Who will be the player to step up in Klay’s absence? Out of that group of young players, one of Kelly Oubre Jr, Andrew Wiggins, or Eric Paschall need to fill in for Klay’s scoring and most importantly his defense. Wiggins is a good defender but an inefficient, high volume scorer who has yet to be a great shooter from 3. It could be Oubre, but he’s kinda the opposite of Wiggins here. Paschall could help them take a some responsibility off of Draymond night-to-night. But all those are very big if’s.
Breakout Player: James Wiseman
For everything I said above. He has a chance to be legitimately special.
Best Bet: Wiseman to win Rookie of the Year: +480 (VegasInsider)
Prediction: 7th in the West
2019-20 record: 34-39; did not make playoffs
Additions: G Chris Paul (acquired from Oklahoma City); F Abdel Nader (acquired from Oklahoma City); F Jae Crowder (three years, $29M); G E’twaun Moore (one year, $2.3M); G Langston Galloway (one year, $3.6M); C Damian Jones (two years); F/C Jalen Smith (first round, 10th pick overall)
Subtractions: G Ricky Rubio (traded to Oklahoma City); F Kelly Oubre, Jr. (traded to Oklahoma City); G Ty Jerome (traded to Oklahoma City); G Jalen Lacque (traded to Oklahoma City); C Aron Baynes (signed with Toronto); F Frank Kaminsky (signed with Sacramento); G Elie Okobo (waived)
Retained: F Dario Saric (three years, $27M); G Jevon Carter (three years, $11.5M)
Projected Lineup (via RealGM)
Let’s just take a second to appreciate Devin Booker’s bubble run by reliving his incredible game-winner against the Clippers.
What will make them successful?
The addition of Chris Paul has raised the ceiling for this team and their success will be dependent on how superstar cornerstones Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton develop under the wing of Paul. Booker ascended to new heights last year nabbing his first All-Star appearance and averaging 26.6 points per game for the second year in a row. He is already on a path to become an elite scorer and now gets to play with one of the greatest point guards of all time. Sounds like a recipe for success.
Oh yeah, and their third year Center is rounding into form and could be dominant in a pick and roll with Paul. Ayton still has elite potential and will benefit from Paul possibly even more than Booker will.
Biggest Question Mark?
Is the rest of this roster any good? Mikal Bridges, Damian Jones and Cameron Payne among others must all take a jump in their roles for this team to show any real depth. Maybe the three stars are good enough to hide their deficiencies on most nights. But how this young roster evolves will determine the ceiling of this team.
Breakout Player: Devin Booker
With the help of Chris Paul, Book makes the leap to an All-NBA level. Book it.
Best Bet: Suns to Make the Playoffs -132 (via sportsbettingdime)
Prediction: 8th place in the West
2019-20 record: 31-41; did not make playoffs
Addition: C Hassan Whiteside (one year, $2.3M); F Frank Kaminsky (one year, $1.8M); G Tyrese Haliburton (first round, 12th pick overall); G Jahmi’us Ramsey (second round, 43rd pick overall); G Robert Woodard II (trade rights acquired from Memphis); 2021 second-round pick (acquired from Houston); 2022 second-round pick (acquired from Memphis); hired general manager Monte McNair; hired associate head coach Alvin Gentry
Subtractions: G Bogdan Bogdanovic (Kings declined to match four-year, $72M offer sheet from Atlanta); C Xavier Tillman (draft rights traded to Memphis); F Kenyon Martin, Jr. (draft rights traded to Houston)
Retained: G/F DaQuan Jeffries (two years, $3M)
Projected LineUp (via RealGM)
What will make them succeed?:
I did this whole gimmick to mostly end up getting to the Kings and kind of roast them because they are nowhere near the Kings in the West and it is honestly disappointing because I have been a Kings believer for years and they continue to disappoint me. I bet the Kings over the past two years. I bet D’Aaron Fox to win Most Improved Player. I wanted a west coast underdog team and they never reach that potential. Is this the year?
Can De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley and Buddy Hield reach their potential and actually make some noise in the West. No one should be surprised if we are halfway through the season and the Kings find themselves in a playoffs spot. The talent has always been there but they never put it together. Tyrese Haliburton could end up being the steal of the draft and maybe the missing piece as another guard who can take some of the ball handling responsibility out of Hield and Fox.
Biggest Question Mark:
Can Bagley stay healthy? He has yet to show that yet, but when he’s on the floor he’s been incredible. Can they make up for the loss of Bogdan Bogdanovic? They lost him for nothing this year. Can they replace his productivity with Haliburton? This team is currently underperforming and they need everyone to step up to compete or they will be forgotten in the west.
Breakout player: De’Aaron Fox
He has All-NBA level talent. I might be one of the biggest Fox believers out there, and I think he starts to figure it out after a disjointed year last year.
Best Bet: D’Aaron Fox Most Improved Player +2800 (via oddsshark)
Prediction: 13th in the West
Previous Previews: Atlantic, Northwest, Southwest