There’s always been some truth that the stars seem to shine brighter in Hollywood, for Tinsel Town has always been known for great movies, legendary actors & actresses, not to mention big time musicians. Let’s not forget about iconic athletes and dominant teams of the past like Magic Johnson’s Los Angeles Lakers, Shaq and Kobe’s Los Angeles Lakers, Marcus Allen and the L.A. Raiders, and Kirk Gibson and Fernando Valenzuela of the Dodgers.
When you factor in future Hall Of Famer and former Laker Kobe Bryant’s nagging injuries late in his career plus his recent retirement along with poor management from former Laker executives Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak which derailed the fate of the team, there’s been a heavy absence of Showtime in Los Angeles. When Jeanie Buss took a bold move in the firing of her brother Jim Buss (former head of basketball operations) and also letting go former GM Mitch Kupchak, this clearly signaled a new time in Laker lore and a new beginning.
Former NBA agent Rob Pelinka was hired on as General Manager of the Lakers along with Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who now serves as President of Basketball Operations. In their first full year together, they made some great moves including drafting Lonzo Ball with the #2 pick in the first round, picking up Kyle Kuzma with 27th pick in the first round, and also grabbing Josh Hart with the 30th pick in round 1. They also created cap space for July of 2018.
In such a short period of time working together, Magic and Pelinka have made things happen with the quickness. They got Tim Mozgov’s contract off the books and shipped him off to New Jersey along with the controversial but talented point guard D’Angelo Russell. Nick Young aka “Swaggy P” was also let go. By removing him and Russell from the fray, this added a more mature environment, particularly on the floor and in the locker room.
However, their biggest move thus far has been with the recent acquisition of Lebron James, who is considered to be the best basketball player in the world. We all know about his three championship titles and his 8 straight trips to the NBA Finals, often taking those Cleveland teams (With the exception of the 2016 Championship team and roster) with lackluster talent all the way to the promise land with not much help.
Despite being 33 years of age and having already played 15 seasons, many believe (including myself) that Lebron still has plenty of gas left in the tank. James is active with his workout regimen and conditioning during the offseason, and it clearly shows when you observe his physique and his play on the floor. He clearly has the city on notice, with a buzz and a renewed sense of excitement as Showtime is back in Los Angeles. James signed a four year deal to play with the Lakers which will take him to age 38 when it’s all said and done.
Lebron is such an iconic figure that he not only will affect ticket sales and Laker merchandising, he will also make a huge economic impact on the city of Los Angeles, in and outside of the movie and entertainment business. No matter what anyone has to say about King James, he’s never the athlete that you hear about getting into trouble off the court or even putting himself in a position to be wrapped up in such nonsense or controversy. James is a vocal leader and a social activist, often not afraid to speak on sensitive topics, particularly when it deals with our current political climate or social injustice in the black community.
Let’s not forget about the “I PROMISE SCHOOL” that he built in Akron which is a joint effort on behalf of The Lebron James Family Foundation and the city of Akron. The school provides not only a platform for education for kids in the community, it also provides support in the areas of career and emotional support for parents in need. Despite the glamour and star power that James will provide in Los Angeles, his philanthropic efforts will never go unnoticed.
In terms of his impact out West, it certainly will be an interesting 2018-2019 season for the Lakers, who finished 11th in the West last year with a 35-47 record. The team has a young coach in Luke Walton, but also had an abundance of young players on their roster with no real sense of leadership prior to Lebron’s arrival. When you factor in the core of young players like Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, and Josh Hart, they will all learn and feed off of Lebron’s energy and leadership.
Combine those young players with some savvy veterans like Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Javale McGee, and Michael Beasley and you will certainly have a much more solid and complete roster. Defensively, the Lakers will be much improved on the floor as last year they were terrible on defense. They gave up 109.6 PPG to opposing teams, which ranked 25th out of 30 teams in the NBA. Offensively, they were towards the middle of the pack as they averaged 108.1 PPG which was 11th in the NBA.
There will also be a renewed sense of toughness and tenacity around the basket as veterans Rondo, Beasley, and Stephenson will exemplify those qualities. McGee has proven on last year’s Warriors Championship team that he is a solid rim protector who can not only block shots, but also give you double digits in rebounds and some buckets.
Lebron is a walking triple double on any given night, and even if he isn’t getting them all the time, just his presence and leadership on the floor and the threat that James possesses will instantly make the Lakers a contender in the West. They should win a minimum of 50 games, but even hitting the 50 win mark doesn’t guarantee anything out West, particularly when you have teams like the Warriors, the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trailblazers, and the up and coming Denver Nuggets. I personally believe that the Lakers will finish third or fourth in the West. They literally with a healthy lineup alongside Lebron can challenge and beat any team in a playoff series out West with the exception of Golden State.
I expect (despite some saying championship or bust in year 1) the Lakers to at least advance to the Western Conference Finals unless they bump into Golden State in earlier rounds. Team chemistry and staying healthy will also play a major role in this equation. If the Lakers can acquire a solid shooter in free agency of 2019 and the current Warriors roster loses a few pieces next year, they definitely will challenge the Warriors out West and possibly overtake Golden State. Klay Thompson sure would look good in a Lakers uniform, particularly when you consider his father and current Lakers radio broadcaster Mychal Thompson use to play for the purple and gold.
Let’s not forget about the fact that Kevin Durant only signed a one year deal to return to Golden State, as it’s no secret that Lebron James has wanted to team up with KD and have them play together. That would surely be a dream come true to many Laker fans, but as of now it’s just speculation. No matter what happens in free agency, just the fact that the greatest basketball player on the planet is playing for the Lakers for the next four years will truly be a sight to see. Many of the stars will be front row and courtside watching the King go to work. Let’s just hope the King’s Crown will not only fit around Lebron’s head comfortably, but also will represent another title for the historic franchise known as the Lakers. Get your popcorn and soda ready folks, for this is one historic movie that you won’t want to miss.