Will LeBron take the Lakers to the Finals in just his first year?

LeBron’s departure from Cleveland was, for many, almost an inevitability. It’s no wonder Cavs fans are not as bitter as they were when James left for Miami. After all, LeBron has delivered on his promise to bring another championship to the state.

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The offseason focus and speculations have now shifted to LeBron’s arrival in Los Angeles, and to whether he can quickly bring another NBA ring to the storied Lakers franchise or not. Indeed, the player movements surrounding James’ are indications of such a move: Magic Johnson has managed to acquire veterans Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, and Michael Beasley to play alongside King James this coming season. 

The lineup is certainly not patterned after Golden State’s. But it’s in the contrary philosophy that this move truly shines. No NBA team in the past three years has been successful in beating the Warriors in their own high-offense game. Perhaps the trick is in going against that grain and working on a more defense-oriented backbone powered by veteran smarts. After all, James will provide the offense. And the Lakers has kept its promising bunch of rookies in Kuzma, Ingram, and Ball. 

This early, the Lakers lineup is truly enviable for its sheer depth and the presence of reliable players in every position. People forget, too, that James is not getting any younger; despite his stellar showing in recent seasons, the 2019 season is still a step forward to his eventual retirement. With more teams in the league becoming solid contenders themselves, there’s no question that this Lakers strategy is clearly packaged to pay immediate dividends. 

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George Ammar is a businessman who’s also very much into sports and fitness. He supports various sports franchises including the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the University of Notre Dame's football and basketball teams. For related posts, visit this link.