Several unknowns surround the Los Angeles Lakers entering the 2024-25 season, which makes it difficult to select a win total for the organization.
Unsurprisingly, the annual NBA GM survey revealed that the Lakers’ level of success is the toughest to predict this year, followed by the Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Philadelphia 76ers.
In June, the franchise hired a 15-year NBA veteran with minimal coaching experience. JJ Redick served as a volunteer coach for his son’s elementary school basketball team but declined to dabble in collegiate or professional coaching before 2024.
After relieving Darvin Ham of his duties in May, the Lakers opted to bring Redick on board, thinking the podcast host’s brilliant mind would make him a marvelous NBA coach.
Will the organization’s gut feeling betray them this year? No one knows, but the uncertainty hasn't made it easy for NBA GMs to access the Lakers.
Additionally, will the healthy version of Anthony Davis appear for the second consecutive season? Davis has been injury-prone since the Pelicans traded him to the Lakers in 2019, but he remained in Los Angeles’ lineup for most of the 2023-24 regular season.
The 6-foot-10 layup eraser and effective pick-and-roll finisher only missed six games for the Lakers last year, which could be a sign that Davis is turning the corner from a health perspective. Until Davis shows he can manufacture back-to-back 70+ game seasons, though, the nine-time All-Star’s physical condition will be an area of concern for Los Angeles.
Lastly, will D'Angelo Russell show up if the Lakers are fortunate enough to reach the postseason? Last year, Russell averaged 14.2 points and 4.2 assists per contest on 38.4% shooting from three and 31.8% shooting from downtown in the playoffs.
The 6-foot-3 guard netted 36 points in Los Angeles’ first two contests against the Denver Nuggets but followed up those performances with a donut in Game 3.
He finished with 71 points in the series, but his inconsistent play resulted in a short-lived playoff appearance for Los Angeles. The Lakers’ championship hopes will diminish if this becomes an annual occurrence.
Los Angeles can count on LeBron James to perform at a superhuman level this year, but with so many questions tied to the organization, it makes sense why assigning a ceiling to the Lakers is challenging.
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