Part 4/14:
Despite the trade chatter, the Lakers are viewed as a team on the upswing. The recent roster improvements—Luka Doncic in year two, a healthier Austin Reaves, and promising rookies like Bronny James—project a better team that should play more cohesively. The addition of DeAndre Ayton, though defensively challenged, adds size and versatility at the center position.
However, this team won't be among the league's elite like Houston or Oklahoma City, nor are they expected to dominate like last year's Dallas Mavericks. The analyst is optimistic, though, that with these gains, the Lakers will be a solid playoff contender—interesting and decent but unlikely to secure a championship.