Part 5/14:
LeBron's age and deficiencies in defensive consistency, combined with some second-tier players' defensive liabilities, mean a title is out of reach. Still, he is capable of helping the team in the postseason, and undoubtedly, the Lakers have no immediate reason to dismantle their squad.
End-of-Season Outlook and Trade Deadline Speculations
Looking ahead, the analyst predicts LeBron will begin the season with the Lakers. Should the team unexpectedly stumble—say, early in the season—they might consider trading him by the deadline to maximize their chances for a deep playoff run with other contingents. The idea is that the team won't trade LeBron unless things go dramatically wrong, which seems unlikely given their recent improvement.