NBA Roundtable: Jimmy Butler, the Warriors and the Beasts of the East

What one storyline will dominate the 2018-19 season?

Schmahl: LeBron playing for the Lakers. The biggest NBA-related storylines of the 21 st century, in order: LeBron signing with Miami on national television (2010), Michael Jordan coming out of retirement (2001), the 73-win Warriors/Curry’s unanimous MVP (2016), the Malice at the Palace (2004), Kobe’s retirement (2016), Kobe’s court case/feud with Shaq (2004), Miami’s 27-game win-streak (2013), LeBron returning to Cleveland (2014), Durant to the Warriors (2016), Kobe’s 81 points (2006).

LeBron signing in Hollywood probably falls somewhere in the top three. One of the most famous celebrities in the world has signed with one of the most famous sports franchises in the world. This will be talked about every morning, afternoon, and night, ad nausea. It’s one of the biggest storylines in NBA history.

Osborne: 2019 Free Agency. All season long next years free agency will be constantly discussed whether its Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler or any of the other marquee names. Rumors have been swirling all offseason about next years free agency and its only going to get louder as the season goes on. Anytime Leonard, Durant, Butler, Irving or any other player that’s heading to free agency has a issue expect the rumors to start up with player x wants out or has eyes on team y.

Doole: LeBron James and the new-look Lakers. Let’s be honest, LeBron has been the story of almost every season since he first entered the league. Putting him under the spotlight in Los Angeles on the NBA’s most storied franchise makes this an easy answer.

This might be the most compelling LeBron-led team in years, too. He’s surrounded by the youngest group since his days in Cleveland, with Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and Kyle Kuzma all set to play key roles this season and moving forward.

Then, there’s the eclectic group of veterans in the supporting cast. A team featuring JaVale McGee,
Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo and Michael Beasley still feels more like an NBA Twitter fever dream than anything real. They can all be serviceable players, but they’re just as likely to make a
boneheaded play on any trip down the court.

Throw them all together under one of the top two greatest players of all time, and it’s hard to know what to expect from the Lakers. They could win 50-plus games and compete for a spot in the Finals, or they could implode and miss the playoffs. Either way, it will be a season worth watching for the purple and gold.

Butler: All the hype will be around LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. How will he do in his first game? Will the Lakers struggle to start the season? How do the strong personalities of LeBron, Lance Stephenson and Rajon Rondo handle adversity? What’s LaVar Ball have to say about all of this? All eyes will be on this team. LeBron can handle that pressure, but it will be interesting to see how each of his teammates deals with it.

The twist with the L.A. scenario will be how LeBron manages to carve out his own legacy with the Lakers. Die-hard Kobe fans have been hesitant to accept his presence. The general manager, and Hall of Famer, Magic Johnson has brought the franchise five NBA titles in his prime. What will LeBron do to make his time in L.A. standout from the countless achievements of one of the league’s most storied franchises?