16. Los Angeles Lakers (28-28)
I don’t think anyone would say that the Los Angeles Lakers have had a disappointing season, but there’s no question that the few weeks that LeBron James was out of the lineup – potentially coupled with the constant trade rumors – has had a negative impact on this team recently.
So much so that they fell completely out of the top 8 in the West, and are currently 10th in the standings and 2.5 games back of the final playoff spot. With that said, and as the NBA All-Star break approaching, I don’t think anyone envisions the Lakers missing the playoffs.
Many still expect the Lakers to still make the playoffs this year, but it’s not longer a forgone conclusion. And after missing out on the big names at the trade deadline, it’s going to be interesting to see how this season ends for Los Angeles.