Contenders and Pretenders: Making sense of the NBA’s crowded field

Los Angeles Lakers

Any team with LeBron James on the roster should be considered a contender. Even after a disappointing first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, James is still one of the league’s best players, and arguably the best of all-time. By adding another All-NBA talent in Anthony Davis to the mix, the Lakers vaulted themselves to frontrunner status.

Had Kawhi Leonard chosen to sign with the Lakers, this entire exercise would be useless, as a team led by James, Davis, and Leonard would have been the prohibitive title favorites. However, Leonard signed with the Clippers instead, and by waiting to make a decision, hindered the Lakers’ ability to fill out their roster with reliable, veteran free agents.

However, despite all of this, Los Angeles filled out the roster admirably, adding Danny Green, DeMarcus Cousins, and Avery Bradley to complement incumbents James, Davis, Kyle Kuzma, JaVale McGee, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

While not quite as deep as the Clippers, the Lakers hold the advantage when it comes to star power. Not only are James and Davis the league’s best duo at the moment, but they complement each other perfectly.

Both are complete players who play to the other’s strengths. James will be able to take on a more expansive role as a distributor with Davis occupying the paint, opening up the perimeter shot, an area where the Lakers struggled mightily last season.

Danny Green’s arrival should at least keep opponents honest when guarding the perimeter, either resulting in the paint being less crowded for Davis or the perimeter shot being left open. DeMarcus Cousins also has plenty of upside as a former All-Star center but he will need to prove that he is the same player as he was prior to his Achilles tear.

However, it is impossible to overthink the Lakers’ standing in this year’s NBA season. The mere presence of both James and Davis is enough to make this team a contender.

Verdict: Contender