NBA: Ranking the top 5 storylines as training camp approaches

1. Who will sit on the throne as King of Los Angeles?

What a summer for the teams in Los Angeles, am I right? Just in case you’ve been living under a rock, the Lakers and Clippers added some major star power this off-season. The Clippers lusted after Kawhi all last season, and finally got their guy when he signed as a free agent. The real splash came when seemingly out of nowhere, they also acquired Paul George in a trade with the Thunder.

Meanwhile, the Lakers spent last season desperately trying to trade for Anthony Davis, to the detriment of their team morale, after his agent Rich Paul, announced he wanted out of New Orleans. Well, it didn’t happen during the season but did this summer. Anthony Davis is a Laker and Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Hart are now Pelicans.

The two best teams in the NBA, at least according to Vegas, now reside in L.A. So which team will be better? Both teams have some question marks. Depending on your ranking of NBA superstars, the Lakers have the better duo, if only slightly. Yes, LeBron James slacks on defense, but he still averaged 28/8/8 last year. He’s not done yet. AD is a freak, and when healthy is a transcendent player. Kawhi is a stud, he showed that in the Playoffs. But how many games will he play?

The same goes for Paul George, who was arguably squarely in the MVP discussion last year until injuries to both shoulders sapped his production, and will miss the start of the season recovering from surgery.

The Clippers have the better supporting cast, and I don’t think that’s questionable. Yes, the lost Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the George trade, but the majority of the team that snuck in the playoffs and took the Warriors to 6 games is still intact. Montrezl Harrell is fantastic, Lou Williams is a killer, Landry Shamet reminds me of a younger J.J. Redick, and Pat Beverly combined with Kawhi and PG form a terrifying defensive trio. Their biggest holes are big man depth and health questions.

I’m less sure about the Lakers complementary pieces. Is Kyle Kuzma their third-best player? He’s been labeled a scorer and shooter, and shot well from deep as a rookie but was below average last season (he’s also a porous defender). The advanced numbers probably point to Danny Green, a really solid player, with championship pedigree, but not a third banana. Who starts at center? JaVale McGee probably can’t replicate last years success and Dwight Howard is a complete wild card. Don’t even get me started on Rajon Rondo (he isn’t good, he hasn’t been for a few years, don’t let traditional box score numbers influence you).

I’m not sold either team is the title favorite. I get why Vegas and many would, and I obviously won’t be surprised if one of them does win the title. I’d give the edge in that department to Clippers, but I never count out LeBron James.