Predicting a floor and ceiling for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22.
Even though the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t have much financial flexibility heading into 2021-22, the overwhelming thought was that this team would improve one way or another. And they did exactly that by acquiring a third star via trade and then filling out the rest of their roster with quality role players.
Officially, the Lakers acquired Russell Westbrook via trade and signed Kendrick Nunn, Malik Monk, Dwight Howard, Wayne Ellington, Trevor Ariza, and Carmelo Anthony in free agency. Who knows if this roster will be enough to compete in the Western Conference, but as long as LeBron James and Anthony Davis are healthy, they’ll have a shot.
The difficult part is trying to project what we should expect from the Lakers in 2021-22. On the surface, the general expectation is that this team is going to vault themselves back into contention in the West.
However, that’s never a given in the NBA. In an attempt to evaluate what would be a fair expectation for the Lakers, we will explore a potential floor and ceiling for this team. In the process, hopefully, we can fall into what could end up unfolding this season as it pertains to the new-look Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ floor for the 2021-22 season
I don’t generally like to predict injuries because that isn’t fair, but this is how it could all turn for the Lakers this season. If the Lakers don’t reach their expectations this season, it will largely be because of injury. Though, there is another possible limitation for this team heading into the season.
And it’s a simple basis on this team not fitting together. There are several concerns about this team when it comes to fit. A big portion of them has to do with Westbrook’s fit next to LeBron and Davis.
The weakest point in Westbrook’s game is his shooting – or lack of shooting consistency. He’s been a below-average 3-point shooter for the majority of his career and that’s not exactly the type of star you want to be playing off LeBron and Davis.
If the Lakers are not a top 3 seed in the Western Conference this season, it will either be due to injury or the lack of team fit. That said, barring a significant injury, I believe that the floor for this team is a bottom 4 seed entering the playoffs.
The Lakers are too talented not to make the playoffs, even if all else fails this season.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ ceiling for the 2021-22 season
We don’t have to get cute when we try to predict a ceiling for the Lakers this season. This is a team that has made moves this offseason to compete and to compete at the highest level. Any team that is led by LeBron and Davis should have championship aspirations.
And if everything falls right for the Lakers this season – meaning they remain healthy and LeBron is still at the top of his game – there’s no question that this is a team that could be lifting up the Larry O’Brien trophy at seasons end.
If Westbrook can find his role and the rest of the role players can fit next to LeBron and Davis – and play at a high level – it wouldn’t be surprising by any means if the Lakers emerge as the early favorite in the Western Conference.
The big question for this team is whether or not they have enough firepower to go toe-to-toe with the Brooklyn Nets in a potential NBA Finals matchup.
A fair expectation for the Los Angeles Lakers
In the end, as is almost always the case, the Lakers’ season will likely end somewhere in the middle. Even though the Lakers are one of a handful of teams that can win a championship this season, there are so many variables that have to fall right for this team to come through.
This isn’t to say that I don’t believe the Lakers can win a championship, but it’s to say that it simply isn’t likely that they will. There’s a better chance that this team flames out than they win a championship.
The likely scenario is that the Lakers make the playoffs as a top 3 seed in the West and that they make a deep playoff run but lose out to a better team that fits together.
The Lakers are a really good team and are a serious contender but they’re not unflawed. In the end, I believe that is what will doom this team. Not injury, but fit.