4 lottery teams likely to make the NBA Playoffs next season

1. Los Angeles Lakers

There’s no way LeBron James misses the playoffs two years in a row. It just … no. It’s hard to even consider it a possibility.

He and the Los Angeles Lakers probably would’ve made it this year if not for injuries. The Lakers were in fourth place in the Western Conference (20-14 record) prior to James missing 17 straight games from December to late January.

The team never fully recovered. It wasn’t just LeBron who missed time. Kyle Kuzma sat out 12 games. Lonzo Ball was in street clothes for nearly half the season. Injuries sidelined role players. The Lakers’ end-of-the-season roster resembled a G League team.

Of course, there was the iceberg-sized distraction surrounding the Anthony Davis trade spectacle.

Plus, the Lakers’ plethora of young talent is one year older and one year wiser. The team also lucked out with the lottery. Potentially, the Lakers draft the NBA-ready De’ Andre Hunter (assuming the New York Knicks don’t do something stupid).

The coaching staff is more experienced after swapping in Frank Vogel — who was regularly victimized by LeBron in the Eastern Conference playoffs while with the Indiana Pacers — for Luke Walton. The hullabaloo surrounding Magic Johnson should dissipate by October.

No team was hampered by negativity and injuries more than L.A. And no other team has LeBron.

The Lakers are making the playoffs next season.