Los Angeles Lakers: 3 candidates for a breakout season in 2019-20
By Amaar Burton
A new-look roster for the Los Angeles Lakers means new opportunities for several players to have a breakout season in 2019-20.
So many things have changed for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2019 offseason, and the biggest among them is the level of expectations.
Going into last season, after L.A. signed LeBron James, it was fair to say a majority of basketball fans and media expected the decorated franchise to snap its five-year playoff drought. Becoming a serious contender in the tough Western Conference was possible, but not certain considering the collective youth and inexperience of LeBron’s new supporting cast.
Going into this season — after the Lakers landed in the lottery again following an injury-plagued campaign — the widespread expectation is that L.A. will be one of the front-runners to win a championship in 2020.
In addition to LeBron coming back healthy for Year 2 with a vengeance, the Lakers traded for All-NBA power forward Anthony Davis and in free agency picked up newly-crowned 2019 NBA champion shooting guard Danny Green, 2018 NBA champion point guard Quinn Cook, former All-Defensive Team guard Avery Bradley and sharpshooting role players Troy Daniels and Jared Dudley — the recently injured DeMarcus Cousins not included.
Great job by Owner Jeanie Buss bringing Anthony Davis to the Lakers! Laker Nation, the Lakers are back in a championship hunt! Congratulations to the entire organization. I know LeBron James has a big smile on his face. I’m loving this!!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 15, 2019
The Lakers also fired head coach Luke Walton and replaced him with Frank Vogel, who guided the Indiana Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014.
The revamped roster, new coaching staff and sky-high expectations create plenty of opportunities for several Lakers to achieve things they’ve never done before. A few of them could turn in the best season of their respective careers in 2019-20, a feat that would greatly help LA’s pursuit of a title.