NBA Power Rankings: Preview the Los Angeles Lakers and the rest

Dearly Departed: Danny Green, Dwight Howard, Avery Bradley, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, J.R. Smith, Dion Waiters

New Additions: Montrezl Harrell, Dennis Schrӧder, Wes Matthews, Alfonzo McKinnie, Marc Gasol

Win Projection/Prediction: 49.5/Under

How often does a reigning NBA champion not only stand pat but improve the way the Los Angeles Lakers have? It was always clear that the first iteration of the LeBron James/Anthony Davis team was going to be the weakest. They waited until the end of free agency last season for a shot at Kawhi Leonard. This year they were able to dive right in.

Did they ever. Turning Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley and Danny Green into Montrezl Harrell, Dennis Schrӧder, Wes Matthews and Marc Gasol is flabbergasting. That is the two best bench players in the league last year and the third and fourth place finishers in defensive rating for anyone who played at least 20 minutes per game.

Considering adding that to a core of James, Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the rest is quite the mountain for the rest of the league to climb. Kyle Kuzma and Talen Horton-Tucker are continuing to grow. The Lakers were an elite defensive unit last season and were only starting to figure out their offensive identity. The additional playmaking they have added will realize that potential.

Consider this season Lebron’s next step at cementing himself as the greatest to ever dribble a basketball. He is already a four-time champion and is climbing the ranks of every statistical category. Should he lockdown another title in LA, the argument will get closer to its conclusion. Enjoy another season basking in his greatness.