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Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Things are never boring regarding the Lakers, even in the summertime.
With the franchise overhauling most of its roster this offseason and suddenly being sold to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, the future is as unknown as ever.
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Even before the shocking sale of the Lakers, experts have been low on the expected 2026-27 roster. FanDuel has the Lakers’ win total set at over/under 44.5 wins. That places the Lakers as closer to being a play-in team than a title contender.
Some of the questions about the on-court product are justifiable.
LeBron James is gone, and the Lakers have taken some chances. They are betting on Walker Kessler to be a star center and have made long-term commitments to role players like Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
None of these players are proven stars, and while the Lakers clearly believe in them, that doesn’t mean it will work out.
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So, for our SB Nation Reacts survey, we asked fans if the Lakers would win at least 45 games. The response was an emphatic yes.
For whatever reason, the Lakers are constantly being undervalued. Well, minus the financial assessment of what they are worth.
Last year, NBA GMs had LA as a play-in team. Clearly, that didn’t happen, as they won 53 games and finished as the fourth seed in the Western Conference. They ultimately beat the Rockets in the opening round of the playoffs before getting swept in the second round by the Thunder.
Why they are constantly being viewed as a play-in team is anyone’s guess. Luka has proven in both Dallas and LA that he consistently gets teams to winning records.
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Sure, LeBron is gone, but Luka is still here, and Austin Reaves is flirting with All-Star-level play. If he takes another leap forward, LA’s backcourt pairing will be one of the best in the league.
Injuries can always impact things, but at this point, given that head coach JJ Redick has had two years where…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-good-regardless-ownership-183631741.html
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Publish date : 2026-08-14 18:36:00
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