Five teams who are likely to steal the Toronto Raptors crown

Los Angeles Lakers

It’s fair to say that the last half-decade has been less than satisfactory for the Los Angeles Lakers. It would be even fairer to say that they have been one of the worst teams in the NBA over that five-year period, averaging less than 30 wins per season since they last made the playoffs.

Thankfully, for the Lakers contingent, that seems finally ready to change this season. After picking up LeBron James in free agency last season, the Lakers looked primed to earn a spot in the postseason once again, but the roster surrounding James just wasn’t up to the task – plus it looked as if he was a little pedestrian at times.

Now, help has arrived in the form of Anthony Davis – one of the best big men in the NBA today, and at only 26 years old, he’s still in the midst of his prime. Allowing him to flourish alongside LeBron James – routinely considered one of the best passers in league history – is a recipe for disaster for anyone that doesn’t don the purple and gold in 2019.

The Lakers have added a former Raptor to their ranks too, in the form of Danny Green. He’ll provide a deep threat for a Lakers team ranked as the second-worst three-point shooting team by percentage last season.

There are still questions over the overall depth of this Lakers team, and that might prove to be a problem heading into the postseason, but if they can manage to keep both James and Davis healthy, then this tandem could wreck the league long into May and June.