Eventful Lakers Offseason Struggles in Rankings…
This offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers were busier than a cat with ten laser pointers. They signed superstar Luka Doncic until 2028, grabbed big man Deandre Ayton to fill the center spot, and even brought in Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia to fortify the defense. The biggest off-court news was the colossal sale of the franchise from the Buss family to Mark Walter, owner of the LA Dodgers. Despite these galaxy-sized moves, The Athletic’s David Aldridge wasn’t all that impressed, ranking their offseason 24th in the NBA galaxy.
Aldridge compared the change in ownership to swapping out a goldfish for a Great White Shark in a kiddie pool; although Walter could spend lavishly, the NBA’s salary cap would reign him in. Meanwhile, the loss of Dorian Finney-Smith hit harder than a basketball to the face during recess. However, if Ayton plays like an MVP center, the Lakers will have fans partying like it’s 1999. With Luka and LeBron teaming up, Lakers’ assistant Greg St. Jean is eagerly watching their chemistry grow, potentially creating a new basketball bromance.
