New Lakers introduced today 7/22/15

[Who]

Struggling to think of a team in the West that LA is better than.   
Considering 5 of the 6 true contenders play out there, wouldn't be surprised to see LA post fewest wins in L this year.

I got Dallas, Denver, LA Lakers and Portland as bottom 4 in the West. Cellar dwellers.

I just don't get Dallas.  They should be around a 40 win team.

Dirk = 37 years old, probably the worst defender & rebounder amongst starting PFs in league
Deron = worst season of career, below average starter last year
W.Matthews = achilles tear, career threatening injury
Parsons = I am happy with
Zaza = bench player, dodgy starter

One of the worst defensive teams in the league.

They need to have some really good luck with Wes Matthews' return from injury and with Deron having a bounce back season to get anywhere near .500.

I think they will be much closer to the 25-33 win range.

[Rondo9]

I think that Lakers team could be better than downright horrible if Kobe is anything like his former self

 

[MJohnnyboy]

Struggling to think of a team in the West that LA is better than.   
Considering 5 of the 6 true contenders play out there, wouldn't be surprised to see LA post fewest wins in L this year.

I got Dallas, Denver, LA Lakers and Portland as bottom 4 in the West. Cellar dwellers.

I just don't get Dallas.  They should be around a 40 win team.

Dirk = 37 years old, probably the worst defender & rebounder amongst starting PFs in league
Deron = worst season of career, below average starter last year
W.Matthews = achilles tear, career threatening injury
Parsons = I am happy with
Zaza = bench player, dodgy starter

One of the worst defensive teams in the league.

They need to have some really good luck with Wes Matthews' return from injury and with Deron having a bounce back season to get anywhere near .500.

I think they will be much closer to the 25-33 win range.

Not to mention they haven't fixed their depth issues that they had last year after they acquired Rondo. Richard Jefferson was the closest thing they had to a rotation player after Barea and Harris. After those two, they have nothing.

Having an at best mediocre starting 5 and no bench means less than 40 wins. Especially in the west. I'm actually more worried the Dallas pick will roll over to next year than I am worried that the Dallas pick won't be in the lottery.

Not to mention Dallas is in the toughest division in the league. They have to face the Spurs, Rockets, Grizzlies, and Pelicans, 4 playoff teams in the west who should all be even better this season, 4 times each.

Dallas is headed for the lottery. The question is where in the lottery will they end up?

[Endless Paradise]

Hibbert's a "leader" now? What intangible aspect of the team exactly has he led in Indiana all of this time? Hell, what did he lead in Indiana in Paul George's absence?

[Rondo9]

Hibbert's a "leader" now? What intangible aspect of the team exactly has he led in Indiana all of this time? Hell, what did he lead in Indiana in Paul George's absence?

He led them to Myles Turner! 

[SHAQATTACK]

Hibbert's a "leader" now? What intangible aspect of the team exactly has he led in Indiana all of this time? Hell, what did he lead in Indiana in Paul George's absence?

Exactly

I ve heard him speak .    He could not lead a troop of 12 year scouts much less an NBA team.

If that's all they got for leadership ......well then they are hurt n worse than I feared.....

[Moranis]

Struggling to think of a team in the West that LA is better than.   
Considering 5 of the 6 true contenders play out there, wouldn't be surprised to see LA post fewest wins in L this year.

I got Dallas, Denver, LA Lakers and Portland as bottom 4 in the West. Cellar dwellers.

I just don't get Dallas.  They should be around a 40 win team.

Dirk = 37 years old, probably the worst defender & rebounder amongst starting PFs in league
Deron = worst season of career, below average starter last year
W.Matthews = achilles tear, career threatening injury
Parsons = I am happy with
Zaza = bench player, dodgy starter

One of the worst defensive teams in the league.

They need to have some really good luck with Wes Matthews' return from injury and with Deron having a bounce back season to get anywhere near .500.

I think they will be much closer to the 25-33 win range.

Not to mention they haven't fixed their depth issues that they had last year after they acquired Rondo. Richard Jefferson was the closest thing they had to a rotation player after Barea and Harris. After those two, they have nothing.

Having an at best mediocre starting 5 and no bench means less than 40 wins. Especially in the west. I'm actually more worried the Dallas pick will roll over to next year than I am worried that the Dallas pick won't be in the lottery.

Not to mention Dallas is in the toughest division in the league. They have to face the Spurs, Rockets, Grizzlies, and Pelicans, 4 playoff teams in the west who should all be even better this season, 4 times each.

Dallas is headed for the lottery. The question is where in the lottery will they end up?

Dallas won 50 games last year.  Obviously losing Chandler and Ellis are big blows and Aminu was a quality rotation player, but theoretically Matthews will give you a lot what Ellis and Aminu did.  Parsons should give you more than 66 games.  Deron Williams should be an upgrade at PG (that is how bad their PG situation was last year).  ZaZa is at least a quality player (though certainly not a good starter level player).  Justin Anderson looks like a nice young player.  They still have Felton, Harris, Barea, and Villanueva on the bench (and of course Dwight Powell - ha ha).

I actually think their back-court/wings will be a lot better and fit a lot better.   They need to get some nice quality veterans for the bench down low though.  They really need an interior defender.  Not that he would help at all defensively, but Carlos Boozer is still out there and can at least give them quality minutes.  I don't think Javale McGee has signed anywhere, he could give them some defense on the bench.

Curious to see what the final product is, but still expect Dallas to be in the 40 win range with a shot at the playoffs.  Of course if Matthews can't really come back, Parsons continues to be injured, and Dirk just gets old, then 15 wins might be expecting to much.