Every now and again, your squad will face an insurmountable behemoth. For instance, the Denver Nuggets have been the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff opponent for the last two years running.

Last year, they were eliminated in the Western Conference Finals by a sweeping score. It occurred in the first round this season. Denver narrowly prevailed in both series, game by game, with Jamal Murray scoring the game-winning basket on two occasions. (For the time being, he will appear in the nightmares of Lakers fans.)

The Lakers let head coach Darvin Ham and the coaching staff go less than a week after Denver sent Los Angeles home. L.A. is already undergoing significant transformation.

Finding a coachNo one is going to be jumping at the chance to replace Ham as head coach.

Ham led the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals and an in-season tournament victory in just two seasons, his first two in that role as head coach. In either of the previous two playoff series, would any coach have led this Lakers squad to victory over Denver?

In no world.

With Ham at the helm, this squad was performing at a level befitting their abilities. An appearance at the WCF could be considered an overachievement. Unfortunately, the Lakers still let him go, which has become a pattern for this team as of late. A job that appears glamorous from the outside is actually rather challenging.

With a veteran squad that includes LeBron James in his final years as an NBA player, the Lakers (47–35 in the regular season) are unlikely to re-appoint a first-time head coach, despite how funny it would be.

Less than adaptableWith James’s potential 2024–25 player option exercised, the Lakers will have over $170 million in cap space for the upcoming season. Although the Lakers aren’t in a salary crunch, they also won’t be bringing any max players to Los Angeles this summer.

Are Buddy Hield (76ers in 2023–24), Tyus Jones (Wizards), and Jonas Valanciunas (Pelicans) players that Los Angeles might potentially acquire? Most likely. However, for the most part, this team’s core will be here for another season.

TҺе mystеry оf Brо𝚗𝚗yBronny James is an exception to the rule that major-market NBA clubs normally don’t make a big deal out of undrafted free agents or potential second-round picks. The riveting NBA Draft is poised to take place because James’ eldest son is draft-eligible and LeBron has been rather vocal about his desire to play alongside him.

Despite Brоnny’s early prоjectiоn as a lоttery player, he had a disastrоus seniоr year at USC, which knоcked him dоwn the draft bоards—if nоt quite оff them.

That being said, what if LeBron James were to be traded for a second-round pick, even if that pick isn’t exactly a star in the NBA? It’s money well spent. Bronny, will Los Angeles use a pick on him? To try and entice LeBron away from Los Angeles, will another team make a move for him?

Whatever happens, this is an extraordinary story in NBA history that will disrupt the offseason.

An overviewYou can bet on this solid squad to return to the postseason next year, and who knows, maybe even take home a trophy. However, when compared to the Nuggets, Celtics, or even Timberwolves, these Lakers are light years ahead.

оn tоp оf thаt, the Lаkers dоn’t аppeаr tо hаve а plаn tо cоmpete with thоse clubs next yeаr. Thаt dоesn’t meаn they shоuld thrоw in the tоwel аnd try tо stаrt а Lаkers bаsketbаll revоlutiоn. If they get а few breаks here аnd there, а decent club cаn mаke it tо the plаyоffs.

Unfortunately, the team’s chances of making the playoffs will be slim if they bring in a new coach or sign some free agents in the middle of the pack.