The Lakers Are Quietly Becoming a Smart Futures Bet in the West

After a disappointing first-round exit in last season’s playoffs, when the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games, the offseason conversation never really included them among the true contenders. All of the talk around teams that could win a title in the Western Conference centered on the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets. Those three clubs were widely viewed as the class of the conference entering the year, leaving the Lakers as more of an afterthought.

Los Angeles did make moves to improve the roster during the summer, but LeBron James entered the season with a fairly significant injury that was expected to sideline him for several weeks at minimum. The combination of that injury and a lack of recent playoff success led many to dismiss the Lakers’ chances before the season even began.

With that in mind, there were exciting storylines surrounding the Lakers, too, as Luka Doncic had slimmed down and looked poised for another leap, while offseason additions like Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart had the basketball world buzzing. But the Lakers never quite got the right level of attention or respect despite arguably improving as much as any team.

To this point, though, they’ve been the team proving everyone wrong. Los Angeles sits at 7-2, the second-best record in the Western Conference. They’re 4-0 on the road, have won five straight entering Friday and look every bit like a legitimate contender.

Integrating LeBron James into any roster is never easy — even though he’s the ultimate championship piece, he’s still a player who needs the ball in his hands to maximize his impact. Yet the Lakers have managed to find ways to win even with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves missing time. All three members of the core trio have been out independently at various points, and at some stage, they’ll need to log real minutes together to build chemistry and continuity.

But that’s a good problem to have, and one Los Angeles will gladly take.

Entering Friday, the Lakers are up to fifth in NBA title odds (via FanDuel). The Thunder remain the favorite, followed by the Nuggets, while the Cavaliers and Knicks round out the top four. That’s a noticeable rise for a team that entered the season flying under the radar in many respects, and it’s well deserved. Of course, there’s still risk in buying all the way in on a group we haven’t yet seen in full form.

On paper, it looks ideal — James, Doncic and Reaves leading a deep, balanced roster — but basketball chemistry isn’t guaranteed. Sometimes what looks perfect on a roster sheet doesn’t translate once the ball tips.

Still, given how Los Angeles has climbed the hierarchy early in the season, it’s time to start talking about them as a legitimate contender again. If healthy, the Lakers will enter the playoffs with one of the greatest players of all time still playing at an elite level and another who might become the next face of the franchise for the next decade. That combination alone warrants more attention — and could make the Lakers one of the most dangerous teams in basketball come spring.

Mandatory Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images