The two premier NBA teams in California had very distinct offseasons.
asserted
teams → have → offseasons
The Lakers overhauled their roster around Luka Dončić, adding Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Ziaire Williams, Jaden Hardy and Cameron Carr.
asserted
Lakers → overhaul → Kessler
Meanwhile, the Warriors pretty much stood pat.
asserted
Warriors → stand → ?
The one thing both teams had in common?
asserted
teams → have → thing
They missed out on LeBron James, who chose to leave the Lakers after eight seasons and join the 76ers in free agency.
asserted
who → miss → agency
The Lakers, who won their first championship in 10 years in 2020, are trying to climb back atop the league after acquiring Dončić in a stunning trade in February 2025.
asserted
who → win → February
Meanwhile the Warriors, the league’s modern-day dynasty after winning four championships in eight years from 2015-2022, are trying to enable Steph Curry to play meaningful basketball amid the sunset of his career in a league that has gotten younger and faster, passing them by.
asserted
that → win → them
So, where will the Lakers and Warriors rank next season in the very crowded Western Conference?
asserted
Lakers → rank → Conference
Those teams have no obvious weaknesses.
asserted
teams → have → weaknesses
They have youth.
asserted
They → have → youth
They have superstars.
asserted
They → have → superstars
They have depth.
asserted
They → have → depth
They have incredible defense.
asserted
They → have → defense
And they’ve proven they have the chemistry and mental fortitude to go deep in the playoffs.
asserted
they → prove → playoffs
After revamping their team to get younger and deeper, the Lakers are on their way to being able to compete with the creme de la creme of the West, but they’re not there yet.
asserted
they → revamp → West
They need an elite perimeter defender.
asserted
They → need → defender
They need time to jell.
asserted
They → need → time
They’re a few tweaks away from being considered real contenders.
asserted
They → ’re → ?
Could the Lakers finish higher than Nikola Jokic and his Nuggets?
uncertain
Lakers → finish → Jokic
The Nuggets had a disappointing offseason following a first-round playoff exit in April, including losing Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown.
asserted
Nuggets → have → Watson
They could give the Lakers fits behind perennial All-Star Anthony Edwards and four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
uncertain
They → give → Year
The Timberwolves added LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga to their roster and could be a fringe contender.
uncertain
Timberwolves → add → roster
The Rockets are also a team to watch.
asserted
Rockets → watch → ?
Sure, the Lakers jumped to a 3-0 series lead over them last postseason without Doncic and Austin Reaves, but both teams are going to look completely different in October.
asserted
teams → jump → October
Kevin Durant is expected to be healthy, and Fred VanVleet is returning from injury.
asserted
VanVleet → expect → injury
As for the Lakers, they’re only returning two starters from last season in Doncic and Reaves.
asserted
they → return → Doncic
If the Lakers finish third in the West over the Timberwolves and Rockets that would be an incredible showing for Doncic, who’s eager to prove he can be the Lakers’ next superstar.
asserted
he → finish → Doncic
He wants to win his first championship.
asserted
He → want → championship
He wants to prove his detractors wrong.
asserted
detractors → want → ?
And now he’s backed by a 17-time championship organization that views anything short of a title as a failure.
asserted
that → back → failure
Here’s to betting Doncic is able to carry the Lakers to a third-place finish in the highly competitive West.
asserted
Doncic → ’ → West
Warriors: No. 8
We held our breath when the Warriors were pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo.
asserted
Warriors → hold → Antetokounmpo
We were on the edge of our seat when they were pursuing James in an attempt to pair him with the team he faced in four straight NBA Finals from 2015-2018.
asserted
he → pursue → 2015
Draymond Green is a fiery defender who’s endlessly exciting to watch.
asserted
who → ’ → ?
But alas, all of the Warriors’ attempts to become contenders flatlined.
asserted
all → become → attempts
It’s a shame for Curry, who’s turning 39 next season and is still one of the NBA’s top players.
asserted
who → ’ → players
Last season, he became the oldest point guard in NBA history to be named a starter on the All-Star team.
asserted
he → become → team
The Warriors are expected to try to work some magic ahead of the trade deadline to breathe some life into Curry’s 18th season.
asserted
Warriors → expect → season
But until then, with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody set to miss the start of the season due to injuries, the Warriors aren’t expected to make much noise.
asserted
Warriors → set → noise
That said, if Curry, Green and Kristaps Porzingis are healthy, this team can’t be counted out.
asserted
team → say → ?
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
