I think the Clippers would steam roll the Lakers in the playoffs with there rosters as is. Lakers are an interesting bridesmaid team to me. Clippers look like legit favorites
The Lakers may not even be a top 4 seed in the West.
That top 2 is special but LBJ is aging and AD hasn't been an 82 game guy.
After them the roster is a shambles.
They lack trade pieces and or future cap space/picks.
Clips could be a 4 seed without Kawhi for a month. Lakers dont have that type of depth.
Lakers have zero organizational continuity.
One huge positive I will say is LBJ has been seen far less this off-season on things less to do with basketball.
If LAL is to be good it will start and end with James this year. As your asst GM/asst coach, team leader and best player that guy has to be totally focused all year round.
If the Lakers don't win 50 games this year I think they have to serious consider trading James.
They lived through the twilight of Kobe's career because they owed him that, they don't owe LBJ that.