LeBron James may have joined the LA Lakers and made them immediately contenders in the NBA's Western Conference but there's still many out there who believe they're not strong enough a team to win out in a battle against the Golden State Warriors. Any team that has LeBron on it is a contender, but it's hard to find a hole on the Warriors roster and clearly, they're still the favorites to win it all.
But, should people write off the Lakers already?
There is plenty of optimism in LA and despite what the majority of the public might think, there are ways the Lakers can compete with Golden State this season. From listening to LeBron, finding mentors and grooming the young core, LA could be better than people expect.
Follow LeBron's Lead
Make no mistake, this is now LeBron James' team. He's going to want to mold it in a way that makes the most sense for him and the Lakers shouldn't try to fight him on that. If LeBron feels he's got the tools around him to be successful in whatever style of game he's planning to play, the Lakers should be supportive of it and help facilitate whatever it is he needs.
LeBron is a great player, but it's been shown he can't beat the Golden State Warriors on his own. When he tried to in the NBA Finals last season the Cleveland Cavaliers were decimated. LeBron needs to have the confidence he can call upon his teammates, something he chose not to do when push came to shove last year.
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Land Kawhi Leonard
From the sounds of the recent rumors, Kawhi Leonard is actually more interested in joining the LA Clippers now than the Lakers because of LeBron's arrival, but no one knows for certain if that's true. If Leonard is still hoping the Spurs trade him to the Lakers, the management group should try to make a trade happen.
The thought was big names would come rushing to LA when LeBron joined the team and so far, that hasn't happened. The NBA is a super team league and the Warriors the most super of those teams. LeBron could use another player who can win a game on his own and Leonard has the ability to do so.
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Hope Additions Produce and Youngsters Take Another Step
The Lakers actually have a strong group of young players who could become excellent players. The key is that they take the next step. If Brandon Ingram, Lonz Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Josh Hart aren't part of trades to land a bigger name, the Lakers need to do what they can to ensure the development of those players alongside James.
One way to do this is to ensure the additions they make this season can produce to take the pressure off the young core. Rajon Rondo, Javalee McGee, and Lance Stephenson need to come as advertised and create an environment where, if the young players have big games, it's nothing more than a bonus to what the Lakers already offer as a threat on a nightly basis.
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Look For Mentorship
The Lakers considered signing Rondo last summer to mentor Lonzo Ball. It didn't pan out but this season, the Lakers need to hope that Rondo produces like he did for the Pelicans but also offers guidance and mentorship to Ball who will eventually be the guard of the Lakers future.
Other signings need to be viewed in the same way. Stephenson may have a reputation as a pest but he's also extremely hard working. That needs to rub off on players who must learn there is no such thing as a night off when playing in the Western Conference. This is just as much about finding guys who can groom the players of tomorrow as it is about landing players who can produce alongside James and compete with the Warriors big five.