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2024-25 Los Angeles Lakers Predictions and Odds to Win NBA Finals

by Spencer Toth - 10/8/2024

Los Angeles Lakers predictions Bronny James

Just like most years, the Lakers will be one of the most watched NBA teams this season. LeBron and Bronny James will become the first father-son duo to play in the NBA, as the greatest player of this generation continues to challenge what’s possible. Will Bronny’s inclusion in the squad become too big a distraction, or does LeBron James have one final chapter left in his historic career?

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Los Angeles Lakers Offseason Recap

It is pretty rare to find a team where their 55th overall pick in the draft is the biggest offseason headline. However, when Bronny James was selected late in the second round, history was made. If it were not for his father, Bronny would not have been drafted into the NBA and would probably struggle to get signed to any of the 30 NBA rosters. But due to nepotism, Bronny will get plenty of opportunities to make an impact for the Lakers. Bronny may not be an NBA caliber superstar, but that doesn’t mean he will look out of place on the court. He is a very athletic guard who has turned into a great defensive option. His decision-making is reminiscent of his father, as Bronny usually pops up in the right place at the right time. He is a little small for the NBA, coming in at a little under 6 foot 2 without shoes on. His shooting still needs work. However, considering he just turned 20 last week, he still has plenty of time to get his game NBA-ready. 

The Lakers lost a couple key pieces in the offseason as they let both Spencer Dinwiddie and Taurean Prince walk in free agency. Prince and Dinwiddie were 5th and 7th in minutes last season for the Lakers, and those minutes will be difficult to replace. The departures will make the Lakers worse in the short term, but the pair of 30-year-olds were not going to transform into All-Stars anytime soon. 

Los Angeles Lakers Season Expectations

Anytime the arguably best player of all time is on the roster, the NBA championship will always be the expectation. The list of NBA accolades for LeBron James is extensive, and even at 39 years old LeBron is still a high-level NBA superstar. His 25.7 PPG last season was the 13th most in the league, and his 8.3 Assists per game was the fifth most. His ability to play floor general on the offensive end is like no other NBA player, and he has adapted his game to remain effective even if he is far less explosive than he once was. 

Lebron is certainly a key member of this team, but he is part of a duo with Anthony Davis. Davis was third in the league in rebounds and fourth in blocks last season. His impact on both the offensive and defensive ends is crucial, but injuries have forced him to miss time throughout his career. He managed to play a career high 76 games last season. And if he can do so again this year, the Lakers will challenge for a top-6 seed in the Western Conference. 

It’s hard to overlook Los Angeles with LeBron and Davis on the roster, but they are one of the shallowest rosters in the league. D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura comprise the rest of the starting five in LA. On the bench they have players like Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Cam Reddish. These are not household names despite the fact they play next to the biggest name of this century. It is a certainty that LeBron and Davis will miss some time this season, and the Lakers don’t even have the depth needed when they are available. When they sit? The Lakers are a bottom tier NBA team. 

Los Angeles Lakers Schedule Breakdown

The Lakers schedule features 39 nationally televised games this season. They kick things off with three home games against the Timberwolves, Suns, and Kings before hitting the road for their next five games. Their Christmas Day game against the Golden State Warriors will draw headlines, and it interrupts a 5-game home stand over the holidays. 

LA Lakers Odds

The Lakers have the 9th best odds to win the NBA championship at +3000. Even with a questionable Bronny James experiment ongoing, the Lakers have the talent needed to make a deep playoff run. Even though they have the 9th best odds in the league, they are actually favored to miss the playoffs at -115 odds. The Lakers have a win total of 43.5 wins this season, and there are 18 teams with an even or higher total. It is beyond clear the Lakers have inflated championship odds, and it’s hard to gauge where this team truly is in the NBA power rankings. 

The Lakers won the inaugural NBA Cup last season and have the 10th best odds at +2100 to repeat as champions. They are +275 to top group B, with the Thunder, Kings, Spurs, and Jazz all looking to punch their ticket into the next round. 

2024-25 Los Angeles Lakers Season Predictions and Best Bets

Just like most seasons, the Lakers are overvalued on the preseason betting markets. They have only eclipsed their current 43.5-win total once in the last four seasons. It’s not as if their lineup has gotten any better, and we saw an abnormally healthy season from Davis last year for the Lakers to get 47 wins. Davis and James will inevitably sit out back-to-back games, and a couple week-long injuries will disrupt the Lakers groove. They will fall short of their 43.5-win total, and finish with a 40-42 record. That will get the Lakers into the play-in tournament, and they will need some magic from LeBron and Davis to book their spot in the postseason. There is very little upside in any of the Lakers future bets, and the Under is the only market I will be touching heading into the regular season. 

Top Pick: LA Lakers Under 43.5 Wins 

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