2019 Lakers Hope New Roster Mix Produces Championship Results

2019 Los Angeles Lakers Betting Storylines

I have been skeptical about this Lakers experiment for as long as it has been underway, but it wasn't until just today when I read a story about training camp that I realized exactly why it was. As the story went, the team was playing a scrimmage with the ones against the twos. And there was so much that stood out about it. The ones lost. That's a rough start. They played with LeBron James playing the point. And along with James and Anthony Davis, the ones were Avery Bradley, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Alex Caruso. Not exactly a murderer's row. And it's not like the reserves were a lineup you would want to have starting for your favorite squad - Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard, Danny Green, Troy Daniels and Devontae Cacok. There is enough baggage among that group to start a luggage store. Now, JaVale McGee wasn't playing, and Kyle Kuzma is hurt, so it's not quite as bad as it looked in that matchup. But this is a team with two superstars and a whole lot of leaps of faith beyond that. And one of those superstars is the biggest egomaniac and control freak in the history of sports - one who has 1,200 regular-season games and 16 seasons of wear and tear on his legs. It could work. But they certainly haven't given themselves the best chance of making it happen.

2019 Los Angeles Lakers Additions and Departures

The big splash, obviously, was the addition of Anthony Davis. They truly went all in to get him, shipping away Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, the fourth overall pick, which became De'Andre Hunter, two first-round picks, a pick swap, and cash - all for Davis. He's a massive talent, but that's a big price. It's not just that the move gutted the younger core of their team. It's that it also sent a clear message to younger talent around the team - this is not your place. But Davis is special, and this is a superstar league. He's never played a full season in seven years, so his health is a question. But he's a truly elite player - one of the top in the league - when he is healthy. He makes the team better - as long as they can build a reasonable team around him.

Related: Los Angeles Clippers Odds to Win Championship and Predictions

Beyond that move, the offseason was about execution that didn't quite meet expectations. They fired Luke Walton as their head coach, chased targets that rejected them, and wound up with Frank Vogel. Vogel is hardly a dream match for this team. And the team traded away another group of younger assets - 2018 first-rounder Mo Wagner, Isaac Bonga, Jemerrio Jones, and a second-rounder - to the Wizards in a salary dump that wound up as part of the Davis trade in the end due to logistics. They did it to clear cap space to land Kawhi Leaonard, but then obviously they didn't. And it doesn't seem like they even came that close. Hopefully they execute on the court this year better than they did off the court this summer.

Beyond Davis, the marquee addition was Danny Green, fresh off a key supporting role in the title run in Toronto. He's signed for two years. Avery Bradley was signed for two years and is an addition that is easier to like than some. They added DeMarcus Cousins, but he was lost for the year to an ACL injury, so they replaced him with Dwight Howard. It would be a miracle if that works out. And guys like Quinn Cook, Jared Dudley, and Troy Daniels round out the roster.

Related: Golden State Warriors Odds to Win Championship and Predictions

2019 Los Angeles Lakers Futures Odds and Trends

Los Angeles Lakers Futures Odds

NBA title odds : +500

Western Conference title odds : +350

Anthony Davis MVP Odds : +700 (third best)

LeBron James MVP Odds : +900 (fifth best)

Season win total: 53.5

Will the Los Angeles Lakers make the playoffs: Yes -1500, No +1000

The first year of the LeBron James era in L.A. was a good one for bettors - but only the ones who bet against him consistently. At 35-45-2 ATS, they were the fourth-worst team to bet on in the NBA, though they were better than Golden State and only a touch worse than Phoenix, so the division was largely not great for bettors. They went under the total a league best 49 times, and over just 32.

2019 Los Angeles Lakers Predictions and Futures Odds Picks

I'm not sure this will come as a surprise because I haven't hidden my negativity, but I am not into this team right now. Not at all. The depth is a major concern, James isn't getting any younger, and Davis is all but certain to miss some time. And I don't trust the coaching. This is the third-best team in their division behind the Clippers and Warriors. There is the furthest thing from value in the futures odds here.

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Read more articles by Trevor Whenham