{"id":90802,"date":"2025-08-18T08:28:43","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T08:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=90802"},"modified":"2025-08-18T08:28:43","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T08:28:43","slug":"nba-insider-forecasts-a-prolonged-postseason-surge-from-the-los-angeles-lakers-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=90802","title":{"rendered":"NBA Insider Forecasts a Prolonged Postseason Surge from the Los Angeles Lakers: Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Los Angeles Lakers\u00a0were quick to take action regarding what the team needs. During the 2024-25\u00a0NBA\u00a0season, it was evident that they needed a solid big man after trading\u00a0Anthony Davis\u00a0to the\u00a0Dallas Mavericks\u00a0for\u00a0Luka Doncic. At the start of free agency, they\u00a0signed\u00a0Deandre Ayton to a two-year contract.<\/p>\n

Ayton isn\u2019t on the same level as Davis, but he\u2019s been a solid starting center since he entered the NBA. Additionally, the team signed a reliable shooter in Jake LaRavia, a 37.1% shooter from downtown, to a two-year contract.<\/p>\n

The latest addition to the roster is veteran guard Marcus Smart. The former\u00a0Boston Celtics\u00a0guard has played for underachieving teams over the past two seasons. The Lakers\u00a0signed\u00a0Smart to a two-year deal.<\/p>\n

BREAKING: Marcus Smart has agreed to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards and intends to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN. A return to a grand stage for the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.\u00a0pic.twitter.com\/8g9Bxzz11E<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Now that he\u2019s with the Lakers, he adds a defensive tenacity that could help them become a serious playoff team.<\/p>\n

\"Lakers<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Following the moves they made this summer, one anonymous executive believes the team has \u201cgotten better.\u201d<\/p>\n

The executive went as far as to say that the team could make a deep playoff run, even hinting at a potential appearance in the Western Conference finals.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were the third seed last year and did that without a starting-level center,\u201d the NBA exec\u00a0said. \u201cThey definitely got better by adding Ayton and Smart. I can see them making the conference finals. You can never count out LeBron. I don\u2019t care how old he is. He\u2019s still amazing offensively. And everyone keeps talking about how great Luka looks after his weight loss. He\u2019s probably hungry to win it all next season.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The only problem the Lakers encountered last year as a third seed in the West was the lack of a reliable center. They depended on Jaxson Hayes, who was limited by head coach JJ Redick, in their first-round battle against the\u00a0Minnesota Timberwolves.<\/p>\n

Now, they have a strong big man, who many believe could fit well with Doncic\u2019s pass-first style on the court.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Los Angeles Lakers\u00a0were quick to take action regarding what the team needs. During the 2024-25\u00a0NBA\u00a0season, it was evident that they needed a solid big man after trading\u00a0Anthony… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":90829,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\nNBA Insider Forecasts a Prolonged Postseason Surge from the Los Angeles Lakers: Report - News 365<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=90802\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NBA Insider Forecasts a Prolonged Postseason Surge from the Los Angeles Lakers: Report - News 365\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The\u00a0Los Angeles Lakers\u00a0were quick to take action regarding what the team needs. 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