LeBron's Trial Run: What to expect out of this year's Lakers

After last year's Finals sweep at the hands of Golden State, it seemed clear it would take a lot to get LeBron James to stay with the Cavs; a team that would seemingly stagnate while the East continued to get better. Instead, he made the decision to do what many of the all-time greats do: play for the Los Angeles Lakers.

LeBron's move to join the Lakers signaled a level of trust towards not only the Lakers' front office to build a contender, but also an acknowledgement of the young talent the team has collected. Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram are the young, athletic future that will likely play a huge part in the group the Lakers hope to build. 

The players that will be joining LeBron and the team's young talent are an eccentric group that took many by surprise. The Lakers signed JaVale McGee, Michael Beasley, Lance Stephenson, and Rajon Rondo all to one-year contracts. The latter two can be remembered as LeBron's playoff nemeses during his time with the Miami Heat. 

Despite their 3-3 preseason record, the Lakers had their share of impressive highlights, many showcasing LeBron's ability as a playmaker. They tip off the regular season on Thursday in Portland.

In the tougher Western Conference, LeBron and the Lakers will have a hard time getting a high seed come playoff time. Golden State, Houston, Oklahoma City, and Utah are safe locks for the top four seeds. 

Many teams out West have an unclear future: Will Minnesota improve despite the Jimmy Butler saga? Can Anthony Davis carry the Pelicans to the playoffs again? Will DeMar DeRozan elevate his game and adapt to the Spurs' system? The Lakers, assuming healthy, can easily steal one of these playoff spots.

As great as LeBron is, and while he makes his teammates substantially better, the Lakers have no real chance of getting to the Conference Finals this year. The Rockets superstar duo will be motivated after just barely losing to Golden State a season ago, and the Warriors, especially after the acquisition of DeMarcus Cousins, will win the conference and most likely the NBA title once again. If LeBron and Co., lose in the second round to either team, Lakers fans should be happy with their season. 

The biggest goal for the Lakers' should be getting the young players more matured, as well as playoff-tested. This season is essentially LeBron's trial run in L.A. It is an opportunity to get acclimated with the organization, fans, coaches, and young core. 

The real test will come next summer, when the team will no doubt attract a marquee free-agent. Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis rumors have already begun, as winning championships is the only thing that really matters in Los Angeles. LeBron can't deliver one with only Ball, Kuzma, and others by his side, especially in the stacked West. 

Regardless of what seed the Lakers end up, they will be a lot of fun to watch this season. However, all eyes should be on summer 2019.