This post was originally published on this site.
The Lakers are lucky to be 19-8 with this roster. It’s time to trade Austin Reaves and truly build a title contender around Luka Dončić in a way that makes sense.
Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.
This week’s featured squad: Los Angeles Lakers.
A reminder that teams are listed within each tier in alphabetical order, not in order of strength. Here’s a quick rundown of each tier:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.
⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.
⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.
Who should the Lakers trade Austin Reaves for? Are the Cavs totally out of the title picture? Do the Knicks need to be upgraded?
Let’s get to it.
This is a complete team, no notes.
Last week’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Record: 25-3 | 118.2 aORtg (5th), 106.2 aDRtg (1st), +12.1 aNet (1st)
Check out last month’s post about OKC’s clutch supremacy!
Just missing that one thing.