ESPN insiders name Los Angeles Lakers as potential disappointment for upcoming season

ESPN NBA analysts identified the Los Angeles Lakers as the team most likely to underperform during the upcoming season in their annual summer forecast. The assessment cites the weight of championship expectations and the recent organizational turnover as primary factors for the negative outlook. Following the departure of LeBron James and several rotation players, the franchise signed nine new players to surround Luka Doncic. Concerns persist regarding the team's defensive perimeter play, overall speed, and the durability of newly acquired center Walker Kessler. While the front office faces scrutiny over the cost and contract structure of the Kessler acquisition, the squad has transitioned to a younger roster. Whether these structural changes yield better results remains to be seen as the organization attempts to build upon back-to-back 50-win campaigns.

• 2:43 AMYahoo Sports — ESPN picks Lakers as the likeliest NBA team to be a disappointment