2023 Los Angeles Lakers Predictions with Futures Odds and Expert NBA Picks
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers clawed their way out of 13th place with their 26-32 record, finishing in 7th, and reaching the Western Conference Finals. Unsurprisingly, James led the way with his 28.9 PPG, 6.8 Assists, and 8.3 Rebounds. Despite the fact that he’s turning 39 in a couple months, James continues to turn back the clock and dominate the league. Can he add a coveted 5th ring to his legacy, or will this be the year we finally see a decline in James’s production?
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Los Angeles Lakers Offseason Recap
The Lakers made several big moves at last season’s trade deadline, picking up D’Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt last February. These two moves brought them out of the league’s basement and allowed them to finish off the season with a 17-7 run. This year, they stayed relatively quiet in the offseason, allowing their new core to gel, as the front office is clearly happy with the moves made last season.
Instead, they prioritized signing their guys long term, as they inked Anthony Davis, Russell, Vanderbilt, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura to long term deals. They have provided a competitive core to surround James in the twilight of his career and will remain in the mix in the West for years to come.
While they didn’t make any massive moves, the Lakers still shored up gaps in their lineup, getting better in the offseason. Dennis Schroder led Germany to their first ever FIBA World Cup, after departing the Lakers for the Raptors in the offseason. His 12.6 PPG will be missed, as Schroder was efficient on offense and brought a defensive tenacity to the defensive end that the Lakers franchise desperately craved. Replacing him, the Lakers signed Gabe Vincent from the Heat.
Vincent sprung onto the scene last season, averaging a career high 9.4 PPG off the bench, before exploding for 12.7 PPG in the postseason, including 5 separate games where he dropped 20+ points. Vincent won’t be a superstar, but the grit he brings on defense will allow him to fill in nicely for Schroder, and he should rack up 20+ minutes for the 3rd straight season. The Lakers also signed Christian Wood, as a backup for Davis. Wood signed with the Mavericks last season and looked poised to help lead them to a deep playoff run. However, his 16.6 PPG was his lowest since 2019-20, and the Lakers got him at a discount rate of 2 years, at $2.9 million annually. Wood still has plenty of potential and will be a great replacement when Davis inevitably is forced to miss time with various ailments. Overall, this team got better.
Los Angeles Lakers Season Expectations
Any time you are lucky enough to have the greatest basketball player of this century on your roster, the bar for the season is understandably high. James brings a sense of urgency to this franchise, and the Lakers will do everything in their power to get King James back on his throne. The hot finish to last year’s regular season, coupled with a pair of 4-2 series victories over the Grizzlies and Warriors, will have this team optimistic they have what it takes to succeed. The Lakers have 2 different scorers capable of consistently putting up 25 PPG, and the scoring depth around them to do the rest of the heavy lifting. On defense, Davis and Wood are both solid rim protectors, and the addition of Vincent to Russell, James, and Reaves on the perimeter will reduce the number of 3’s being drained. Their opposition always brings their best whenever the Lakers stroll into town, but LA has what it takes to make this season another successful one.
Los Angeles Lakers Schedule Breakdown
After facing off against the defending champions on opening night, the Lakers play 9 of their next 15 games at the comfort of Crypto.com Arena. A nice homestand turns into 10 of their next 12 games on the road, including trips to Cleveland, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Minnesota. The Lakers may have been able to pull the rabbit out of the hat late last season en route to their stunning playoff qualification, but they cannot afford to dig themselves the same hole if they expect to qualify for the postseason. If they do, they have a stretch in March where they play 10 home games in a row except for a short trip to Sacramento, which may allow them to pull off the same late season theatrics.
LA Lakers Odds
It is no surprise to see the Lakers near the top of the betting odds once again, as their +1200 odds have them joint 5th to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy. They have the talent, depth, and winning mentality to succeed and will undoubtedly be playing meaningful April basketball once again. However, their win total of 47.5 wins feels a bit high. The Lakers have eclipsed this total just once in the last 12 years, and that was when they won the championship in 2020. They are an unplayable -450 to make the postseason and are +700 to become the number one seed. Obviously, the Lakers don’t have the longevity to capture the West’s top seed, and even at long odds they aren’t worth a bet. In the in-season tournament, the Lakers are +200 to come atop a group featuring the Suns and Grizzlies and are +1200 to take home the inaugural championship.
Los Angeles Lakers 2023-24 Season Predictions
I expect the Lakers to have another solid regular season, finishing in the 4th-7th place spots in the West. It is unlikely that James and Davis will be able to suit up for anything close to all 82 games, and the Lakers don’t have the depth to finish above .500 without them. A campaign of 45 wins is nothing to be ashamed of, as the Lakers success will come from the postseason regardless. The hype surrounding LA has never been higher, and this inflated win total of 47.5 is far too high. In the postseason, the Lakers will have to navigate a tough Western Conference, and I just don’t know how they can survive all 4 rounds. They needed massive games from Reaves, Russell, and Hacimura to oust the Warriors. And expecting their B tier players to get the job done against the Best in the West is a tall order. The Lakers faithful won’t be happy to hear this, but their beloved franchise is once again getting too much hype. Under 47.5 Wins is my best bet, and I won’t be touching any of those Lakers futures until the prices come back down to Earth.
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