Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has offered a dissenting view on the Los Angeles Lakers' prospects for the upcoming season, predicting they will be better than many anticipate. Barkley, speaking on "The Bill Simmons Podcast," expressed confidence in the team's direction under General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka.
Barkley highlighted his admiration for players like Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. "Luka [Dončić] and Kyrie [Irving] took the [Mavericks] to the Finals, come on, man. This team is probably better; this team is probably just as good as that team," Barkley stated, drawing a comparison to the Dallas Mavericks' recent success.
Pelinka has been active in reshaping the Lakers' roster. A significant move was re-signing Austin Reaves to a four-year, $185 million contract extension, which includes a player option for the final year. Following Reaves' extension, the team made substantial changes to its starting lineup, parting ways with players from the previous season's playoff team, including LeBron James, who reportedly gave the team his blessing to move on.
Addressing Dončić's request for a prominent big man, Pelinka acquired Walker Kessler through a sign-and-trade deal. The team also added San Mamukelasvili, Koby Altman, Colin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, and Zaiarie Williams, and drafted Cameron Carr.
Dončić, now considered the face of the franchise, has taken a leadership role. He recently organized a team minicamp in his home country of Slovenia, which included team dinners and excursions. The newly assembled Lakers are scheduled to begin training camp on September 29.