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The good news from last season:
The team returned to the top of the Western Conference, winning 57 games, good for the conference’s top seed, and advancing to the NBA Finals. Kobe Bryant won his first MVP award after averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game while making 150 threes and getting 151 steals, one of the better all-around statistical seasons in recent history. The front office engineered a great trade for Pau Gasol, rescuing the Spaniard from Memphis and propelling the team to a 22-5 closing kick with him in the lineup. Andrew Bynum showed potential of being the next great big man for the franchise, averaging 13.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game on the season and 14.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game as a starter. Sasha Vujacic developed into a serious three-point threat, making 118 during the season at a 43.7 percent clip.

The bad news from last season:
Unfortunately, Bynum’s season ended in mid-January, as a knee injury sent him to the sidelines and surgery. That’s really the only complaint about a team that performed so well and has legitimate title aspirations, both this year and in the future.

The revolving door:
IN: no one of consequence
OUT: F-C Ronny Turiaf

Team overview:
Bryant is the engine that makes the team go, not just with his limitless offensive game, but with his intensity. The team feeds off his emotions and his effort drives his teammates to lift their games. Derek Fisher had a very successful return to the team that drafted him, scoring 11.7 points per game, hitting three-pointers at a 40.7 percent pace, and providing tough defense. Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic both earned enough of Phil Jackson’s trust to be the reserve guards. Each player hit over 100 three-pointers (Farmar 114, Vujacic 118) as part of the fourth-most proficient offense in the league.

Lamar Odom could be the starting small forward, but there has also been discussion of defensive specialist Trevor Ariza getting the nod. Odom played very well at the power forward spot last season, finishing eighth in the league with 44 double-doubles and making a career-best 52.5 percent of his field goals. Odom also tacked on ten postseason double-doubles. Ariza is a defensive player with limited offensive game, so it would seem Phil Jackson’s plan would be to use Ariza more to give Bryant a chance to rest on defense by guarding the opponent’s lesser swingman. Pau Gasol landed in an offense that accentuates his skilled game and his turnovers plummeted once he arrived in Los Angeles since he did not have the ball in his hands so much. Gasol should be able to make the transition to the power forward spot, as his awareness and basketball intellect should ease the switch. Vladimir Radmanovic will slide between both forward spots and Luke Walton will pick up some spare minutes at the three, as well. Radmanovic is another player who stretches the floor in the triangle, as he finished five triples shy of being the fifth Laker to make at least 100 on the season. Radmanovic, however, did bury 40.6 percent of his attempts from deep, so his range must be respected. Walton’s overall skills mesh well with the triangle offense and he probably is more suited to play with the Lakers than any other team. Andrew Bynum is back to man the middle and provides a premium deterrent at the rim. He also went down as his play was ramping up, having averaged 18.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks in his last five games before his injury, including hanging 25 and 17 on the Bucks in his final complete game.

Fantasy note:
Don’t risk an early draft pick or premium price on Lamar Odom. His playing time is likely to go south with Bynum’s return, regardless of whether or not he starts. The team is deep and talented, so Odom will not provide similar stats as last year. On a side note, look for Pau Gasol to average at least four assists this year, which as an added bonus for a player likely to have center eligibility at some point.

Best case scenario:
Bynum has a clean bill of health and continues to improve his game. Gasol makes a seamless transition to the power forward position. Bryant’s stats drop, as well as his minutes, because this deep group allows him to rest for the postseason. The team wins 60 games (yes, 60 wins in the Western Conference). returns to the NBA Finals, and gives Phil Jackson another ring.

Worst case scenario:
With this team’s quality depth, there isn’t an absurdly low floor unless Bryant suffers a serious injury that knocks him out of the postseason. Barring that, the team should, at the very least, win 51 games and get knocked out in the second round of the playoffs.