Will Lakers Decline After James' Departure? Fisher Believes They Can Still Reach 50 Wins: Doncic Remains on the Roster_Reaves_Defense_Offense

On September 4 Beijing time, after LeBron James' departure, the Los Angeles Lakers entered an uncertain situation. However, Fisher, who won five championships with the Lakers, does not believe the former team will collapse without James. Fisher believes the Lakers still have the ability to win 45-50 games because they already have Luka Doncic as the cornerstone of the franchise.

Fisher said: "The Lakers will not experience a major drop-off, because Luka is still on the roster." This is what makes the Lakers different from other former teams James left during his career. Last season, the Lakers finished the regular season with a 53-29 record.

Can Doncic change the situation?

In the final season before James first left the Cavaliers, Cleveland won 61 games, but its record fell directly to 19 wins the following year. After James returned to the Cavaliers in 2014, the Heat's record dropped from 54 wins to 37 wins. After James joined the Lakers, the Cavaliers, who had reached the Finals for four straight years, again produced a poor 19-win season.

The Lakers will not repeat such a dramatic decline because they do not need to search for another superstar from scratch. Before James joined the Philadelphia 76ers, Doncic had already remained with the Lakers.

The Lakers' entire offensive system can now be built around Doncic, who is in his prime, and he is capable of leading one of the most explosive offenses in the league. Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game last season. He is a mature and reliable second offensive initiator who can share the burden with Doncic.

Fisher said: "In my view, Doncic paired with Reaves, this backcourt put on the floor every night, is completely an All-Star-level combination." The Lakers also showed their appreciation for Reaves by giving him a four-year, $185 million extension.

The Lakers still have a long way to go

Fisher also views new addition Kessler as a major positive, praising the young center's defense and rebounding ability and calling him an interior player "close to All-Star level."

Kessler is a center who excels at rolling to the basket for easy scoring opportunities, making him the type of partner who has previously helped bring out Doncic's strengths. He also fills the Lakers' long-standing defensive weakness. Grimes, Sexton, and Mamukelashvili provide more rotation scoring options for this new core.

However, Fisher's prediction is based on several favorable conditions being met: the Lakers must stay healthy, build a stable wing rotation, and prove that the Doncic-Reaves backcourt can withstand pressure defensively against championship-level opponents.

The full value James brought cannot be replaced by a single player. The Lakers need their depth rotation and young core group to make up for his absence in scoring, playmaking, and leadership.

However, the post-James Lakers are not without direction. The team already has its next offensive engine, an emerging second option, and a defensive anchor.

This foundation also gives Fisher sufficient reason to believe that the Lakers can remain firmly in the Western Conference playoff race.