The battle for the city of Los Angeles starts when the 2019-20 regular season begins, but LeBron James is preparing his troops much earlier than September’s training camp.
According to a report from Shams Charania of Stadium, James is organizing a minicamp for the Los Angeles Lakers to sidestep another disastrous season like the last one.
Our NBA Insider @ShamsCharania reports on LeBron James starting to organize a Lakers team minicamp, and the premium on team chemistry around the league. pic.twitter.com/jmGsoCptWB
— Stadium (@Stadium) August 7, 2019
“League sources tell me that LeBron James has started organizing a team minicamp in Las Vegas in September, days before the start of Lakers training camp,” Charania reported. “It’s meant to galvanize and bond this Lakers unit right before the start of the real training camp that begins in Los Angeles in September.”
For the first time in years, the league doesn’t have a single team that is a clear title favorite. The Golden State Warriors were that team the last few seasons, but injuries and the departure of Kevin Durant to the Brooklyn Nets have leveled the playing field this season.
But the Lakers aren’t the only ones who are hoping to build their team’s chemistry early. The Los Angeles Clippers are purportedly planning to hold a similar minicamp.
“Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers are also working toward a minicamp, potentially in Miami I’m told, before the start of the NBA season, before the start of training camp,” said Charania.
The Clippers revamped their roster this summer when they traded Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a jaw-dropping number of draft picks to acquire Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Leonard and George will try to lead the Clippers to a championship in their first season with the team.
The Lakers, however, will be right there with them, hoping to block their path to the NBA Finals.
“For the Lakers part, two sources told me that this is a great move on behalf of LeBron James and the Lakers in terms of setting up this team minicamp and allowing a group that’s so new to come together,” Charania added.
“When you have DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Quinn Cook, Danny Green, all being formed into a unit that’s bringing back Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. This will allow this group to start to begin a chemistry with each other going into the training camp.”
Expect fireworks whenever the Lakers and Clippers meet at Staples Center this season and beyond.
