Los Angeles — In a matter of a few days in the hot southern California summer, the Lakers’ fortunes changed. They went from focusing on LaVar Ball to LeBron James — and just as quickly, from an NBA afterthought to a potential hot spot, if they can get other elite free agents to follow him to the coast.
It would have happened wherever James decided to go but hitching his wagon to Magic Johnson’s train with a storied Lakers franchise, it changed the game completely. After five seasons of subpar play — and four straight with fewer than 30 wins — the Lakers (22-19) are back in the NBA consciousness.