The Los Angeles Lakers may be settled on the team they will bring into the 2025-26 season, but before the NBA trade deadline comes to pass, they should be all but guaranteed to make a significant upgrade to the rotation. That will be necessary to keep up with the juggernauts of the West.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Houston Rockets all project to be serious contenders. Past that, even teams like the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, and Minnesota Timberwolves should not be completely overlooked.
A team led by Luka Doncic and LeBron James will certainly be in the mix with anybody.