re: The Ringer post deadline Championship Power Rankings - Pels at #14

KOC is very, very far from a moron.

But he, like everyone else in the media, has really bought in to the moves the Lakers made.

quote:

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6. Los Angeles Lakers
Weeks after acquiring Rui Hachimura from the Wizards, the Lakers have finally undone the Russell Westbrook disaster. For the price of a top-four protected 2027 first-round pick and one future second-round pick, the Lakers upgraded from Westbrook to D’Angelo Russell, Patrick Beverley to Malik Beasley, Damian Jones to Jarred Vanderbilt, and Thomas Bryant to Mo Bamba. Los Angeles now has better shooting, shot creation, and defense across multiple positions. The Lakers will be able to play with two bigs since Bamba can space the floor, or they can go small with Vanderbilt. They can throw out a bunch of guards or wings. And these combinations should actually work around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, unlike the first iteration of the roster this season. They will retain the ability to trade two first-rounders this summer or use non-guaranteed salaries to make a big acquisition, giving this haul even more credence than a move like dumping everything for Kyrie. The Lakers need to climb the standings to even make the playoffs, but they’re only 4.5 games back from the sixth seed and 2.5 games back from the play-in. If they get in, they’re a threat no matter their seeding. It was a masterful deadline move by the Lakers to give themselves an outside shot at winning another championship.

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The Lakers did REALLY well at the deadline. Really, really well.

I certainly don't see them as #6 and a true Finals Contender though.

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Probably can just ignore the whole article then based on that it was written by a moron =)

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Kevin O Conner is pretty much on Zach Lowe’s level, at the top.