LeBron and Luka begin their first full year together with big ambitions for the Lakers

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Last season: 50-32, won Pacific Division, lost to Minnesota in the first round.

COACH: JJ Redick (2nd season, 50-32).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 21 vs. Golden State

DEPARTURES: F Dorian Finney-Smith.

ADDITIONS: C Deandre Ayton, G Marcus Smart, F Jake LaRavia.

BetMGM championship odds: 16-1.

Luka Doncic appears to be a man on a mission after his season of upheaval. His conditioning improvements have been widely documented, but he's also fully embracing the Lakers' culture and his pairing with LeBron James. He even played a role in the recruitment of Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to boost the Lakers' roster, and he already has a tight bond with Redick, his former teammate in Dallas.

James begins his unprecedented 23rd NBA season on the bench due to sciatica, and it's unclear when he'll be back to full strength. Yet he remains a dominant player as he approaches his 41st birthday in December, and his agent's offseason comments about the Lakers' championship readiness indicated he expects to contend for a title. The Lakers also expect it — and while they should be a surefire playoff team, they'll probably need James at full strength and Doncic in superstar form to play deep into June.

The good: Few teams can match the combined star power of Doncic and James, while Austin Reaves remains a stellar No. 3 scorer whenever called upon. If Doncic can return to his peak Mavericks dominance, this roster is probably better than the one he carried to the NBA Finals in Dallas just two seasons ago.

The not-so-good: James' sciatica acted up before training camp even began, and the potential for injury absences will cast a shadow over the entire season. Finney-Smith's departure leaves the Lakers without a shutdown perimeter defender, and their entire defensive structure hasn't been cohesive since Anthony Davis left. While their roster is better, it still might not be good enough to hang with the NBA's elite teams.

Ayton is an above-average NBA center, but he has a chance to become the standout many expected when he went No. 1 in the 2018 draft — two picks ahead of Doncic. His two-man game with Doncic is likely to be a staple of the Lakers' offense, and Redick will make sure Ayton has no shortage of lob passes thrown his way by the whole roster. Ayton is embracing the chance to play for his native Bahamas' favorite NBA team. He also understands he has to be a difference maker defensively, even if he's not Davis.

The Lakers also hope to get something out of Dalton Knecht, who faded last season even before his aborted trade to Charlotte. Knecht is still a fine shooter, but he must improve his defense to be a contributor in Los Angeles or wherever his career takes him.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA