The Lakers' promising season rests on Anthony Davis

As October rolls around and the NBA approaches from the rearview mirror, this summer’s free agency can only be categorized by one word: parody. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving joined forces in Brooklyn, Jimmy Butler travelled to South Beach to play for the Heat and Kemba Walker replaced Kyrie Irving as Boston’s premier point guard. However, the biggest move of the summer was when the Los Angeles Lakers traded Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and their future draft picks to the New Orleans Pelicans for superstar Anthony Davis. Davis—one of the best players in the NBA—will get the chance this season to suit up for the “purple and gold” and play alongside Lebron James, who is undoubtedly the best small forward in this modern generation of players.  The dynamic duo will be playing against a western conference loaded with strong teams. While the Clippers acquired superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George this offseason, the Jazz bolstered their already dynamic and deep roster. Subsequently, the Rockets paired former Oklahoma City superstars James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Even amongst these star-studded offseason moves, the Lakers’ additions stand out.. By refining their bench with players like Danny Green, Avery Bradley and Dwight Howard, along with continued growth from young stars Alex Caruso and Kyle Kuzma, the Lakers are now the most intriguing team-to-beat in the NBA. Davis and James have already demonstrated the chemistry needed to achieve their championship aspirations. Playing together on the 2012 London Olympics has given this duo a history together, which mitigates the issue of slow familiarization within team members. Additionally, their new defensive-minded coach Frank Vogel should be able to make the Lakers significantly better defensively, something that kept them from being a contender last season. This is accentuated by Davis, who has been an intimidating defensive force ever since his time at the University of Kentucky . Davis’ arrival has set up the Laker as perennial title contenders for the seasons ahead. By pairing a 6’10’’ athletic anomaly with the all-around skill of Lebron James, the team poses matchup problems against most teams in the NBA. Davis also adds 26 points and 12 rebounds per game to the starting lineup—an unachievable average compared to nearly every single NBA player. Taking a closer look at the role players, every player adds something unique. 3 point snipers like Green and Jared Dudley add space, while Javale McGee and Howard clog up the paint with strong lob finishes and post defense. In terms of playmaking, Rajon Rondo will efficiently run the Lakers’ offense through smart-decision making, while Caruso can make plays with his “sneaky” athleticism.Whether it is the bench unit or the starters, this year’s Lakers roster is a force to be reckoned with. Anthony Davis will surely stand out amongst their bright young pieces as the greatest highlight and their shining star.