Team USA is gearing up with their preparations, en route to the Paris Olympics. With the tournament scheduled to start soon, the decorated group of players, headlined by the monster trio of Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant, all met in Las Vegas. They aren’t the only distinct faces in the team. The roster is bubbling with talent, dare say enough to mimic the iconic 1992 Dream Team. It’s a fight for redemption after all, following the team’s medal-less campaign during the FIBA World Cup.

Everyone seems charged to be part of arguably the biggest international competition. But in the atmosphere, it’s easy to sideline their NBA teams. Especially the one side that is always in the headlines, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Purple and Gold have been dormant through this offseason. The most coveted free agents are all off the market, the last straw being DeRozan’s move to the Kings.

Their only reason to stay even slightly upbeat is their retention of LeBron James. But with their two core talents traveling to Paris, the folks on the Laker Nation‘s pod feel it could have dire consequences on the Lakers’ ambitions for the coming season. “I do agree. I think they need at least one move, if not maybe two. But yeah, I don’t think you can. It sucks to even say this- I don’t think you can go all the way through the trade deadline with the team as is. And in the West, this is the hard part.”

“In the West, with the team as is, you could dig yourself a hole pretty quickly. Especially if LeBron and AD are not a 100% after Team USA, you can find yourself in a very bad spot early on, and it’s hard to dig out in the West,” the host Trevor Lane explained.

Barring last season, the Brow has had some rotten luck with injuries. In the past six seasons, Anthony Davis has played less than 60 games four times. These are the numbers that lay ahead of him alongside his Team USA participation. LeBron has been free of any major ailments for most of his career. But now heading into his 40s later this year, nobody can say for certain whether he can sustain an entire 82-game season. The chances grow narrower after considering the toll the Paris Olympics could potentially have on him.

And such a heavy workload is bound to affect anybody, no matter the age. A single look at Luka Doncic, a bursting superstar, clarifies the claim. Since the FIBA World Cup, the Slovenian has played 108 games, the most recent being the loss to Greece. Under such battering conditions, he has suffered multiple injuries and fatigue. The calendar isn’t meant to be this long for any athlete.

Even then, Doncic fought through the excruciating pain and battled himself to not only play the NBA Finals but also represent Slovenia in hopes of qualifying for Paris.

Last season was a precedent of the intensifying competition in the West. The top two teams had the same record, with the top five teams all winning at least 50 games. The East only had two teams hitting that mark. Additionally, young and vivacious teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and even the Minnesota Timberwolves have made necessary movements to ensure their success remains intact. The Lakers, in an effort to overcome their shortcomings, have so far only drafted two rookies, one of which is Bronny.

It’s paramount that at the least, LeBron James and Anthony Davis stay on the floor as consistently as possible. That’s what the Lakers, who don’t believe in the ‘Big 3’ model, will be counting on. But having the fear that it all falls apart is equally justified.

LeBron James is unmoved by the Lakers’ quiet offseason

As Team USA arrived in Las Vegas, the media had to know how LeBron James, the kingpin of the Lakers, felt about their inactivity during the offseason. Surprisingly, his demeanor didn’t suggest any uneasiness or unrest. Rather than be concerned about their unchanged core, James is looking forward to working in a “new system” orchestrated by JJ Redick. “As it stands for me right now personally, my only mindset is to come back and be ready to go to work every single day no matter who’s there. That’s just me, I’ve always been that”.

“That’s not that far away obviously, but when it gets to that point, my jersey goes on, my shorts go on the same way and my work ethic never changes so I look forward to that when it happens,” LeBron James told Mark Medina. All hope is not lost just yet. The Lakers can still upgrade their roster, but nothing seismic is bound to happen. They could sharpen their group to favor the tactics of JJ Redick while also addressing their past conundrums.

The time has passed to do anything major, so maybe it’s better to suffice with minor improvements that could impact the squad and avoid past errors.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what brand maker, Leonard Armato, had to say about the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe, check out this exclusive video by EssentiallySports.