LeBron James heads into season 23 with no obvious drop-off at 40, fueling contract-year expectations and a championship-first mindset for the Lakers. A public off-season grind and a revealing workout clip keep fantasy managers eyeing his minutes and usage. Los Angeles responded by adding Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, pairing them with confident core pieces like Austin Reaves and, intriguingly, Luka Doncic, who reportedly extended with the team. The Lakers draw a marquee test in opening night against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, a game that will frame early-season fantasy projections.
The move to import Ayton and Smart gives LA more balance—Ayton anchors the paint and screens while Smart supplies defensive steals, playmaking, and reliable numbers across categories. Doncic’s ongoing commitment with the squad suggests heavy ball-handling duty and playmaking, while Reaves looks to seize a larger slice of opportunity as a secondary creator. Curry’s presence on the opposite sideline keeps Warriors’ scoring volatility in mind for fantasy lineups, especially with LA’s upgraded depth. In short, the LeBron-era Lakers are built to push for elite fantasy outputs across positions, with upside and risk tightly intertwined as the season opens.
Fantasy takeaway: LeBron remains a cornerstone asset, but Ayton and Smart quietly lift the Lakers’ ceiling in multiple categories. Doncic’s fit in this revamped lineup could drive big assist and scoring nights, while Reaves offers a strong late-round floor with room to rise. Curry remains a non-negotiable volume scorer in dynasty formats, and the opener sets a high bar for both teams’ early-season trajectories. Expect high-paced, multi-cat relevance from collision-point games like Lakers vs. Warriors to define early-season value.
