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Former NBA champion makes bold Lakers prediction as Opening Night approaches

Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins has predicted that the Los Angeles Lakers will field the league's top offensive unit for the 2026-27 season, citing the synergy between Luka Doncic and new center Walker Kessler. Perkins emphasized that Doncic thrives with a partner who excels at finishing near the rim and maintaining readiness in pick-and-roll situations, drawing comparisons to his previous chemistry with Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively.

The Lakers' offensive potential is underscored by last season's data, where Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves posted a top-two offensive net rating when playing together without LeBron James. Despite these promising scoring metrics, the team faces defensive scrutiny after ranking 19th in defensive rating and allowing 114.6 points per game, a figure that placed them 11th in the league.

The organization plans to increase off-the-ball movement this year, though the ultimate success of this revamped attack remains to be seen as Opening Night approaches.

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