James alone won’t bring a ring to LA. The “Big Threes” of the league have seen to that. And while the present season is still in its early stages, it’s obvious that the Lakers as currently constructed stand no chance of coming out of a competitive Western Conference.

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The Lakers are fully aware of this. They were active in their pursuit of Kawhi Leonard when he declared that he no longer wanted to be in San Antonio, but they were unwilling to part with key pieces of their young core. Looking back, the Lakers may have missed their shot to acquire a top-five player.

The Raptors aren’t doing the Lakers any favors. They’re at the top of the East, and Leonard is a major reason for their hot start. As the season progresses, there are those around the league that feel Leonard eventually landing with the Lakers is becoming a long shot.

From The Athletic’s Blake Murphy:

The Lakers are banking on the allure of LA and the presence of James to obtain multiple stars. Only time will tell if this will be enough, but the news out of Minnesota is the most recent blow to the team’s 2019 plans.

Jimmy Butler joining the Sixers is not a good sign for Johnson and Co. Butler has made it clear that he wants to win — whether this is actually the case is up for debate — and the Sixers are a team with championship aspirations. Early reports indicate that the Sixers intend to sign Butler to a long-term deal this summer, keeping a core of Butler, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons in place for years to come.

While the remainder of this season will determine Butler’s future in Philadelphia, the Sixers have to feel good about their chances. Philly has won three of its last four games with Butler on the roster, and the four-time All-Star has already said he “loves this group of guys.”

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Klay Thompson has also been rumored to be a target of the Lakers. There is the obvious family connection, as Thompson’s father, Mychal, won two championships with the Lakers in the 1980s. In terms of on-court fit, Thompson would give James and the Lakers the outside shooting they so desperately lack.

However, Thompson leaving a perfect situation with Golden State seems far-fetched.

From The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor:

Johnson vowed to Lakers fans that he would make a splash in 2018 and 2019 free agency. His 2018 promise rang true, but is he capable of a successful encore?

If the Lakers swing and miss on Leonard, Butler and Thompson in the offseason, they’ll be forced to turn their attention to the remaining free agents. Kevin Durant could be available, but it’s hard to fathom him leaving a superior Golden State team in order to play with James. He would be dealing with the same level of criticism for riding the coattails of another star rather than leading his own franchise.

Kemba Walker and DeMarcus Cousins would both be nice pieces next to James, but Johnson would be lying if a team of James, Cousins and Walker is what he’s always envisioned. (Walker has also said in no uncertain terms that he wants to stay in Charlotte: “This is where I want to be.” He could be off the board before free agency begins.)

The next tier of free agents could include solid options — a player like Khris Middleton would be great with James — but that group doesn’t make the Lakers a true championship contender. The young core would need to make significant improvements across the board.

Of course, three quarters of the regular season is still on the calendar. A lot can happen between now and July.

But with three of the biggest future free agents in ideal situations (for now), Johnson and the Lakers should be concerned. After all, you don’t want to be around when James loses his patience.