NBA Season Preview 2017-18: 20 things to watch this NBA season

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 12: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a foul shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 12, 2017 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bruce Yeung/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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16. Can Lonzo Ball save the Lakers?

His boisterous father has dominated the headlines over the past few months, but Lonzo Ball will be the main focus in Tinseltown once the season tips off.

After selecting Ball with the No. 2 overall pick in June, the Los Angeles Lakers haven’t shied away from placing enormous expectations on him. Team president Magic Johnson said he expected the Lakers to retire Ball’s jersey one day and said Ball had similar basketball IQ to him. The former UCLA floor general only heightened those hopes in July, where he dropped two triple-doubles and was named MVP of the Las Vegas Summer League.

It won’t just be the Lonzo show in L.A. this season, though. The Lakers shipped D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Brooklyn Nets prior to the 2017 NBA draft for Brook Lopez and a late first-round pick. They also signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a one-year, $18 million deal in free agency, giving them a vastly improved starting five compared to last season’s motley crew.

Brandon Ingram’s development likewise merits close attention this season, as the former No. 2 overall pick began showing promising flashes late last year after a slow start to his debut campaign. Ball will be the main attraction of this Lakers team, though, complete with his attention-seeking father doing whatever he can to dominate headlines on any given night.

Next: 15. Can Chris Paul and James Harden coexist?