Power-ranking the 10 biggest challengers to the Lakers in 2020-21

5. Brooklyn Nets

Maybe this is a tad premature, but we’re running with the happier scenario, where Kevin Durant returns from his Achilles injury as the top-3 player he is and Kyrie Irving stays healthy all season long. In this parallel universe, the Brooklyn Nets are a legitimate force to be reckoned with and a leading contender in the East.

Whether that actually materializes remains to be seen. An Achilles tear has ruined the careers of many an NBA athlete, and KD is 32 years old now. But if Durant is even 90 percent of his former self with a healthy Kyrie by his side, the Nets have enough complementary talent to really make some noise in their first season together.

Caris LeVert looks like a legitimate two-way star, Joe Harris is a reliable sniper and Spencer Dinwiddie is a clutch bench performer. Aside from health, the biggest concern might be what the system looks like under first-time head coach Steve Nash … and whether he’s undermined by his own superstars before his actual first day on the job.