NBA Rumors: Lakers Still Feel LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Core Players Can Win Title

The Los Angeles Lakers are surely disappointed after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets, but there's reportedly a sense of optimism that a championship is in the franchise's future.

According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, LeBron James' "continued ability to stave off Father Time" coupled with Anthony Davis "coming off perhaps his most complete season as a Laker" left Los Angeles "believing that the championship window for this core has not closed."

McMenamin also indicated that the Lakers could be in for a coaching change from Darvin Ham, stating, "if a different voice is needed to lead the group, the franchise will make the financial commitment to do so."

Los Angeles fought hard in Monday's Game 5 in Denver but wound up losing in heartbreaking fashion when Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray hit his second game-winning jumper of the series to propel the defending champs to a 108-106 victory and a 4-1 series win. At 39 years old, James led the Lakers with 44 minutes played, 30 points, 11 assists and four steals in the loss. Davis played 40 minutes and added 17 points and 15 rebounds.

The Lakers were believed to have a strong crop of role players around their two stars, but the team still struggled to keep pace with the elite squads in the Western Conference. McMenamin pointed out that the supporting cast failed to perform at times throughout the series against Denver, which prompted James to seemingly call out the rest of the roster.

"We know what it takes to win a championship and how damn near perfect you got to be," James said of himself and Davis after they combined for 59 points in a 112-105 loss in Game 3. "That's not like something that's so crazy to obtain."

James will turn 40 next season and admitted multiple times that he is nearing the end of his legendary career, so competing for a championship is his sole focus. It will be important for the Lakers to address their roster deficiencies this offseason and decide whether Ham is the right person to lead the team as James chases his fifth championship ring.