Lakers Rumors: LeBron James Organizing Team Minicamp to Build Chemistry

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is reportedly organizing a team minicamp to be held in Las Vegas prior to the start of training camp in September.

According to Stadium's Shams Charania, James is hoping the team will bond and build chemistry by getting together a bit early:

Charania also reported that newly signed Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is working on forming a minicamp in Miami before training camp.

Considering how many personnel changes the Lakers have made during the offseason, minicamp could be a good way to get everyone acquainted and get a leg up on the familiarity that is usually built during training camp.

In addition to acquiring All-Star big man Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans, the Lakers went wild in free agency, signing DeMarcus Cousins, Danny Green, Jared Dudley, Troy Daniels, Avery Bradley and Quinn Cook.

They will join holdovers such as James, Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and JaVale McGee.

The Lakers have not reached the playoffs since 2013, and they are coming off a disappointing 2018-19 campaign that saw them go just 37-45 despite LeBron's arrival. Injuries to key players such as James, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball were largely to blame for L.A.'s struggles last season.

If the likes of James, Davis and Kuzma can stay healthy this season, the Lakers are expected to be among the top teams in the Western Conference, along with the new-look Clippers, who are led by Leonard and Paul George.

Teams need every advantage they can get in a stacked Western Conference that includes other potential contenders such as the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs. A minicamp may be just what the Lakers need to get things moving in a positive direction.