2014 NBA Season Predictions: Los Angeles Lakers Have ‘Bleak Outlook’ According To ‘Future Power Rankings!’ Will The NBA’s Glamour Team Shine Again?

The 2014 NBA Season Predictions for the Los Angeles Lakers are bereft of optimism. After missing out on the big shot free agents, the only improvement that the Lakers will have is a returning Kobe Bryant-and it's a big question mark on how well he can still pray.

The Lakers also lost Pau Gasol, their second best player and a skilled big man that would definitely help the team on many levels. They acquired Jeremy Lin and Ed Davis and first round pick Julius Randle.

While the current roster holds weight, there are other factors to consider and it's hard to think that NBA's glamour team will be down for long.

ESPN's assessment on the Lakers' future reads:

"Drafting Julius Randle and stealing Ed Davis for the minimum qualify as two rays of sunlight in an otherwise dismal summer, but neither of those players project to be the type of blue-chip talent who can change the fortunes of the team in the next three years. Making matters worse, the Lakers' first-round pick is only top-five protected next year; otherwise, it goes to division rival Phoenix from the Steve Nash trade.

Despite the presence of one of the shrewdest general managers in the league in Mitch Kupchak, the perception that co-owner Jim Buss exerts heavy influence, exacerbated by some of the puzzling decisions of the past few years, has serious damaged our panel's confidence in Lakers management.

But there is a bright side: Los Angeles and this franchise's legacy will very likely continue to make the Lakers a top destination for players, and they still have tremendous cap flexibility. As history has shown, those two factors alone can turn things around in a hurry for the Lakers."

The NBA's salary cap already took away the advantages of bigger market teams with tons of money but the players' still want to play in big markets because of non-basketball reasons.

Yet, for most players, a chance to win matters a lot. Kevin Love ditched Minnesota to make the playoffs. Even LeBron James timed his return when the Cavs were at their strongest.

While the "bright side" is acknowledged, it will take a conspiracy of Miami Heat 2010 proportions to convince stars to come to Hollywood. Superstars don't want to be "the man" anymore-they want to have Big Threes. The Lakers need to build their own to make a quantum leap.