The trade for Luka Doncic and immediate connection he made with LeBron James has transformed the Lakers into legitimate title contenders.

The Los Angeles Lakers are favored in their first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but they can't take Anthony Edwards and company lightly. The Timberwolves (49-33) finished only one game behind the Lakers (50-32) in the regular season, although the latter team was 18-10 with Luka Doncic in the lineup.