NBA rumors: The Lakers add Michael Beasley for a one-year contract

LeBron James will play for the Lakers next season.

But Charles Barkley does not think expectations should be too high.

"They are No. 5, maybe six in the West," Barkley said on Dan Patrick's show. "I do not think they're better than Oklahoma City, I do not think they're better than the Denver Nuggets." 19659002 "The Rockets are for me the amazing team because I think they've regressed.I'm a big fan of Trevor Ariza … Minnesota is better than the Lakers.As well as LeBron is I see them as seeds 4, 5, 6. "

Ok. Let's try decompressing this.

Assuming that Barkley thinks the Warriors are better than the Lakers, he has four teams – – Golden State, Oklahoma City, Denver, Minnesota – at least in front of Los Angeles

What about Utah or Portland or San Antonio or New Orleans?

Barkley said the Rockets got worse, but does he have them in front of them? We do not know at this point

One thing we certainly know:

"The West is amazing," Barkley said. "He (LeBron) has won 20 easy wins in recent years.He will not get those 20 easy wins in the West Conference."

On a recent episode of the Outsiders Podcast Warriors I had the Lakers at No. 6 in the West while Grant Liffmann had them at No. 7.

We reserve the right to change our minds when we will make our final predictions in mid-October!

Drew Shiller is the co-host of Warriors Outsiders. ] @DrewShiller