LeBron James signing with the Los Angeles Lakers was not really a surprise this offseason. One of the most shocking things to come out of the signing was the lack of star power they signed around him. They brought in Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley, and JaVale McGee but they don't necessarily move the needle to get this team over the hump and contend for the title.

Charles Barkley doesn't think James actually cares about how good the Lakers are during his time in Los Angeles because he wants to be a Hollywood mogul.

“I look at it strictly as a business decision,” Barkley told Sports Illustrated's Ben Golliver. “He's on the downside of his career. He wants to be a big Hollywood mogul. He’s going to be driving by the beach every day instead of going through the snow.”

Barkley is also skeptical that this team is a high seed in the Western Conference, and it might even be a battle just to get into the playoffs.

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“(They) are not even close to a top-tier team. They're a five- or six-seed in a best-case scenario,” Barkley said, adding that head coach Luke Walton has his work cut out for him thanks to L.A.'s unorthodox roster construction this summer.”

Barkley also thinks that Walton is going to have a hard time coaching this team and it's not just because of James. Some of the guys like Stephenson and Rajon Rondo aren't going to want to be back end of the bench guys.

“That’s an impossible scenario for Luke,” Barkley said. “He’s got LeBron who is going to do things his way. He's got those young kids who are probably in awe of LeBron. He's got those older guys who are going to try to seek attention. I don't think Lance (Stephenson) and (Rajon) Rondo are going there to be the ninth or 10th guys on the bench and be quiet all year. They're going to want touches.”