An NBA insider has a ‘concern’ with the LA Lakers roster, and they expect the Lakers to make a move because of it.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been busy this offseason. Amid concerns that LeBron James may leave the Lakers, they have made a host of signings, and the biggest re-signing of the summer was Luka Doncic’s extension.
They have addressed weaknesses that led to their elimination in the first round of the playoffs, signing DeAndre Ayton for paint presence and Marcus Smart for wing defence and leadership.
Despite these moves, an NBA insider is concerned about the Lakers’ roster, and suggested moves that could fix it.
The ‘concern’ in the LA Lakers roster, according to NBA insider
Despite signing Ayton and Smart, the Lakers still have a hole in their roster. Beyond their starting lineup, which is as good as any starting five in the NBA with James, Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers’ bench unit is without dependable production.
The Lakers have always had stars. But the foundations of a championship team are built through its top 10 players. Lakers insider Jovan Buha expressed these concerns on the BuhasBlock.
He said, “You start getting into different questions with all these guys in the rotation, and I think that seven to 10 is shakier than a lot of teams in the West. Those teams have better optionality, they have better two-way depth, and that’s really my concern.”
The Lakers allowed Dorian Finney-Smith to leave in free agency, and didn’t have much squad depth prior to that departure.
Their bench consists of players such as Jaxson Hayes, who had an up-and-down season but wasn’t trusted by JJ Redick in the playoffs. Gabe Vincent has high upside but hasn’t produced so far in LA, and the Lakers tried to move on from Dalton Knecht last year.
Buha said the Lakers need to make additions to contend with last season’s NBA champions the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the rest of the West.
He said, “Is it good enough until the trade deadline? I do think the Lakers have an easier beginning schedule, so I do think the Lakers should be able to be in that top six, and maybe they make the right move at the deadline, and that catapults them into the top two or three.
“I do still think they’re one move away, and ideally, some sort of consolidation move that improves the top seven or eight of the rotation.”
LA Lakers offseason options
It’s late August, so the most attractive free agency options have been snatched up around the NBA. There are still intriguing options available to the Lakers, however, especially in the trade market.
Malik Monk is available for a trade. The Sacramento Kings have offered Monk to the Golden State Warriors amid their Jonathan Kuminga saga. The Kings have been rumoured to sign Russell Westbrook, who is still available in free agency.
Dillon Brooks, who was sent to the Houston Rockets in the Kevin Durant trade, is an elite perimeter defender. He can replace the skillset lost in Finney-Smith’s departure.
Doncic’s biggest weakness remains his perimeter defence despite his body transformation this summer. Any help he can get on the three-point arc would be welcome.
If the Lakers’ season doesn’t live up to its lofty expectations near the deadline, they could try to take a bigger swing. They have been rumoured to be interested in NBA champion Andrew Wiggins in the past, and the Miami Heat could be willing to trade him midseason.
In the modern NBA, strength in depth is pivotal to championship success. The Lakers have the firepower, now they need to surround James and Doncic with a host of quality role players.