NBA free agency is just around the corner and the Los Angeles Lakers are amongst several Western Conference teams looking to make considerable roster changes. After Luka Doncic’s first full season in Los Angeles, it is apparent that he wants to win now and is playing at an MVP-level, giving reason to invest in the roster.
Lakers legend Magic Johnson spoke about what needs to happen for L.A. to become champions again after getting swept in the second round this season.
“Well first of all, the playoffs tell you everything,” Johnson said on ESPN’s Get Up. “When you look at the playoffs, look at New York, you look at San Antonio, how they’re built. The Lakers need to be younger, more athletic because right now the league, look at who they’re going to have to beat in the West. OKC, San Antonio, not going nowhere… The Lakers are going to have to get younger, more athletic, faster and help Luka. So now, I don’t know what they’re going to do Greenie, but those couple of things they’re going to have to do.”
Johnson hit the nail on the head because Los Angeles struggled against younger, physical teams. Specifically against the Oklahoma City Thunder, L.A. went 0-8, including playoffs, and 1-3 against the San Antonio Spurs.
Neither team is expected to go anywhere and there is a clear upper echelon of the West moving forward. The Lakers are not the only Western Conference teams looking to close the gap, so general manager Rob Pelinka needs to find a way to sift through this demand.
Regardless, L.A. needs to get serious about building a coherent, sustainable roster around Doncic because he appears to be at the peak of his powers right now. Pelinka cannot afford to waste any more seasons with the Slovenian star at the helm and hopefully, the front office gets serious this offseason.
Danny Green outlines types of players Lakers need to surround Luka Doncic
Johnson is not the only former Laker weighing in on what needs to be done this offseason, as 2020 champion Danny Green recently spoke his mind. In today’s NBA, every team wants a plethora of 3-and-D players and the Lakers do not have many currently on their roster.
Dating back to Doncic’s time with the Dallas Mavericks, they gave him 3-and-D role players along with athletic two-way centers. With that, Dallas made the NBA Finals in 2024.
Green shared a similar mindset as he thinks Los Angeles needs to add more two-way talent to surround Doncic with, as there is a proof of concept.
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