With NBA free agency activity waning, the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster construction remains incomplete. Team legend and former coach Byron Scott has been monitoring the team’s progress, highlighting significant defensive deficiencies that need to be addressed.
The team’s projected starting lineup, featuring players like Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton, raises concerns on the defensive end. While LeBron James remains a capable defender, relying on the 40-year-old to anchor the unit for a full 82-game season is unsustainable. The bench also struggled with productivity during last season’s playoffs, an issue Scott believes persists.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Scott stated that the Lakers still have more work to do to become a legitimate contender.
“They still got some work to do,” Scott said. “But LeBron and Luka, they still need some more help – Austin’s [Reaves] been great, every year he gets better. We still need a little bit more length, size, athleticism, and need some more scoring off that bench.”
To elevate the roster, the Lakers ideally need to acquire a 3-and-D wing and a reliable backup center. However, making significant upgrades will be difficult, as the pool of available free agents is dwindling and the team possesses only one tradeable first-round pick.
General manager Rob Pelinka may find a solution through the trade market. The expiring contracts of Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and Hachimura are valuable assets under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, providing potential pathways to improvement before training camp begins.
Scott’s critique comes from a place of respect, as he has previously praised Pelinka’s work. In 2023, he endorsed Pelinka for the Executive of the Year award, and the general manager was again in the conversation after engineering the trade for Luka Doncic last season.
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