LeBron James’ departure has already pushed the Lakers into a new era, but not everyone around the franchise sees a looming collapse.
Derek Fisher is firmly in the camp that believes Los Angeles will keep moving forward after James left the team following eight seasons. Fisher made that stance clear on 97.1 The Fan LA, brushing past the idea that the Lakers’ outlook changes dramatically without the future Hall of Famer.
James’ exit was one of the biggest shocks of the NBA offseason. He chose the Philadelphia 76ers, where he joins a loaded roster that also picked up Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Celtics. That move immediately shifted the conversation back to the Lakers and where they go next as they lean fully into the Luka Doncic era.
Not everyone is buying the upbeat read on the situation, though. Byron Scott, a three-time NBA champion and a key figure from the Showtime Lakers days alongside Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy, thinks the biggest concern is on the defensive end.
Scott’s view is that Los Angeles should be stronger in the paint after adding Walker Kessler, a move that directly addressed the center spot. But he also believes the perimeter could still be a problem, and if that part of the defense breaks down, it could put major strain on Kessler.
The Lakers did make moves aimed at tightening things up on the outside, bringing in Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams. Even so, the question remains whether those additions are enough to cover the team’s perimeter issues next season.
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Sasa Doncic has taken a measured view of the overhaul, saying he is curious to see how the group comes together while expressing cautious optimism about the offseason work. The bigger question, though, is the one hovering over every new-look roster in Los Angeles: whether all this movement actually raises the team high enough to chase a title, or whether the Lakers are still waiting to find the right answer. [Read more 🡒]
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Sacramento has entered the picture as well, with a possible deal that would bring DeAndre Hunter into the mix. For now, though, Los Angeles is still trying to find the right solution for that spot before the new season arrives, and the fact that young players are already being floated tells you how serious the Lakers are about fixing one of their biggest holes. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Frontcourt Overhaul Could Give JJ Redick An Early Problem
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For JJ Redick, the early question is how quickly those pieces fit together once the games start counting. Kessler and Mamukelashvili give the Lakers a new look up front, but the bigger issue may be whether they can share the floor in a way that works for the rest of the rotation, so the team will be watching their chemistry closely before settling on the best lineup mix. [Read more 🡒]