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With the Los Angeles Lakers likely facing a first-round exit at the hands of the reigning champion Denver Nuggets, the franchise will have another pivotal offseason ahead of themselves.
The Lakers did well at last year’s trade deadline to supplement the roster with role players that play effectively next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
However, general manager Rob Pelinka knows they can’t stand pat if they hope to maximize their rapidly closing championship window.
Los Angeles has never been known to have the patience for a rebuild, and the team will likely be in conversations to add another star next to James and Davis.
The “Big 3” model has failed the Lakers before, but old habits die hard for a franchise that is used to winning championships.
Shaking up the roster to go star chasing is on brand for L.A., but it’s ruined the natural chemistry teams typically enjoy on the floor, via Ramon Shelburne of ESPN.
“Consistency matters. So does culture. Both take time to develop, which the Lakers do not seem to have the patience for,” Shelburne said.
Last offseason, the Lakers mostly brought back the group that had gone on a playoff run to the Western Conference finals. In the second half of this season, they finally got healthy enough to try to recreate that run, going 30-17 since Jan. 3.
But after another humbling…
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) April 27, 2024
Things like culture and chemistry are hard to quantify in professional sports, but they definitely matter when building out championship teams.
Even with two superstars on their roster, the Lakers would be better off trying to establish an identity and culture they can lean on.
They’ll be linked to every star player this summer, but Los Angeles might need to start reconsidering its approach if they want to get over the hump.
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