The Los Angeles Lakers saw their 2024–25 season come to a disappointing end with a 103–96 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their first-round NBA playoff series, sealing a 4–1 defeat few saw coming. A glaring issue throughout the matchup? The absence of a true center to anchor the defense and secure rebounds on both ends of the floor—an area Anthony Davis once dominated. Team president and general manager Rob Pelinka acknowledged the void.
The lack of quality options at the center position hampered the Lakers all series long, and on Thursday, Pelinka confirmed that addressing it will be one of the franchise’s “primary objectives” this offseason.
“To have a center that was a vertical threat, lob threat, and someone that can protect the interior defensively—I think those would be keys,” Pelinka told reporters. “But there are multiple different types of centers who can be effective in this league. There are also spread centers who can protect the rim. We’ll look at those as well. I wouldn’t want to limit the archetype, but I know we need a big man.”
Pelinka also emphasized the importance of reinforcing the team’s perimeter defense. “We have to solidify the defensive core on the wings. That’s an essential need,” he said. That need was painfully clear against the Timberwolves, who took full advantage of the Lakers’ defensive lapses.
Rob Pelinka discusses the upcoming Los Angeles Lakers’ season at UCLA Health Training Center on September 20, 2018.
JJ Redick has work to do with Luka Doncic
New Lakers head coach JJ Redick echoed Pelinka’s concerns about the team’s overall conditioning and defensive identity—particularly with superstar Luka Doncic, whose athletic limitations on the defensive end were exploited during the series.
see also
LeBron James’ son Bronny announces first decision after Lakers’ elimination from 2024-25 NBA playoffs
“We have to get in championship shape,” Redick said Thursday, via The Athletic’s Jovan Buha. “Some players were in phenomenal shape. Others could’ve been in better shape. But collectively, we need to improve.”
Doncic’s defensive shortcomings have long drawn criticism, and they were magnified in the playoff defeat. He suffered a back injury in the first half of Game 5 but returned after the break—clearly not at 100% following a hard fall. Still, questions about his defense persist.
Is Luka Doncic the NBA’s worst defensive star?
That’s the provocative question former NBA player and analyst Kendrick Perkins raised following the Lakers’ elimination. “Luka Doncic is the worst defensive star that we’ve seen in the modern era of basketball. Period,” Perkins said on ESPN.
While harsh, the critique reflects a growing sentiment that Doncic’s offensive brilliance must be balanced with at least competent effort and execution on the defensive end—especially if the Lakers hope to build a legitimate NBA title contender around him.
