After a disappointing 2024-25 season, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka emphasized the team’s urgent need for a center and a defensive wing. In response, he successfully acquired Deandre Ayton, but saw the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith. However, the anticipated arrival of Marcus Smart promises to bolster the defensive backcourt. Yet, a three-time Lakers champion considers key areas the team must enhance to secure victories in the 2025-26 season.
“They still got some work to do. Obviously I bleed purple and gold, so I want the best for this organization and the franchise… 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,” Byron Scott said, via Sports Illustrated.
Scott’s comments resonate with the franchise’s fanbase, who are eagerly demanding significant enhancements in the performance of the team’s bench players. This demand arises because it has been the team’s Achilles’ heel. Despite this issue, the team has made minimal efforts to address it, relying heavily on role players to elevate their game from last season.
Unlike previous seasons, the 2024-25 NBA finalists, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, have demonstrated the vital importance of depth on their rosters. Their success underscores that beyond having a star-studded lineup, it is equally essential to have reliable role players who can consistently contribute over the course of a grueling season. Therefore, this remains a necessary task for Rob Pelinka to accomplish.
General Manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks with the media during a press conference.
Despite the challenges, the Lakers have still executed some strategic roster moves, most notably adding a much-needed center to their lineup. Additionally, they have bolstered their bench by re-signing Jaxon Hayes. The anticipated acquisition of Marcus Smart could address Luka Doncic’s call for a fortified defense. Yet, some in the community remain concerned about the void left by Dorian Finney-Smith’s departure.
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Marcus Smart’s potential arrival has understandably stirred excitement among fans. Still, his history of injuries raises some eyebrows. The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year has managed to play only 54 games over the past two seasons, which is a significant concern. However, should he return to peak condition, Smart may well be the solution to many of the team’s defensive challenges.
