- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 442,694
- Reaction score
- 44
LOS ANGELES – Initially, the Lakers looked like they wanted to start their vacation early. Eventually, the Lakers competed to keep their playoff hopes alive.
At both their best and their worst, however, the Lakers revealed an uncomfortable reality about their potential.
Not only did the Lakers lack a championship-contending roster. Despite making a dramatic coaching change, executing a blockbuster trade and retaining one of the NBA’s generational stars, the Lakers ended the 2024-25 season the same way they did the previous year.
The Lakers slogged through a five-game, first-round playoff series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which ended with a 103-96 Game 5 defeat on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. Last year, the Lakers labored through a five-game, first-round playoff series loss to the Denver Nuggets.
“Every season that I did not make it to the Finals or did not win the championship has been a disappointment,” Lakers star LeBron James said. “So it’d be the same for me. It'd be the same offseason of disappointment and unfulfillment.”
After winning four NBA championships in a combined 10 NBA Finals appearances, it makes sense that James would blend such failed seasons together. After collecting 17 NBA championships, the Lakers’ franchise evaluates seasons through the same lens.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith reacts after being called for a foul as forward LeBron James looks on during Game 5 of their team's first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night.Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Yet, the Lakers’ latest playoff shortcomings prove worse than last year’s disappointment. Consider the context.
The Lakers withered in crunch time against a respectable albeit unproven playoff team (Wolves) after doing the same thing two consecutive postseasons against the Nuggets. Lakers first-year head coach JJ Redick struggled managing his rotations a year after the Lakers fired Darvin Ham for his own Xs and Os miscues. The Lakers made one of the most shocking trades in NBA history by dealing a Defensive Player of the Year candidate (Anthony Davis) to the Dallas Mavericks for a generational star (Luka Dončić). In the playoffs, however, Dončić showed various weaknesses with his ball-centric play and his health.
To contend for an NBA title in 2026, the Lakers show they need a better version of the star players, head coach and an improved supporting cast.
“It's a business, too, so you don't know what the roster will look like next year besides the guys that’s locked into contracts,” James said. “I got a lot to think about myself.”
James sure does. After completing his 22nd NBA season, the 40-year-old James expressed uncertainty about how much longer he will play. He added that he will talk with his wife, family and management team before deciding. Just like when he floated retirement after the Lakers lost to Denver in the 2023 Western Conference finals, James has plenty of reasons to keep playing. He has a $52 million player option that he can exercise for the 2025-26 season or renegotiate for a longer deal. James also ranked playing with son Bronny as his top achievement in his NBA career. Don’t expect James to walk away from either of those two perks.
Don’t expect Dončić to leave, either. Though he expressed uncertainty about whether he would sign an extension with the Lakers once he becomes eligible this offseason, Dončić remains under contract through the 2026-27 season. Dončić also expressed gratitude for how the Lakers and their fan base have embraced him after feeling hurt that the Mavericks dealt him unexpectedly and criticized him for his conditioning.
“It's been great. The way the fans accepted me, it was amazing,” Dončić said. “The community is amazing. I had a great couple months.”
Lakers guard Luka Dončić operates with the ball as Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards defends in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday.Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Regardless, it became clear that James won’t prolong his NBA career or contend for an NBA title simply by playing with Dončić. Though they respect each other’s skills and work ethic, James and Dončić didn’t dominate in the postseason as hoped. Dončić played too much one-on-one basketball and dealt with various health ailments in Game 3 (stomach) and Game 5 (back). Though James occasionally felt Father Time’s touch with careless turnovers and missed shots in crunch time, he didn’t thrive as much in an off-ball role because the Lakers lacked consistent ball movement.
“It's tough to get that chemistry on the court without any practices,” Dončić said. “So I'm really excited to have the preseason with [LeBron], so we can learn about each other on court a lot.”
Dončić likened the dynamic to what he had with former Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving. Dallas missed the 2023 NBA playoffs despite acquiring Irving before the trade deadline, but Irving and Dončić excelled well enough as a duo to reach the 2024 NBA Finals. To get there, the Lakers need serious roster upgrades.
That obviously starts at the center position. Shortly after acquiring Dončić, the Lakers tried to offset Davis’ departure. They tentatively acquired Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams in exchange for sharpshooting rookie Dalton Knecht, but the Lakers rescinded the deal after maintaining that Williams didn’t pass his physical. As it turns out, Williams trolled the Lakers following their playoff exit.
The Lakers surprisingly excelled on defense with various small-ball lineups and with center Jaxson Hayes as a rim protector. But Hayes quickly fell out of Redick’s rotation to open the playoffs amid concerns about his fouling and decision-making. In related news, Wolves center Rudy Gobert posted 27 points and 24 rebounds in Game 5, while Minnesota dominated the boards (54-37) against the Lakers’ small lineups. Incidentally, Davis told ESPN before the trade deadline that the Lakers should acquire a center, a comment that didn’t sit well with ownership before the franchise ultimately dealt him.
That prompted the normally outspoken James to joke that he didn’t want to talk about the physical toll he experienced with the team’s small lineups.
“No comment. I never say that because my guy AD said what he needed, and he was gone the following week,” James said, laughing. “So I got no comment. With that uniform on every night, I gave everything I had. And that's all that matters.”
Lakers forward LeBron James shoots over Timberwolves forward Julius Randle during Game 5 of their first-round playoff series at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday.Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The tricky part? The Lakers aren’t beholden to anyone outside of James and Dončić, but they constructed some respectable roster depth. The Lakers have a competitive albeit inconsistent scoring guard (Austin Reaves), three wings (Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Dorian Finney-Smith) and a defensive forward (Jarred Vanderbilt). Finney-Smith, Hayes, Alex Len, Markieff Morris and Jordan Goodwin will all become free agents, but the Lakers also have attractive contracts they can trade. Expect the Lakers to try adding more center depth without seriously diminishing their wings and backcourt.
“The roster is what you're given, and your job is to make the most of it,” Redick said. “At least from myself and my coaching staff, we love our guys. We feel like we can win at a high level with the group we have. Our job is to make the most of that and maximize the group.”
Redick couldn’t maximize his group enough to excel in the playoffs. He deserved scrutiny for playing all of his starters for the entire second half in Game 4, both to ensure his starters had enough energy and to show confidence in his rotation players. He unnecessarily became defensive when a reporter asked him before Game 5 on if he’ll lean on his coaching staff to ensure that doesn’t happen again. But it wouldn’t be fair to dismiss Redick simply as James’ former podcast partner. After cementing a respected NBA career for his shooting and intelligence, Redick minimized any first-year learning curves with his relationship equity, embracing analytics and thorough preparation. After Game 5, Redick showed enough humility to concede he “can get a lot better.”
“JJ’s gonna continue to grow,” James said. “I thought he had a hell of a rookie campaign for a rookie coach, and it's a lot different being a rookie coach. It's already hard being a rookie coach in the NBA, and it's a hell of a lot harder being a rookie head coach coaching the Lakers. It's a whole other ball game, and I thought he handled it extremely well. I thought he just learned every single day, held us accountable and he pushed us. I thought JJ and his coaching staff were great throughout the whole season.”
That wasn’t enough to become great in the postseason, though. That leaves the Lakers’ front office with an extensive offseason to address the roster. That leaves James, Dončić and Redick with an extensive offseason to ensure more time together will yield more success.
Mark Medina is an NBA contributor for Athlon Sports. Follow him on X, Blue Sky, Instagram, Facebook and Threads.
Continue reading...
At both their best and their worst, however, the Lakers revealed an uncomfortable reality about their potential.
Not only did the Lakers lack a championship-contending roster. Despite making a dramatic coaching change, executing a blockbuster trade and retaining one of the NBA’s generational stars, the Lakers ended the 2024-25 season the same way they did the previous year.
The Lakers slogged through a five-game, first-round playoff series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which ended with a 103-96 Game 5 defeat on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. Last year, the Lakers labored through a five-game, first-round playoff series loss to the Denver Nuggets.
“Every season that I did not make it to the Finals or did not win the championship has been a disappointment,” Lakers star LeBron James said. “So it’d be the same for me. It'd be the same offseason of disappointment and unfulfillment.”
After winning four NBA championships in a combined 10 NBA Finals appearances, it makes sense that James would blend such failed seasons together. After collecting 17 NBA championships, the Lakers’ franchise evaluates seasons through the same lens.
You must be registered for see images attach
Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith reacts after being called for a foul as forward LeBron James looks on during Game 5 of their team's first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night.Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Yet, the Lakers’ latest playoff shortcomings prove worse than last year’s disappointment. Consider the context.
The Lakers withered in crunch time against a respectable albeit unproven playoff team (Wolves) after doing the same thing two consecutive postseasons against the Nuggets. Lakers first-year head coach JJ Redick struggled managing his rotations a year after the Lakers fired Darvin Ham for his own Xs and Os miscues. The Lakers made one of the most shocking trades in NBA history by dealing a Defensive Player of the Year candidate (Anthony Davis) to the Dallas Mavericks for a generational star (Luka Dončić). In the playoffs, however, Dončić showed various weaknesses with his ball-centric play and his health.
To contend for an NBA title in 2026, the Lakers show they need a better version of the star players, head coach and an improved supporting cast.
“It's a business, too, so you don't know what the roster will look like next year besides the guys that’s locked into contracts,” James said. “I got a lot to think about myself.”
James sure does. After completing his 22nd NBA season, the 40-year-old James expressed uncertainty about how much longer he will play. He added that he will talk with his wife, family and management team before deciding. Just like when he floated retirement after the Lakers lost to Denver in the 2023 Western Conference finals, James has plenty of reasons to keep playing. He has a $52 million player option that he can exercise for the 2025-26 season or renegotiate for a longer deal. James also ranked playing with son Bronny as his top achievement in his NBA career. Don’t expect James to walk away from either of those two perks.
Don’t expect Dončić to leave, either. Though he expressed uncertainty about whether he would sign an extension with the Lakers once he becomes eligible this offseason, Dončić remains under contract through the 2026-27 season. Dončić also expressed gratitude for how the Lakers and their fan base have embraced him after feeling hurt that the Mavericks dealt him unexpectedly and criticized him for his conditioning.
“It's been great. The way the fans accepted me, it was amazing,” Dončić said. “The community is amazing. I had a great couple months.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Lakers guard Luka Dončić operates with the ball as Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards defends in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday.Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Regardless, it became clear that James won’t prolong his NBA career or contend for an NBA title simply by playing with Dončić. Though they respect each other’s skills and work ethic, James and Dončić didn’t dominate in the postseason as hoped. Dončić played too much one-on-one basketball and dealt with various health ailments in Game 3 (stomach) and Game 5 (back). Though James occasionally felt Father Time’s touch with careless turnovers and missed shots in crunch time, he didn’t thrive as much in an off-ball role because the Lakers lacked consistent ball movement.
“It's tough to get that chemistry on the court without any practices,” Dončić said. “So I'm really excited to have the preseason with [LeBron], so we can learn about each other on court a lot.”
Dončić likened the dynamic to what he had with former Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving. Dallas missed the 2023 NBA playoffs despite acquiring Irving before the trade deadline, but Irving and Dončić excelled well enough as a duo to reach the 2024 NBA Finals. To get there, the Lakers need serious roster upgrades.
That obviously starts at the center position. Shortly after acquiring Dončić, the Lakers tried to offset Davis’ departure. They tentatively acquired Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams in exchange for sharpshooting rookie Dalton Knecht, but the Lakers rescinded the deal after maintaining that Williams didn’t pass his physical. As it turns out, Williams trolled the Lakers following their playoff exit.
The Lakers surprisingly excelled on defense with various small-ball lineups and with center Jaxson Hayes as a rim protector. But Hayes quickly fell out of Redick’s rotation to open the playoffs amid concerns about his fouling and decision-making. In related news, Wolves center Rudy Gobert posted 27 points and 24 rebounds in Game 5, while Minnesota dominated the boards (54-37) against the Lakers’ small lineups. Incidentally, Davis told ESPN before the trade deadline that the Lakers should acquire a center, a comment that didn’t sit well with ownership before the franchise ultimately dealt him.
That prompted the normally outspoken James to joke that he didn’t want to talk about the physical toll he experienced with the team’s small lineups.
“No comment. I never say that because my guy AD said what he needed, and he was gone the following week,” James said, laughing. “So I got no comment. With that uniform on every night, I gave everything I had. And that's all that matters.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Lakers forward LeBron James shoots over Timberwolves forward Julius Randle during Game 5 of their first-round playoff series at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday.Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The tricky part? The Lakers aren’t beholden to anyone outside of James and Dončić, but they constructed some respectable roster depth. The Lakers have a competitive albeit inconsistent scoring guard (Austin Reaves), three wings (Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Dorian Finney-Smith) and a defensive forward (Jarred Vanderbilt). Finney-Smith, Hayes, Alex Len, Markieff Morris and Jordan Goodwin will all become free agents, but the Lakers also have attractive contracts they can trade. Expect the Lakers to try adding more center depth without seriously diminishing their wings and backcourt.
“The roster is what you're given, and your job is to make the most of it,” Redick said. “At least from myself and my coaching staff, we love our guys. We feel like we can win at a high level with the group we have. Our job is to make the most of that and maximize the group.”
Redick couldn’t maximize his group enough to excel in the playoffs. He deserved scrutiny for playing all of his starters for the entire second half in Game 4, both to ensure his starters had enough energy and to show confidence in his rotation players. He unnecessarily became defensive when a reporter asked him before Game 5 on if he’ll lean on his coaching staff to ensure that doesn’t happen again. But it wouldn’t be fair to dismiss Redick simply as James’ former podcast partner. After cementing a respected NBA career for his shooting and intelligence, Redick minimized any first-year learning curves with his relationship equity, embracing analytics and thorough preparation. After Game 5, Redick showed enough humility to concede he “can get a lot better.”
“JJ’s gonna continue to grow,” James said. “I thought he had a hell of a rookie campaign for a rookie coach, and it's a lot different being a rookie coach. It's already hard being a rookie coach in the NBA, and it's a hell of a lot harder being a rookie head coach coaching the Lakers. It's a whole other ball game, and I thought he handled it extremely well. I thought he just learned every single day, held us accountable and he pushed us. I thought JJ and his coaching staff were great throughout the whole season.”
That wasn’t enough to become great in the postseason, though. That leaves the Lakers’ front office with an extensive offseason to address the roster. That leaves James, Dončić and Redick with an extensive offseason to ensure more time together will yield more success.
Mark Medina is an NBA contributor for Athlon Sports. Follow him on X, Blue Sky, Instagram, Facebook and Threads.
Related: Anthony Edwards Emerges as Leader as Wolves Eye Deep Playoff Run
Related: Redick's Nuclear Outburst Inspires Lakers in Win Over Wolves
Related: 5 Big Predictions for the NBA Playoffs
Related: Redick's Nuclear Outburst Inspires Lakers in Win Over Wolves
Related: 5 Big Predictions for the NBA Playoffs
Continue reading...
