LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers are bracing for a pivotal offseason after a first-round playoff exit exposed major roster weaknesses and signaled the need for a comprehensive rebuild.
General Manager Rob Pelinka on Thursday acknowledged the urgency of restructuring the squad following the team’s 4-1 series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, capped by a 103-96 defeat at Crypto.com Arena.
“When you make a seismic trade at the deadline, it’s kind of like trying to build an airplane in the sky,” Pelinka said, referencing the midseason deal that brought All-Star guard Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks.
The blockbuster acquisition of Doncic rejuvenated the Lakers’ regular season, helping them finish third in the Western Conference.
But the departure of Anthony Davis in the same deal left the team without a dominant presence in the paint, a void Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert exploited throughout the series.
“It’s very clear that this team and this roster needs more size and needs a center position,” Pelinka said. “That’s a very clear and obvious byproduct of trading potentially the best big in the league to Dallas to get a point guard.”
Pelinka said the team lacked sufficient time post-trade to properly address the hole in the frontcourt.
“We just didn’t have the time after the Luka trade. But now we do,” he said.
While the Lakers’ early exit mirrored last year’s disappointment, Pelinka emphasized optimism about the core trio of Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves moving forward.
“I think those three guys have incredible promise playing together,” he said. “We’re going to put in the work to allow that group of guys to win a championship.”
James, 40, has not confirmed whether he will return for another season, but Pelinka made clear the organization intends to build around the future Hall of Famer.
The Lakers also reaffirmed their commitment to first-year head coach JJ Redick, despite scrutiny over strategic choices in the Timberwolves series.
“He’s a great partner to work with, and he has an incredible basketball mind,” Pelinka said. “That’s exciting for the Lakers and our fanbase for the future.”
Redick, meanwhile, said his offseason plans will emphasize conditioning and readiness, with the goal of elevating the team to “championship shape.”
“I’ll start with the offseason and the work that’s required to be in championship shape,” Redick said. “There are individuals that were in phenomenal shape, and others that could have been in better shape.”
The Lakers have several offseason priorities, including acquiring a legitimate center and retooling the roster around their high-powered backcourt.
As the team regroups, Pelinka said the focus will be on long-term roster balance rather than short-term fixes.
“Now we have a chance to land the plane, put it in the hangar and really try and figure out what we need to retrofit and change,” he said.
