The Los Angeles Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder recently, ending the season on a disappointing note. But that’s not the biggest issue now. LeBron James is a free agent, Austin Reaves has a player option decision to make, and the center position was exposed in a way nobody saw coming.
Three-time NBA champion James Worthy appeared on the Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday and delivered a blunt assessment of where this roster stands. He left little room for optimism about running it back.
James Worthy Weighs In On Lakers’ Current Situation
“I think they definitely need to make some changes. I don’t think you can run it back with the same. You know, Western Conference teams that are going to get stronger. Minnesota is going to get stronger. I think one of the things that was lacking was in the center position. I think [Deandre] Ayton is a great player,” Worthy said.
“I think they definitely need to make some changes. I don’t think you could run it back with the same Western Conference teams that are gonna get stronger.”
– @JamesWorthy42 on the #Lakers pic.twitter.com/tLREotJAeR
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) May 13, 2026
The center reference is pointed and timely. Deandre Ayton was largely neutralized throughout the Thunder series, and Chet Holmgren’s 24-point, 12-rebound performance in Game 3 exposed how outmatched Los Angeles was in the frontcourt when things got physical.
Jaxson Hayes averaged just 5.7 points in 16.3 minutes across the playoffs and is heading into unrestricted free agency with no guarantee of a return. The consensus inside the league, as reflected in ESPN’s offseason breakdown, is that finding a starting center who can impact both ends of the floor.
Worthy’s point about the Western Conference getting stronger is equally hard to dismiss. The Minnesota Timberwolves are expected to have a healthier Anthony Edwards next season after losing key players to injury in the first round.
The Oklahoma City Thunder boast an 8-0 record in the postseason this year. They don’t look to be dissolving the roster anytime soon, especially given the depth and reliability the current team offers.
The Houston Rockets, who nearly eliminated Los Angeles in the first round, have one of the youngest and deepest rosters in the conference. Running back the same group that got swept would mean walking into all of those matchups without solving the interior problems.
Austin Reaves, expected to command a five-year, $241 million max contract, is the priority re-signing. After those two commitments, the Lakers have very limited room to maneuver on additional salaries.
GM Rob Pelinka has said publicly that the organization wants to honor LeBron James’ decision-making process, but the reality is that the front office cannot wait indefinitely. Every major free agency and trade decision this summer depends on James’ decision.
Worthy also added that the Lakers need a center who can be consistent. Although he appreciated Ayton, Worthy believes the Lakers need a bruiser who can dominate the paint and be reliable.
The Lakers will have some major changes to make, and it will be interesting to see how they change this roster up to compete for the chip next year.
