The criticism against the Los Angeles Lakers is starting to pile up. Although Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ upper management stunned the NBA world by acquiring Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis and others, the team clearly has many flaws that need to be addressed.
Danny Green is a former NBA star who played for several teams, including the Lakers. Following his retirement Green became an NBA analyst, and recently joined SportsCenter to discuss the Lakers’ issues and most imminent needs.
Danny Green Criticizes the Los Angeles Lakers for Their Poor Defensive Abilities
Amid the storm that flooded social media following the Dončić trade was the speculation as to whether or not the new-look Lakers roster actually made sense. While having both LeBron James and Dončić together would have any GM salivating, both players have proven to be most effective with the ball in their hands.
Pair that with the widely-accepted opinion that neither is known for defense at this stage in their career and the lack of a dominant rim protector and the Lakers have notable problems.
Green pointed out that their defense—or lack of it—is the main issue for the Lakers currently: “I mean, the numbers show it. It’s defense. This is what the warnings or, I guess, concerns that people had when the trade happened. You traded AD, who was your main defender and rim protector, and you traded for Luka, who’s great offensively but defensively you’re lacking. Obviously, LeBron is 40 years old now, so he can’t do it all. He needs help.”
“You need a guy to protect the rim, and right now they don’t have that."@DGreen_14 discusses some of the Lakers' struggles since the AD-Luka trade. pic.twitter.com/hXBxTIqqdT
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 26, 2025
Green concluded by vaguely outlining what the Lakers could do, saying, “You need a guy to protect the rim, and they don’t have that. So in order for them to win games, those big three, they have to really perform on the offensive end, and all cylinders, because right now defensively they look really bad. Especially in the third quarter.”
Losing Davis, even for the addition of Dončić, has resulted in a notable defensive lapse for the Lakers. If they wish to contend for an NBA title this season, signing a free-agent center known for their rim-protection is most likely the best option given the trade-deadline having already passed.
There’s no denying the team has its work cut out for it. While James and Dončić form a historic offensive duo, the lack of defense has fans and media wondering if the roster around them is good enough to compete for an NBA Championship.