The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a precarious situation as the regular season inches toward a close. With familiar problems on defense and from the three-point line, they will now rely on their ‘Big 3’ to keep them in the playoff race.
Lakers Reportedly Planning Mavericks-Style Roster Around Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves
While there have been discussions about the team’s ceiling this season, some analysts have already focused on the roster the Purple and Gold will build next season, with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves seen as franchise cornerstones.
Speaking on “Run It Back,” NBA insider Chris Mannix spoke of the Lakers’ plans to build around their guard duo Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. “It’s really about reinventing this team around Luka Dončić and building the kind of team that Dallas had in its last couple of years,” Mannix explained. “That means finding someone that is maybe a better fit than Deandre Ayton to be that Dereck Lively, Daniel Gafford, hell, maybe it is Daniel Gafford, just find somebody that can fit into that role.”
“Look out for more 3-and-D type of players who fit the Dorian Finney-Smith, PJ Washington type of mold. They just really want to make Dallas 2.0. I think they feel they can succeed with a backcourt of Luka and Austin Reaves.”
Mannix added that while there would be “defensive challenges”, the Lakers would fancy their chances if they could build around the right players forming their frontcourt. It’s worth noting that some of the names Mannix mentioned were Mavericks players who made the NBA Finals two seasons ago.
At the time of writing, LA has its challenges. They lack a solid defensive presence, point-of-attack defenders, reliable 3-and-D wings, and depth that can replicate half of what their star trio, including LeBron James, contributes.
It has been that kind of season for the Lakers, where their offense-heavy approach has not yielded the desired results. Their defense is in the bottom tier, putting the pressure on their stars to deliver each game.
With James’s future in LA uncertain, and Giannis Antetokounmpo already linked to the Lakers, it remains to be seen what approach the team will take as they enter the business end of the regular season.
The playoff race in the West is neck-and-neck, with the Lakers in sixth place with a 37-24 record. Their three-game winning streak comes as a respite after a string of losses. However, their next eight games pit them against potential title contenders, making it a crucial stretch for their playoff hopes.
