The 3 main challenges the Lakers front office faces this offseason

The no. 1 fact about the current Los Angeles Lakers squad is that it is built on the backs of two men, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The success of the team is largely dependent on the two of them playing at their peak.

During the 2020 postseason, both stars dominated the opposition, round after round. Their performances led the team to its 17th title.

But in the 2020-21 season, the duo played less than 56% of the time, collectively missing 63 out of a possible 144 games. And on top of that, AD was physically unable to finish the first-round playoff loss to Phoenix.

Then this past season, the two played only 59% of the games, sitting out 68 of 164. As a direct result, the team didn’t even qualify for the playoffs for the second time in LeBron’s four Laker seasons.

Regardless of who their teammates are, no matter who the coach is, the Lakers must have both LBJ and AD on the court, playing like top 10 NBA stars. Otherwise, fans can forget about hanging banner no. 18.

That’s assuming that the Lakers don’t deal LeBron away this summer. Even though a trade could allow both the team to jump-start the future and James to join a contender, it won’t happen unless he requests it.

Otherwise, the most likely outcome is that he leaves a year from now as a free agent to go ring-chasing elsewhere. Although that will create cap room for the Lakers, they will be hard-pressed to attract the best free agents.

Meanwhile, Jeanie Buss has already indicated she’s going to stick with the current front office. Yes, she’s keeping the same folks in place that bears much of the remaining responsibility for the recently-endured dysfunctional season.

That front office is led by GM Rob Pelinka and Director of Basketball Affairs Kurt Rambis. Before joining the Lakers, each had zero prior front office experience.

Two of Jeanie’s other friends lurk in the background, whispering in Jeanie’s ear. One is former fiancee’ Phil Jackson, a Hall of Fame coach but a failed executive who oversaw the deterioration of the Knicks. The other is HOF player Magic Johnson, who abruptly resigned three years ago from the Lakers front office, a position he never really wanted and for which he was never suitable.

Can fans trust this combination to bring the Lakers back into contention? Don’t count on it.

Here are three situations the Lakers must soon resolve:

1. Hire a new coach

According to rumors, the Lakers have narrowed their search to three finalists: Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson, Bucks assistant Darvin Ham and former Blazers coach Terry Stotts. However, Marc Stein refuted that report, stating that the Lakers are still considering a wider array of options.

If the reports of the team having three finalists are accurate, the front office will be choosing between three excellent options. Hopefully, the team doesn’t actually pursue Doc Rivers, who has also been tied to the team. Not only is Rivers perhaps the most overrated coach in NBA history, but to hire him the Lakers would probably have to give up an asset, maybe yet another future draft pick.

Atkinson, Ham and Stotts are all fine candidates. Each would undoubtedly do a credible job. But the same was true of Frank Vogel, who became a scapegoat for what were by far the two biggest Laker problems this past season: injuries and poor roster construction.

The new coach will again be dependent on the health of James and Davis. If both perform well and stay on the court, then any of the three finalists can help produce a winning season.