JJ Redick has high expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers entering his third season as head coach. During he and Rob Pelinka's Sep. 24 press conference, Redick boldly stated that the Lakers will develop into a championship-level team in 2026-27.
If the Lakers are going to live up to their potential in 2026-27 and beyond, then Redick must commit to a strategy that Los Angeles simply hasn't embraced in recent years: Allowing up-and-comers to play through their struggles.
Contending in the modern era is often decided by whether or not a team has adequate depth. The best five players on the team will still make the largest impact when they're on the court, of course, but championship-caliber teams need reserves who can play winning basketball and up-and-comers who can sustain the quality when others age out of their roles or endure injuries.
Redick seems to have confidence in the Lakers' ability to check those boxes after stating his belief that the Lakers will become a championship-caliber team in 2026-27.
"Part of our mindset is going to be growth every single day and becoming a championship-level team. No one is a championship-level team on September 29th. ... That is an ongoing process throughout the year. ... We're going to develop as a team into a championship-level team this year."
Though there's reason to believe that the Lakers can contend with superstar Luka Doncic leading a more balanced and athletic roster than Los Angeles had a season ago, they must commit to developing talent internally if they hope to make true and lasting improvements.
Lakers must allow up-and-comers to play through mistakes in 2026-27
Los Angeles has a number of unproven players who will be competing for spots at the end of the rotation. That includes rookie Cameron Carr, second-year forward Adou Thiero, and third-year perimeter players Bronny James and Dalton Knecht.
With no assumptions being made about who will be cut to trim the Lakers' roster to 15 players, Los Angeles is also hoping to receive positive minutes from 24-year-old sharpshooter Jaden Hardy, 25-year-old forward Ziaire Williams—a potential starter—and 24-year-old forward Jake LaRavia.
Perhaps there is a world in which none of those players are featured in the Lakers' rotation. That would require ignoring the factor of sustainability, however, which would bring Los Angeles right back to the drawing board next summer.
Luka Doncic, Quentin Grimes, Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Austin Reaves are all on multi-year deals, but after that group of five players, it's only the up-and-comers who aren't on expiring contracts.
Lakers' veteran depth is comprised of players on expiring contracts
Collin Sexton and Jarred Vanderbilt have player options, which means they could return—but they also reserve the right to leave if there are better offers elsewhere in 2027. After them, the only players with at least one more year on their respective contracts are among those who were previously mentioned: Carr, Hardy, James, Knecht, and Thiero.
That doesn't mean players such as Kevon Looney, Matisse Thybulle, and Williams shouldn't receive minutes, but it absolutely points to how quickly the Lakers' depth could disappear if the veterans all leave next summer.
With this in mind, Redick needs to make it a priority to develop the up-and-comers on more than just the practice court. He needs to give players a chance to make mistakes, learn from them, and still have a role in the rotation the following game instead of fearing for their stability.
If Redick allows his up-and-comers to make and play through their mistakes, then preparing them for bigger roles later in the season, as well as during future campaigns, will be a far more realistic goal. If he doesn't, then the Lakers will be looking for short-term answers in free agency all over again in 2027.
The long game isn't always a pretty process as it's happening, but if Redick is willing to play it, then the Lakers can contend in 2026-27 and beyond.
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