While Luka Doncic is preparing for a critical offseason, former teammate Jalen Brunson has led the New York Knicks to the 2026 NBA Finals. Though no two teams can perfectly mirror one another, the Knicks have given the Lakers plenty to consider on the team-building front.
If the Lakers invest in two-way wings by prioritizing players such as Tari Eason and Rui Hachimura, they can begin to recreate the type of roster that's given New York its most distinct advantage.
The Knicks have two All-NBA players in Brunson, a point guard, and Karl-Anthony Towns, a center. Unfortunately, adding an All-NBA or even All-Star big man will prove easier said than done due to the simple fact that teams with players of that caliber are rarely looking to move them.
What's truly separated New York from its competition during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, however, is how they've invested in high-level wings at a time when many teams have gone all-in on guards.
OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart have played series-defining roles during the Knicks' first run to the NBA Finals since 1999. With three high-level wings, New York has overwhelmed guard-heavy opponents with a combination of size and skill that most simply aren't equipped to defend—let alone score against.
If the Lakers follow a similar path in building around Doncic, they could experience similar success with size along the defensive perimeter and shooters all around.
Lakers must go all-in on high-level wings to recreate Knicks' success
The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are competing in a fascinating Western Conference Finals series. At the top of the proverbial totem pole for each team are guards and big men with a unique combination of size and skill.
Though Jalen Williams' injury is admittedly a factor, the one area in which neither team is particularly dominant is the quality of their two-way wing depth when you factor in size and defensive versatility.
The Knicks dominated the East by relying on Anunoby, Bridges, and Hart not just for offense, but high-level or even elite defensive play. They combine tremendous off-ball defensive value with the ability to match up against multiple positions when on the ball.
If the Lakers can create a similar level of versatility and complement Doncic with size along the wings that translates to both ends of the floor, they can build a championship-caliber roster.
Lakers need size, athleticism, and two-way value along the wings
Rui Hachimura is thus a candidate to be re-signed. The 6'8" sharpshooter accumulated averages of 12.6 points on .521/.426/.740 shooting over the past three seasons, and converted a mind-blowing 56.9 percent of his threes during the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
The question is: Can the Lakers complement Hachimura with other two-way players so that he avoids overexertion and simply plays within himself?
There will certainly be options to consider, including Tari Eason of the Houston Rockets. Eason is a restricted free agent, but if the Lakers win a bidding war or perhaps even complete a sign-and-trade, they'd be landing one of the best 3-and-D forwards in the NBA.
Moreover, the Lakers would have two forwards who are 6'8" or taller, compete on the defensive end of the floor, and offer reasonable offensive value.
Lakers can overwhelm opponents with size, defensive versatility
With Doncic operating as a world-class offensive player and Austin Reaves presumably returning on a long-term deal, the Lakers would have a perimeter that could hold up against just about any team. The hurdle, of course, is finding a way to make the numbers work.
Keep in mind: The Lakers still need to sign a starting-caliber center, which makes adding both Eason and a high-level big a difficult task if they hope to re-sign Hachimura and Reaves.
That makes the No. 25 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft nothing short of essential. If the Lakers make the right selection, they can improve their depth chart, develop a talent on a rookie-scale contract, and justify potentially going over the first apron.
It'd be a risky initial round of investments in the Doncic era, but improving the quality and depth along the wings is the first step to the Lakers matching the Knicks in making a run to the NBA Finals.
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