For the Los Angeles Lakers, the 2024-25 NBA season has ended in a way that, to some degree, most saw coming. Few expected it to be Rudy Gobert who punished them, but after years of indecision, Los Angeles' refusal to upgrade at center cost it dearly.
After Gobert dominated the center-less Lakers in the season-ending Game 5, general manager Rob Pelinka finally acknowledged the need for change.
Gobert tormented Los Angeles in the decisive Game 5, going off to the tune of 27 points, 24 rebounds, nine offensive boards, and two blocks. Minnesota pulled down 18 offensive boards as a team on its way to a 103-96 victory that ended the Lakers' season.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Pelinka responded to the loss by formally accepting and acknowledging the need to improve at center.
"One of our primary goals is going to be to add size in the frontcourt at the center position."
It's too little, too late for the 2024-25 campaign, but Pelinka has at least acknowledged the need to improve in a longstanding area of weakness.
Rob Pelinka finally commits to improving Lakers' options at center
Los Angeles' need to upgrade at center has been a talking point for the better part of the past two seasons. Former franchise player Anthony Davis made private and public pleas for improvements to the depth chart, but Pelinka ultimately opted against honoring those requests.
There was an attempt at the 25th hour to land Mark Williams, but a failed physical ultimately resulted in the Lakers entering the playoffs without a starting-caliber center on the roster.
Furthermore, the Williams debacle was a direct result of the Lakers' decision to wait until the last second to add a starting-caliber big. Had they made different decisions along the way, there would've at least been a proven veteran to help soften the blow.
Instead, the Lakers will enter yet another offseason hoping the open market will present it with a resolution to a long-term issue.
Thankfully, several intriguing names could be entering free agency this summer. The top two centers are likely to be Naz Reid and Myles Turner, who are prime-year players with a track record of high-level production and postseason play.
The list of options won't end there, as veterans such as Clint Capela, Al Horford, and Brook Lopez will all be unrestricted free agents.
Los Angeles could also test the waters with restricted free agents such as Santi Aldama and Day'Ron Sharpe. That at least paints the picture of an offseason that could prove fruitful for an organization that certainly offers reason for bigs to consider them now that Luka Doncic is in the fold.
Regardless of what transpires, Gobert was the latest to prove that Pelinka simply can't justify going through another season without viable options at center.