Few teams are able to match the star power that the Los Angeles Lakers roll out on a nightly basis. Anthony Davis is well on his way to yet another All-NBA selection, LeBron James is setting a new standard for 40-year-old players, and Austin Reaves is inching closer to All-Star territory.
Unfortunately, the Lakers have suffered from a lack of ideal depth throughout the 2024-25 regular season—and LeBron James isn't biting his tongue about the side effects.
Los Angeles is currently 22-18, sitting four games clear of .500 and 0.5 games ahead of the No. 7 seed. Despite the fact that the Lakers are on pace to avoid the Play-In Tournament for the first time since its inception, the lack of depth has placed an unimaginable burden on the starters.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, James made it clear what he thinks about the Lakers' roster—and how much pressure is on each player to be at their best every time out.
“That’s how our team is constructed. We don’t have room for error — for much error.”
James was later asked to clarify his comments, which he explained in concise and poignant detail:
“We don’t have a choice,” James said of the mental demands of having no margin for error on a nightly basis. “I mean, that’s the way our team is constructed. And we have to play close-to-perfect basketball.”
Simply put: James' comments reveal just how essential it is for the Lakers to make a meaningful trade that improves the depth and quality of the roster.
LeBron James says Lakers' lack of depth leaves no margin for error
James' comments and concerns are rooted in reality. Los Angeles currently ranks No. 29 in bench points per game, with the second unit also placing 28th in field goal percentage, 29th in assists, and dead last in three-point field goal percentage.
The Lakers' second unit ranks third in the NBA in defensive rating, yet still finds itself in 18th in net rating due to the lack of any semblance of offensive consistency.
Changes have been made to mitigate the concerns, including the acquisition of sharpshooting wing Dorian Finney-Smith and the decision to move productive rookie Dalton Knecht to the bench. Unfortunately, the lack of playmaking depth seems to be a hurdle the team can't leap over.
For what it's worth: Los Angeles' starters rank sixth in the NBA in offensive rating, but the team is currently 13th overall.
With this in mind, the Lakers can't possibly justify inactivity ahead of the 2025 NBA trade deadline. The flaws in Los Angeles are not only glaring, but directly impacting the consistency with which JJ Redick's team is able to perform.
It should thus come as no surprise that there have been six instances in which the Lakers have won at least two consecutive games, as well as five during which they've lost a minimum of two in a row
The Lakers' starters lack of defensive consistency shoulders significant blame here, as they rank 28th in defensive rating. The harsh reality, however, is that it's easier to develop poor habits on defense when you're the only players generating consistent offense.
One can only hope that Rob Pelinka and the Lakers take James' comments into account when debating whether or not a trade is truly necessary. In short: It is.