The Los Angeles Lakers were without Luka Doncic on Tuesday night, and the team was blown out by the Suns in Phoenix. The NBA’s leading scorer has a calf injury that could be problematic. It is difficult to win with a superstar on the sidelines in the NBA, but the Lakers' weakness was on full display in the Valley of the Sun.
The Lakers were without Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and Luka. Austin Reaves was returning from a three-game absence, so he was on a minute limit. Head coach JJ Redick had to get creative with his rotation, but Los Angeles started Nick Smith Jr. on a two-way contract and had only one trusted player coming off the bench. That can’t be the case for a team with title contention dreams.
The Lakers desperately need a 3-and-D wing, but depth is also a problem. When fully healthy, LA has just seven trusted players. They can’t enter the postseason without more help, or it will be another quick exit for the Lakers.
Lakers' lack of depth is on full display without Luka Doncic
Luka is one of the five best players in the world right now, so he makes up for a lot of issues. The five-time first-team All-NBA selection is an elite offense by himself and keeps the Lakers in games. Los Angeles looks like a serious contender with Doncic on the floor, but the weaknesses get magnified with the superstar out.
LeBron James is rounding into form, and Austin Reaves appears to have leaped into superstardom. The Lakers have the top-end talent to compete with any team, but they are lacking role players and depth to make a playoff run.
LA is light on tradeable assets. No team will be eager to acquire Dalton Knecht, Bronny James, or Adou Thiero after the shaky starts to their NBA careers. Nick Smith Jr., who was released by the rebuilding Hornets in September, started over the Lakers' three young players on Tuesday night. They have just one tradeable first-round draft pick. Rob Pelinka will have to use it to land an upgrade before the deadline.
The Lakers should look to add however possible. Even if it means taking on a slightly overpriced contract. Los Angeles needs a perimeter defensive upgrade and just more options that head coach JJ Redick trusts in the playoffs. They can’t enter the postseason with this roster. That was clear in the blowout loss to Phoenix and will be evident whenever Luka Doncic is out of the lineup.
The Los Angeles Lakers have issues to solve and do not have the personnel needed. They have until Feb. 5 to make a trade, and Rob Pelinka must remake things on the fly again. He did in 2023 when the Lakers reached the conference finals and made the Luka blockbuster at last year’s deadline.
Hopefully, the GM has another trick up his sleeve because the Lakers desperately need it. All fans can do is stay tuned to find out.