1. Appreciate the value of high-level role players
The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks have rolled the dice a number of times during the construction of their respective rosters. The obvious example is Dallas betting on Kyrie Irving after his tumultuous tenure with the Los Angele Lakers.
The consistent theme with these two teams, however, is that both front offices were willing to build out the roster by taking chances on players who could ideally complement their stars.
Both Boston and Dallas are two-star teams, with Luka Doncic and Irving leading the latter, and Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum the former. Beyond the All-NBA level players, however, is a strong cast of supporting characters.
Boston methodically tweaked their roster until three acquisitions ultimately unlocked the team's potential: Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and, acquired in 2022, Derrick White.
In Dallas, expectation-exceeding returns have come from February deals for Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington. Gafford and Washington came over from the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards, which finished the 2023-24 season with a combined 36 wins.
The Mavericks did their homework, however, and Gafford and Washington have proven absolutely invaluable to their success.
The Lakers must learn from the prioritization of high-level role players in the construction of a winning roster. The era of three-star teams with quality second units is all but dead thanks to the salary cap rules put in place, which means Los Angeles has to get back to what worked in 2020.
If the 2024 NBA Finals are proof of anything, it's that a formula that already resulted in championship success is the best route to follow moving forward.