The Los Angeles Lakers are operating with the apparent hope that addition will come in the form of subtraction heading into the 2024-25 season. After parting with former head coach Darvin Ham, the Lakers made limited moves to improve the roster, relying entirely on the NBA Draft for new additions.
New head coach JJ Redick is optimistic about what the current roster can do, but he recently spoke without hesitation about the areas in which the team can still stand to improve.
Los Angeles was expected to be active in acquiring talent this offseason, but hasn't yet signed a new player. It's also been quiet on the trade front, although that isn't necessarily due to a lack of trying—and Redick is remaining vocal to ensure that the effort is sustained.
In an interview on NBA Today on SiriusXM Radio, Redick spoke candidly about what he believes the next step is in helping the Lakers contend: Acquiring a big, bruising center.
"You certainly have to look at what I think is actually a very good roster, a very balanced roster. We’d love, we tried, but we’d love to, at some point, get another five-man, a big bruising five-man. You look at the Western Conference right now, whether it’s Denver, Minnesota, OKC with what they added, certainly Memphis, they’re going to be back in the hunt, they added Zach Edey, you're going to need in certain matchups in the playoffs, you’re going to need a lot of size."
As the Lakers continue to go through the offseason without adding a single new player via free agency, Redick is refusing to accept complacency.
JJ Redick believes Lakers must improve at center
Redick has wasted no time in leading a youth movement for the Lakers. Under Redick's watch, Los Angeles has drafted Dalton Knecht and Bronny James, and re-signed 21-year-old swingman Max Christie to a four-year deal.
Redick has also spoken about how he intends to create a system that runs through Anthony Davis and takes some of the playmaking pressure off of LeBron James.
For as intriguing as those visions may be, the elephant in the room is that it's been nearly a year since Davis requested that the Lakers improve at center. This isn't to say that he won't play the position at all, but he's made it known that he wants to be able to move over to the 4 when the situation calls for it.
Redick clearly agrees with the need to improve at the 5, which strengthens the optimism that the Lakers will find a way to land an impact player at the position.
“I want that challenge. I’m not going to run from that challenge”
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 13, 2024
New Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick explains the comments he made in 2022 about LA not being a good job at that time@TermineRadio | @jumpshot8 | @SiriusXMSports | #NBA2KSummerLeague pic.twitter.com/uLN9tH41Ex
Options are scarce on the free agent market, making a potential trade the most likely outcome for Los Angeles. It's unclear who the organization might be looking at, but Pelinka has made it known that he's willing to part with draft capital if it means adding a proven talent.
The criteria has been set by Redick, and one would like to think that he and the organization are on the same page—especially considering the way the playoffs have ended the past two seasons.
In both 2023 and 2024, the Lakers fell unceremoniously to Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Jokic's ability to go to the post and score at virtual will has underscored the clear need to improve along the defensive interior, even with a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Davis.
It remains unclear who the Lakers will be targeting in a potential trade, but Redick openly addressing the weakness at center is a promising sign that the front office has the need to improve in mind.
Unless, of course, the Lakers believe improvement can come from within.