In an episode of the "Game Over" podcast with Max Kellerman, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul voiced his opinion that the Los Angeles Lakers don't have the length, athleticism, speed or shooting necessary to be a true NBA championship contender this season. As hard as this is to hear, he's largely correct.
"We saw last year, they ran into athleticism and length and they struggled," he said. "So when you look at it now, athleticism, length, shooting, speed, right? Because now, can the Lakers play fast? I don’t think so. And style of play. That style of play is gonna be very easy to guard when you get into playoffs."
This is the right read on LA's current situation. Luka Doncic plays an all-encompassing style of basketball, and although we've seen him win in the playoffs, there's no guarantee that the team around him will be able to succeed in a postseason setting. As Paul states, the personnel is currently such that other teams will be able to exploit their weaknesses just like Minnesota did last year.
Paul’s comments hit even harder when you look at how the Lakers have actually performed this season. They’ve been excellent in the half court because Luka dictates everything, but they’re still one of the slower teams in the league and struggle to generate anything resembling easy offense in transition.
Rich Paul doesn't think Lakers have what it takes to win title
Their defense also has questions without consistent length on the wings, which becomes a real problem when facing the elite teams in the West. Squads like the Thunder and Nuggets can fly around screens and force rotations that expose the Lakers’ lack of speed.
The roster imbalance shows up most clearly late in games. When the pace slows and matchups get tighter, the Lakers often lean entirely on Luka’s shot creation or LeBron’s screening actions just to manufacture clean looks. That formula works in December, but it becomes predictable in April and May when opponents can switch everything and live with forcing contested jumpers.
Paul’s suggestion of using LeBron as a frequent pick-and-roll screener isn’t just hypothetical either. It’s something JJ Redick has already leaned into because it’s one of the only ways to create advantages with this roster. But when your 40-year-old forward becomes the stabilizing force of your offense, it’s a sign your team construction isn’t where it needs to be.
The Lakers have shown they can hang with contenders when everything clicks. But Paul is right: unless this front office adds athleticism, shooting, and lineup versatility before February, this group is built for regular-season wins and not postseason success.