Rich Paul does not want the Los Angeles Lakers’ stars left guessing, and honestly, who could blame him? With the trade deadline approaching, he says the team needs to be clear about its plan, and the stars on the squad deserve to know what is happening.
On the Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul podcast, he put it bluntly: “When you have that level of talent, you still have a puncher’s chance. Now, as an organization, you need to decide what this year will be. That has to be or should be communicated to your star guys.”
Communication drives on-court performance
Why does it matter so much? Because when the stars know the plan, they can play smarter, make better decisions on the court, and feel invested in the team’s success. They can help express what works for them and what they think they should do… when the stars are happy, that usually means they play better.
There is no doubt the Lakers have the top-end talent to compete. Luka Doncic is putting up MVP-level numbers so far this season, averaging 33.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists.
LeBron James is still delivering clutch performances even at the age of 41, and Reaves is quietly emerging as a key piece. But outside of those three, the depth is questionable.
Guys like Dalton Knecht, Jaxson Hayes, Gabe Vincent, and Jarred Vanderbilt have their moments, but they are not the difference-makers the Lakers need to make a deep playoff push. That much should be obvious.
The front office did make some smart moves this offseason. Deandre Ayton gives the team size, Marcus Smart brings veteran leadership, and LaRavia is carving out a real case to have a starting spot. Even so, a reliable 3-and-D wing is still missing.
That is why Paul’s point is so important. The stars need to know whether the team will make a move and what kind of support they will get. Alignment between management and players could be the difference between a strong playoff run and falling short.
At the end of the day, the Lakers’ top-endtalent is undeniable. But that kind of talent alone does not win titles. Chemistry, clarity, and communication are just as important, especially in crunch time.
Rich Paul is basically saying what everyone watching the Lakers already knows: LeBron, Luka, and Reaves can take this team far, but only if they know exactly where they are headed.