The Los Angeles Lakers off-season was a disappointment. They didn’t solve many of the issues they had last season. There were no significant additions to the team that made the team better in some way. Their key additions were Dennis Schroder, Patrick Beverley, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Lonnie Walker. They made a few other signings, but none were quite impactful.
Last season the Lakers finished 23rd in defensive and 27th in offensive rating. They were poor on both sides of the ball. Some of their issues had to do with the team construct, while some had to do with injuries. Their key players missed a significant amount of games. Anthony Davis and Lebron James were out for long stretches due to injuries. Though the team still played poorly when both guys were in the lineup.
Going into the off-season, the Lakers needed to find players that could help them improve on both ends. None of the players they added in the off-season made them better. In some ways, their additions may have added more confusion to their team.
They added Patrick Beverly, who has a reputation for being a great defender, but the numbers have shown he hasn’t been good over the last few seasons. He’s still a capable defender, but he’s not a great enough defender to justify playing him significant minutes. He will compromise their offense because he’s not a good enough shooter to play with Lebron and Anthony Davis during pivotal moments in the game.
The same issues exist with Dennis Schroeder. He’s a capable defender, but he’s a player that needs the ball in his hands to be impactful. It will be hard for him to find his place with Lebron, Anthony Davis, and Westbrook needing the ball in their hands. Dennis may struggle to find a rhythm on the court. Dennis will be asked to be a spot-up shooter, which isn’t his strength.
The current construct of the team doesn't put its players in a position to succeed. There aren’t enough shooters or great defenders on the team. It will force the stars to carry an increased load on both sides of the ball. Their GM, Rob Pelinka, didn’t build the team the way he should’ve. The Lakers will likely make a trade during the season to improve their roster.
This Laker squad still has a lot of issues. Being healthy will be crucial and improve their chances of being better than last year. They still need improved shooting and defensive buy-in from their veteran players. It’s possible, but it will require a lot from their older players. There’s no telling where the Lakers will finish this season. Health will play a crucial role in where they finish this upcoming season.