The Lakers have had a pretty quiet offseason so far.
Despite hiring JJ Redick and drafting Bronny James, they haven’t made many big moves. They tried to get Klay Thompson, Buddy Hield, DeMar DeRozan, and Jonas Valanciunas, but none of them joined the team. LeBron even offered to take a pay cut for Thompson and tried to recruit him at the start of free agency.
In an interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin on Sunday, LeBron talked about the Lakers’ struggles in signing top free agents. “It takes two to tango,” he said about their failed attempts. “Our front office and coaching staff did their best to bring in new players, but it didn’t work out. That’s just how this business goes sometimes.”
LeBron’s Perspective:
LeBron emphasized that there’s no point in dwelling on what didn’t happen. “We don’t sit here and lie or cry about it,” he said. “We move on.” He praised Klay, DeMar, and Valanciunas as great players but noted that it’s time to focus on improving with what they have.
If the season started today, the Lakers would have 11 players returning from last year’s squad that finished seventh in the West. This stability is why Vegas oddsmakers give them decent odds—ninth-shortest—to win next year’s NBA title.
Some people think the Lakers might still struggle next season , but LeBron is optimistic. He believes they’re close to being title contenders again.
Fans might wonder if more roster changes are needed for a serious run at the championship. Right now, significant upgrades seem unlikely unless they trade Austin Reaves.
What do you think? Are more changes needed or can this team make a deep playoff run?
