Los Angeles Lakers legend Derek Fisher has given a negative assessment of the team's future, bluntly stating their roster does not compare to elite Western Conference contenders.
Why is Derek Fisher critical of the Lakers roster?
Fisher, a five-time NBA champion with the Lakers, agreed with critics who say the team lacks the necessary pieces. He specifically questioned how the Lakers stack up against the conference's best. "NBA rosters very rarely are missing pieces necessarily," Fisher said. "I mean, the question is, what are we comparing it to? Like missing compared to what? To Oklahoma City? Oh, yeah... To San Antonio?"
He made it clear he doesn't believe the Lakers have a roster that can seriously challenge the Thunder or San Antonio Spurs. Both those teams had incredible seasons last year and battled in a seven-game Western Conference Finals series. Their young cores give them a clear edge for the future. The Lakers can't match these juggernauts unless they make another major move or those teams unexpectedly fail. You can track the shifting Western Conference landscape on our standings page.
What are the main problems with the Lakers' current construction?
The offseason saw bold moves that created a polarizing divide among fans and media. Losing LeBron James and other proven veterans led to criticism of their replacements. A lot of faith is being placed in Walker Kessler, but injuries or offensive limitations have been the biggest worries about him. Kessler needs to be a top-three player on a great team for this to work, or things will go poorly.
Last season showed the Lakers could be a top-four seed with Luka Doncic leading them. The dream trade that brought Doncic from Dallas for Anthony Davis gave the team a top-five superstar. However, the team lost key supporting pieces around Doncic. Players like Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, and Luke Kennard played a huge role by fitting perfectly around the Slovenian star.
New additions like Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton are now tasked with becoming strong impact players. Unfortunately, the roster looks flawed on paper against the top echelon of the West. Their contracts also put them in a bad spot, making it hard to trade for help after giving up picks for Kessler.
What does Luka Doncic need to do for the Lakers to succeed?
Many pundits name Luka Doncic as the best player in the NBA yet to win a championship or MVP award. Doncic does have a trusted offensive co-star in Austin Reaves, but he's the only surefire superstar on the roster. Luka must carry this team to over 50 wins by getting the most out of teammates like Grimes and Kessler.
The problem is the incredible depth in the West will make that quite hard. Even outside the top two teams, the conference has squads like the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves who are closer to a title. Some have forecasted a disappointing season for the Lakers that ends with them having to make changes next offseason.
Trading Austin Reaves is seen as the only easy method to add significant talent, but that would be a tough blow for fans. Fisher's words ring true. The Lakers roster, as currently constructed, lacks something compared to other genuine contenders. The team must find answers quickly, and fans can monitor player performances on our stats page.
