Lakers stuck in mediocrity with current roster

Following their resounding victory over the Pelicans on Nov. 30, the Lakers were easily the talk of the NBA.

Led by a dominant duo in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, Los Angeles raced out to a 15-4 record. The Lakers were executing at such a high level on the offensive side of the ball that they welcomed the trade off as their defense struggled.

Even more improbable about the early stretch of the year was the fact that up to that point, LeBron James had only played in four games. He missed the earliest parts of the season dealing with sciatica before needing nights off to rest a sore foot.

While Oklahoma City was running roughshod over the rest of the NBA, the Lakers were emerging as arguably their biggest adversary when it came to competing for the title.

However, since that night against the Pelicans, something has shifted in Los Angeles. Simply put, the Lakers have been mediocre.

They’re 8-10 since that win, and that included Monday’s embarrassing 124-112 loss to the massively underachieving Kings.

No longer executing to near perfection on offense — and with Reaves currently out of the lineup for the foreseeable future dealing with a Grade 2 calf strain — the Lakers deficiencies on defense have become more alarming than ever.

Ranked 20th in the league in three-point percentage at 34.8 percent, the Kings couldn’t miss against Los Angeles’ ghost defense. They shot 17-for-26 (65.4 percent) from deep, outscoring the Lakers by 27 points from beyond the arc.

“I think we played solid defense,” James said postgame. “S—t, I mean, they made a bunch of 3s. We didn’t make many. … Tonight was just one of those cases where you didn’t make shots.”

While the defense has been a glaring problem with no answer or options in sight for JJ Redick, the offense’s inability to hit open shots is cause enough to keep the head coach up at night.

Despite having two of the greatest offensive players in the game on the same team — and a stone-cold assassin as a “third” option — the Lakers have been dismal since that fast start. They’re last in the NBA in three-point percentage at 33.7 percent on the year, a number that drops to 32.7 percent since Nov. 30 despite shooting 2.8 more attempts per game.

“This has been the theme,” Redick said. “It has been the theme. So, we just got to keep shooting, I guess.”

Most would assume the offense — between Doncic, James and Reaves — will resolve itself. But that still leaves the big gaping question; who will play defense for this team? My two-year-old son is unavailable, otherwise he might have a shot at the rate the Lakers team values that end of the court.

The answer to that question lies within the overarching question of the Lakers franchise. Who does this team build around?

James is the legend but appears close to hanging up his jersey for good. Reaves is talented but who knows if he can be the No. 1 option. That leaves Doncic, the guy the Lakers acquired last season in one of the most shocking trades in league history.

It’s long been known that the ideal complements to Doncic are long, athletic, defensive-minded wings who can knock down open threes, a versatile big man capable of protecting the rim and rolling to the basket on offense and a secondary scorer who can drop 20-24 points a game on efficiency.

Wow, that’s it?

There’s a reason that when Doncic made the 2024 NBA Finals, he was surrounded by that exact archetype of a team.

He had shooters/defenders in Derrick Jones Jr., P.J. Washington, Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Maxi Kleber. He had rim protecting/rolling centers in Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. He also has Kyrie Irving, one of the best No. 2 options in NBA history who helped shoulder the load for Doncic.

Building around Doncic makes the most sense, but given today’s salary cap restrictions, doing so is extremely difficult.

The quickest way to make a change is shipping Reaves for someone line Jaren Jackson Jr. or Bam Adebayo — if they were even available. Reaves is by far the best trade chip the Lakers have, but he and Luka together on the court is when this team was at its best.

Add in the James questions and it’s understandable why this Lakers team might be toying in mediocrity if it chooses to stand pat.