The Los Angeles Lakers had a busy offseason, making several moves to improve their roster in hopes of returning to championship contention. However, there are a few key moves they didn’t make that could come back to haunt them as the season progresses. Here are three offseason moves the Lakers may greatly regret not making.
First, the Lakers missed an opportunity to add another elite shooter to their lineup. Despite improving their perimeter shooting last season, the team still lacks a consistent three-point threat who can space the floor alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers had the chance to pursue players like Buddy Hield or Bojan Bogdanović, both of whom could have provided the outside shooting needed to open up the offense. Without that extra shooting presence, the Lakers could struggle against teams that pack the paint and force them to hit from the outside.
Second, the Lakers passed on acquiring a reliable backup point guard. While they re-signed D’Angelo Russell and brought in Gabe Vincent, they didn’t secure a veteran playmaker who can run the offense when LeBron is off the floor. A seasoned floor general like Chris Paul, who was available this offseason, could have provided leadership and stability to the second unit. Without a dependable backup point guard, the Lakers risk overburdening LeBron and could face issues with ball movement and consistency when he’s resting.
Lastly, the Lakers may regret not bolstering their frontcourt depth. Although they retained Anthony Davis and added Christian Wood, they opted not to pursue a more rugged, defensive-minded big man who can protect the rim and rebound at a high level. With Davis’ injury history, relying heavily on him without adequate frontcourt reinforcement could be risky. The lack of a strong defensive anchor could hurt them, especially in playoff matchups against teams with dominant big men.
These missed opportunities could significantly impact the Lakers’ chances of competing for a title this season.
