In a recent episode of the show “Get Up” on ESPN, NBA Insider for ESPN Zach Lowe made some remarks regarding the next season of the Los Angeles Lakers. Lowe questioned Rob Pelinka’s strategy to upgrade the Lakers so that they can clinch the championship next year. The NBA analyst also shared his opinion about the Lakers’ interest in adding Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan to the roster. Lowe also mentioned the big gap the Lakers need to bridge in order to turn from a good team to a great team.
“What is the move that you want Rob Pelinka to make to turn this team that won one playoff into a team that can play 12 playoff games against juggernaut after juggernaut in the West? DeMar DeRozan and Tyus Jones, those guys don’t close the gap between the Lakers and the Thunder, Wolves, the Nuggets, and the Mavericks. Even that is not enough. They’re a good team in the Western Conference. … There’s a big gap between a good team and a great team, and I’m not sure how they can close it.” Zach Lowe said.
The Lakers’ Recent Struggles with Rejections
The Lakers have made some significant decisions after their early elimination from the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets. They fired head coach Darvin Ham and appointed former NBA player JJ Redick as the new head coach. The Lakers reportedly tried to acquire Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, but he rejected the Lakers’ offer and decided to sign a contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
Furthermore, according to ESPN sources, star player LeBron James was ready to make a financial sacrifice in his contract extension so that the Lakers can acquire essential players for the roster from free agency. Despite being 39 years old, the 4-time NBA Champion is not showing any signs of slowing down in the league. According to StatMuse, James averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds in 71 games this season.
The Lakers have experienced a series of unsuccessful endeavors lately. This summer, they faced rejections from several individuals, including Dan Hurley, Klay Thompson, and Buddy Hield.
