For the first time in his coaching tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, head coach JJ Redick is saying the pieces on their roster “actually fit together.” This isn’t just coach-speak, especially after a season where the team finished fourth in the West with a 53-29 record, but only managed a 10th offensive rating and a 20th defensive rating. Something had to change, and wow, did it ever.
The Big Overhaul: New Faces, New Game
LeBron James and a bunch of other key players, starters and rotation guys alike, all hit the road this summer. In their place? A whole new crew, full of younger, more versatile talent ready to run. We’re talking about serious upgrades here. They snagged Walker Kessler, who’s an absolute beast with elite shot-blocking and rebounding skills at center. Then there’s Collin Sexton, a potent scorer and ball-handler who can light it up. And don’t sleep on the new two-way wings, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, and Ziaire Williams, who can flat-out play. The depth now, especially at guard and wing, looks legitimately functional for the first time in years. This isn’t just about filling spots; it’s about building a coherent team.
Redick’s Vision: Why This Roster Finally Clicks
So, what makes Redick think these pieces finally fit? He broke it down for Sam Amick of The Athletic, and it’s all about strategic additions. Redick highlighted “having depth, having multiple ballhandlers besides Luka [Doncic] and AR (Austin Reaves) (in newcomers Sexton and Grimes), having more shooting, more volume shooting, having an elite rim protector , the combination of all those pieces.” Plus, he’s totally bought into the new “great wing defenders.” He “really believe[s] in our wing group. I believe in their defense. I believe in their ability to make open 3s.” Think about it: Sexton is the first real scoring threat off the bench the Lakers have seen since Malik Monk five seasons ago. And those two-way wings? We haven’t had that kind of legitimate balance since Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope during the 2019-20 championship run. Add in rookie guard Cameron Carr and second-year forward Adou Thiero, both loaded with top-shelf athleticism and potential, and you’ve got a seriously intriguing roster. Yeah, center depth is still a bit of a question mark, but backup Kevon Looney has been killing it on the boards in preseason, and hybrid 4/5 Sandro Mamukelashvili has been solid on both ends. This squad has serious upside.
This Lakers team might not be crowned champions right out of the gate, but with Redick’s confidence in this new, cohesive roster, they could absolutely blow past what plenty of national pundits are expecting. Get ready, because the West just got a lot more interesting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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