3 Changes the Lakers Should Make to Become True Contenders

The Lakers are off to a good start to the 2024-25 season. They are firmly in the playoffs, their offense is one of the best in the league, and their two megastars are doing their thing. However, they don’t quite look like a championship level team, and some things will need to change if they want to compete on the biggest stage. Here are three things the Lakers could do to make themselves true contenders and maximize the rest of LeBron James’ career. 

Acquire some defensive-minded wings

LA has excelled on offense this season. Their defense, on the other hand, has been massively disappointing, even despite having an all-time great defender in Anthony Davis as their anchor. A big reason why is that they lack guys who can consistently guard on the perimeter and take on tough matchups on a nightly basis. Both the Western Conference and the NBA as a whole are loaded with star wings/forwards such as Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown. If the Lakers want to win a ring, they need wing stoppers who can match up against them. Thankfully, some should be available on the trade market. 

One player they should absolutely pursue is Dorian Finney-Smith of the Nets. Finney-Smith is one of the most highly coveted role players around, as he is both an extremely steady shooter and defender. The veteran has made his name by slowing down stars like Devin Booker in the playoffs, and he would provide exactly what the Lakers are looking for. Finney-Smith is making a team-friendly $14.9 million this season, and LA has plenty of tradable contracts so getting a deal done would be no problem, assuming Brooklyn would be willing to part ways with him. A potential trade could look like either Jarred Vanderbilt and Max Christie or Gabe Vincent and Jalen Hood-Schifino in exchange for DFS and salary filler. 

Another guy Los Angeles could pursue is De’Andre Hunter. While the former 4th overall pick has become more offensive-minded in recent years, he still has a reputation and history of being a lockdown defender and certainly has all the tools to be one. The Hawks are more focused on developing Zaccharie Risacher at this point, making Hunter expendable. The Lakers could get him for a package centered around Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, and draft capital. 

Other possible trade targets that fit the wing stopper bill include Simone Fontecchio, Torrey Craig, and Cody Martin.

Shoot more threes!

In the modern NBA, the three ball is king. Teams are letting it fly from deep more and more every season, and those who don’t follow the trend get left in the dust (and in the lottery). Despite Dalton Knecht’s fearless flinging and LeBron’s best efforts to evolve his game, the Lakers are bottom five in the league in threes attempted per game. Their offense has been successful regardless, but unfortunately the interior-centric style of ball just isn’t as effective as it used to be. At the end of the day, three is just better than two. LA needs to get up more treys or they will get outgunned come playoff time. This is a change that could be made by trading for shooters, but it could also come through an in-house shift in philosophy. The Lakers certainly have some guys who can shoot— namely Knecht, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell. Encouraging them to channel their inner JJ Redick would go a long way!

Empower D’Angelo Russell

This one is a little more controversial. A once well-loved young star, D’Angelo Russell’s reputation has tanked since he returned to the City of Angels in 2023. Simply put, he hasn’t played very well, especially this season where he’s shooting under 40% from the field and under 30% from three. While these struggles have tarnished his image as a player and have fans clamoring for him to be traded, the opposite may in fact be better for the Lakers. Russell needs to be more of a focal point in the game plan. 

Russell is at his best with the ball in his hands. He’s an incredibly gifted scorer off the bounce from all three levels and an underrated playmaker as well. Yes, he has inefficient nights, but that’s just part of his game and when he’s on, he can get you a win almost single-handedly. Despite this, the Lakers don’t use him as a primary creator very often. His usage rate so far this year is at a career low, which is mind-boggling considering he is now coming off the bench. Letting Russell cook as a sixth man would allow him to restore his confidence and become the dangerous weapon he was supposed to be when they traded for him.