It is shaping up to be a big offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers. With it being the first summer with Luka Doncic on the roster, there feels like a lot of pressure to build a winner around the franchise's new superstar. As Rob Pelinka looks to make moves in the coming months, he is going to have to avoid [a fatal roster-building mistake](https://lakeshowlife.com/baffling-austin-reaves-decision-will-haunt-lakers-years-come) that he's made in the past: Going after one-dimensional players.
In the past, Pelinka not taking a more forward approach to roster construction has sometimes left the Lakers in a difficult spot. If he comes into this offseason with more of the same tactics, and doesn't prioritize signing players who bring an emphasis on defense and shooting, it could end up being more of the same for LA.
Ideally, with a player like Doncic now on his roster, this will serve as a turning point for Pelinka. LA has an opportunity to build out a more modern and fluid roster that will effectively maximize Luka's game. But for the time being, many fans probably still think they are going to have to see it to believe it.
Pelinka needs to prioritize versatility
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It is clear to see that winning in the modern NBA requires a high degree of versatility. The teams that go deep in the playoffs are built with rosters full of wings and guards who can defend at multiple spots on the floor, shoot from distance, and be effective ball-handlers.
Pelinka's Lakers have routinely looked more like a group of specialists, with sometimes overlapping flaws. The talent of Luka Doncic is enough to make up for some of this, but a different strategy is going to have to be employed going forward.
In order to get the most out of number 77, the Lakers need to work on building a team that has plenty of shooting to spread the floor, strong defenders that can clean up his mistakes, and additional secondary shot creators to take pressure off him.
If the front office doesn't adjust their course this summer, they will run the risk of wasting this golden opportunity that was handed to them in February. A player like Luka Doncic comes around once in a generation, and the Lakers have to proceed with the utmost intentionality.