The Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest weakness is not something they can trade for with the current trade assets they have, fix in the buyout market, or wait out until January. It is already on the roster. That weakness is athleticism.
Rather, it is the lack of it. Unless their young players take a real step forward, it is going to cost them.
As Jovan Buha put it on his podcast*, “They* do not have a lot of athleticism. Most of their rotation players are below-average athletes, and that’s, to me, one of the big flaws with this team currently.”
That kind of limitation shows up in places that matter, whether it be in transition defense, second-chance rebounds, or the ability to close out games when the legs are tired. If the Lakers can’t inject some energy into their lineup, they will once again find themselves overwhelmed by younger, quicker teams deep into the playoffs.
Internal development is the Lakers’ only hope right now
This is where players like Bronny James, Adou Thiero, and Jake LaRavia come in.
Bronny’s summer league stretch was promising, especially on defense, where he showed flashes of becoming a real pest on the perimeter. Offensively, he is still figuring things out, and cracking the rotation will not be easy with veterans ahead of him.
Either way, the Lakers need his development to continue making leaps. Bronny has an incredible motor, and he has great self-awareness. Those are two things that could make him a valuable depth piece, especially on nights where the team needs a jolt of intensity.
Thiero might be the most purely athletic prospect the Lakers have added. He is mobile and instinctive defensively, traits that could be game-changing for a roster that often looks a step slow. However, he is a rookie, and his offense is not there yet.
His lack of shooting makes him hard to play alongside stars who need space. For now Lakers fans should not be worried if he goes unseen for some time. Still, long-term, Thiero might be exactly the kind of player this team needs more of.
LaRavia also has the frame to be gifted athletically, but he brings something different. So far in his NBA career he has not really wowed anyone athletically.
His shooting stroke gives him a path to minutes, especially if he can consistently stretch the floor. As much as the Lakers need better deep threats, LaRavia will need to do more than just shoot.
It is obvious the Lakers are in a bind. With no flexibility until midseason, they will have no choice but to rely on internal development for now. If one or two of these young players do not emerge, the roster’s limitations will become harder to cover up, and the postseason could be short once again.