The Los Angeles Lakers’ season came to an abrupt end after a first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sparking discussions about the state of the roster and the decisions made throughout the year. In a postseason press conference on Thursday, head coach JJ Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka addressed the team’s struggles, but one comment from Redick stood out.
“We have a ways to go as a roster, and certainly there are individuals that were in phenomenal shape, there’s certainly other ones that could’ve been in better shape. That’s where my mind goes immediately,” Redick said.
LeBron: ‘I don’t have the answer’ to questions about his future after Lakers’ exit from NBA playoffs
While Redick did not mention any player specifically, his comments immediately raised speculation about Luka Doncic, whose fitness has been a topic of discussion since his blockbuster trade from the Dallas Mavericks. Reports suggested that concerns about Doni’s conditioning, as well as his looming supermax extension, factored into the decision of Dallas GM Nico Harrison to move him.
Adding another layer to the discussion, Redick’s in-game decision-making came under scrutiny earlier in the series. In Game 4, he opted to keep his starters in for the entire second half without substitutions, a risky strategy that appeared to backfire as fatigue set in. While he adjusted in Game 5, Doncic, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Austin Reaves still logged around 40 minutes each in the loss.
There is no doubt they have needs
Pelinka pointed to the team’s need for a center, a glaring weakness after Anthony Davis was sent to Dallas in the Doni trade. The Lakers struggled to contain Rudy Gobert, whose presence in the paint proved decisive for Minnesota. LeBron James, always measured in his responses, seemed to acknowledge the irony of the situation. When asked about the team’s need for a big man, he smiled and said, “No comment. My guy AD said what he needed and then he was gone the following week, so, I got no comment.”
As the offseason begins, major questions loom over the franchise. James, now 40, will once again take time to evaluate his future, as speculation swirls around whether he will return for another season. Since winning the 2020 championship, the Lakers have failed to meet expectations, leaving fans and analysts wondering about their next move.
Despite the disappointing result, Pelinka defended both the trade for Doni and the decision to hire Redick, insisting the organization remains confident in its direction. However, with mounting criticism and fan unrest in Dallas, some are reconsidering whether Nico Harrison made the right call in moving on from Doncic.
The Lakers will need to retool their roster, address their defensive gaps, and solidify their offensive approach if they hope to return to championship contention. One thing is certain, there is no question the pressure is on.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Fotbalisty Lipska se pokusí vrátit mezi německou elitu trenér Werner
Werner je nástupcem Marca Roseho, jenž skončil už během března. Ve zbytku ročníku mužstvo vedl dočasný kouč Zsolt Löw. Lipsku unikla účast v evropských pohárech, v předchozích šesti sezonách hrálo Ligu mistrů.„Ole je mladý a ambiciózní trenér. Sledovali jsme ho delší dobu a máme radost, že si ze všech nabídek vybral nás. Má jasnou herní filozofii a jsme přesvědčení, že je připravený udělat další krok ve své kariéře a vrátit náš klub tam, kam patří,“ uvedl sportovní ředitel Lipska Marcel Schäfer.Werner trénoval Brémy od listopadu 2021, předtím působil v různých pozicích v Kielu. Brémy nejprve dovedl z druhé ligy zpět mezi elitu a následně s nimi obsadil třinácté, deváté a naposledy osmé místo.
‘I’m not answering that question’: Why AI — and how to use it — has become the NBA’s biggest secret
The most unusual path to the NBA wasn’t taken by some overlooked recruit or undrafted rookie.Gregory Peim went from testing theories about the laws of the universe at the world's largest particle accelerator to unlocking the secrets of pick-and-roll defense and player evaluation for the Los Angeles Clippers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNortheastern University theoretical physicist Pran Nath remembers Peim knocking on his office door 16 years ago as a soft-spoken graduate student. Peim wanted Nath to be his advisor while he pursued a doctoral degree in physics.Over the next three years, Peim blossomed into, as Nath puts it, his “star student,” a relentless worker whose projects became his passion. The best of Nath’s protégés typically publish four-plus papers in prestigious physics journals. Peim published 13, studying the particle showers created by smashing atoms together at high speeds to glean new insights about dark matter, […]
MLB’s baseballs are acting differently again
Yahoo Sports AM is our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it every weekday morning.🚨 Headlines🏀 Celtics trade Holiday: The Celtics are trading Jrue Holiday, a key part of last year's championship team, to the Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two future second-round picks.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement⚾️ A's break ground: The Athletics held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new stadium on the Las Vegas Strip, which is expected to be ready for the start of the 2028 season.🏒 Ducks trade Zegras: The Ducks are trading Trevor Zegras, the 2022 Calder Memorial Trophy runner-up (ROY), for Ryan Poehling, the 45th pick in this year's draft and a 2026 fourth-rounder.🏀 NBA Finals ratings: Sunday's Game 7 averaged 16.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched Finals game since 2019. But the series as a […]
Rangers vs. Orioles odds, line, prediction, start time: 2025 MLB picks, June 24 best bets from proven model
The Texas Rangers meet the Baltimore Orioles in the second of a three-game series in a key American League matchup on Tuesday. Baltimore earned a 6-0 win over Texas on Monday. The Rangers (38-41), who have lost four of six, are 15-25 on the road this season. The Orioles (34-44), who have won six of their last 10, are 17-19 on their home field in 2025.First pitch from Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore is set for 6:35 p.m. ET. The Orioles have won six of the past eight meetings with the Rangers. Baltimore is a -132 favorite on the money line (risk $132 to win $100) in the latest Rangers vs. Orioles odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the total number of runs Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 10. Before making any Rangers vs. Orioles […]
How will Tyrese Haliburton look post-Achilles recovery? Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Kobe Bryant cases may provide some insight
Tyrese Haliburton joined an unfortunate list of NBA stars to have suffered one of the worst injuries in sports Sunday night with a torn Achilles tendon that required surgery Monday.All things considered, it's one of the most devastating injuries in basketball history. It shifted the trajectory of an NBA Finals Game 7, cut short one of the great individual postseason runs ever seen at its peak and put an immediate damper on the 2025-26 hopes of an emerging Pacers team that had just risen the ranks of Eastern Conference powers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor Haliburton, the injury stunts the prime of his All-Star career just as he entered it at 25 years old. The good news for Haliburton is there's recent precedent for All-Star-level players to recover and resume their careers at a high level.What's next for Haliburton, Tatum, Lillard?The focus now shifts to […]
Lions latest: Wallabies player release row – key questions answered
Live Stay up to date with the latest news, squad updates, behind-the-scenes content, videos and highlights from the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia. Watch Western Force vs The Lions on Saturday live Sky Sports Action or stream with NOW
Related
Fotbalisty Lipska se pokusí vrátit mezi německou elitu trenér Werner
Werner je nástupcem Marca Roseho, jenž skončil už během března. Ve zbytku ročníku mužstvo vedl dočasný kouč Zsolt Löw. Lipsku unikla účast v evropských pohárech, v předchozích šesti sezonách hrálo Ligu mistrů.„Ole je mladý a ambiciózní trenér. Sledovali jsme ho delší dobu a máme radost, že si ze všech nabídek vybral nás. Má jasnou herní filozofii a jsme přesvědčení, že je připravený udělat další krok ve své kariéře a vrátit náš klub tam, kam patří,“ uvedl sportovní ředitel Lipska Marcel Schäfer.Werner trénoval Brémy od listopadu 2021, předtím působil v různých pozicích v Kielu. Brémy nejprve dovedl z druhé ligy zpět mezi elitu a následně s nimi obsadil třinácté, deváté a naposledy osmé místo.
‘I’m not answering that question’: Why AI — and how to use it — has become the NBA’s biggest secret
The most unusual path to the NBA wasn’t taken by some overlooked recruit or undrafted rookie.Gregory Peim went from testing theories about the laws of the universe at the world's largest particle accelerator to unlocking the secrets of pick-and-roll defense and player evaluation for the Los Angeles Clippers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNortheastern University theoretical physicist Pran Nath remembers Peim knocking on his office door 16 years ago as a soft-spoken graduate student. Peim wanted Nath to be his advisor while he pursued a doctoral degree in physics.Over the next three years, Peim blossomed into, as Nath puts it, his “star student,” a relentless worker whose projects became his passion. The best of Nath’s protégés typically publish four-plus papers in prestigious physics journals. Peim published 13, studying the particle showers created by smashing atoms together at high speeds to glean new insights about dark matter, […]
MLB’s baseballs are acting differently again
Yahoo Sports AM is our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it every weekday morning.🚨 Headlines🏀 Celtics trade Holiday: The Celtics are trading Jrue Holiday, a key part of last year's championship team, to the Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two future second-round picks.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement⚾️ A's break ground: The Athletics held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new stadium on the Las Vegas Strip, which is expected to be ready for the start of the 2028 season.🏒 Ducks trade Zegras: The Ducks are trading Trevor Zegras, the 2022 Calder Memorial Trophy runner-up (ROY), for Ryan Poehling, the 45th pick in this year's draft and a 2026 fourth-rounder.🏀 NBA Finals ratings: Sunday's Game 7 averaged 16.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched Finals game since 2019. But the series as a […]
Rangers vs. Orioles odds, line, prediction, start time: 2025 MLB picks, June 24 best bets from proven model
The Texas Rangers meet the Baltimore Orioles in the second of a three-game series in a key American League matchup on Tuesday. Baltimore earned a 6-0 win over Texas on Monday. The Rangers (38-41), who have lost four of six, are 15-25 on the road this season. The Orioles (34-44), who have won six of their last 10, are 17-19 on their home field in 2025.First pitch from Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore is set for 6:35 p.m. ET. The Orioles have won six of the past eight meetings with the Rangers. Baltimore is a -132 favorite on the money line (risk $132 to win $100) in the latest Rangers vs. Orioles odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the total number of runs Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 10. Before making any Rangers vs. Orioles […]
How will Tyrese Haliburton look post-Achilles recovery? Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Kobe Bryant cases may provide some insight
Tyrese Haliburton joined an unfortunate list of NBA stars to have suffered one of the worst injuries in sports Sunday night with a torn Achilles tendon that required surgery Monday.All things considered, it's one of the most devastating injuries in basketball history. It shifted the trajectory of an NBA Finals Game 7, cut short one of the great individual postseason runs ever seen at its peak and put an immediate damper on the 2025-26 hopes of an emerging Pacers team that had just risen the ranks of Eastern Conference powers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor Haliburton, the injury stunts the prime of his All-Star career just as he entered it at 25 years old. The good news for Haliburton is there's recent precedent for All-Star-level players to recover and resume their careers at a high level.What's next for Haliburton, Tatum, Lillard?The focus now shifts to […]
Lions latest: Wallabies player release row – key questions answered
Live Stay up to date with the latest news, squad updates, behind-the-scenes content, videos and highlights from the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia. Watch Western Force vs The Lions on Saturday live Sky Sports Action or stream with NOW
Be the first to leave a comment