Lakers' Current Depth Looks Below Any Expectation; Alarm Is Ringing For Rob Pelinka

The Los Angeles Lakers were presented to be one of the major players in the early days of the offseason. After their first-round exit in the playoffs, the Lakers made some impressive promises, outlining plans to improve their roster and identifying the ideal player profiles they would target.

Now, in the thick of it all, with free agency open and no holds barred, the Purple and Gold have done nothing but disappoint.

The offseason has been an exciting time for several teams around the league. Teams such as the Atlanta Hawks and the Houston Rockets have made a huge splash, putting themselves in a position to be contenders next season. Meanwhile, the Lakers are yet to make any sizeable moves, having only picked up Jake LaRavia, a solid young forward from the Sacramento Kings, in free agency.

While there is undoubtedly more movement in the works, there has been silence from Los Angeles' side, which is rather discomforting. Having missed out on almost all of their primary targets at this stage, the front office has been pushed into a corner. 

The Purple and Gold need to make signings, because what they have on their roster at the moment certainly isn't inspiring any confidence.

Depth Chart:

PG: Luka Doncic, Gabe Vincent, Jordan Goodwin

SG: Austin Reaves, Shake Milton, Bronny James Jr.

SF: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt

PF: LeBron James, Jake LaRavia

C: Maxi Kleber, Trey Jemison III, Christian Koloko

The Starters

The Lakers' starting rotation is likely to remain unchanged from last season if they fail to make any offseason signings. While this starting unit still has the potential to be a competitive team in the West, some concerns will need to be addressed.

Luka Doncic will continue to star in the backcourt as the starting point guard. The Slovenian star has been one of the few positive sightings in the offseason for the fanbase, primarily due to clips and photos of his efforts towards improving his conditioning. 

Doncic's averages of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists last season were awe-inspiring. With the likelihood of the star being in better shape for the regular season, the Purple and Gold may witness his resurgence.

Austin Reaves will pair up with Doncic in the backcourt. Although some recent rumors have suggested that Reaves doesn't necessarily enjoy playing with Doncic, it is difficult to overlook how effective the two have been together.

Reaves' averages of 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists will be a welcome sight for the team next season. Although the 27-year-old rejected the four-year, $90 million extension offered to him, this is for his own benefit, as he will be worth significantly more next season. Given his contributions to the franchise, the Lakers would do well to bring him back as well.

In the starting small forward position, the Lakers will feature Rui Hachimura, a reliable forward who gave the Purple and Gold solid minutes last season. Hachimura's 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game don't necessarily change the game, but his defensive effort and assured three-point shooting ability are a huge advantage.

The power forward position will be graced by LeBron James, who will be returning to play in the NBA for his 23rd season, having opted in to his contract. The forward positions may be subject to some interchange, as Hachimura also plays the power forward position sometimes, but having James on the side allows for a lot of flexibility.

James was an effective force of nature for the Purple and Gold last season, having averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game. While these would be welcomed figures next season, there appears to be some uncertainty about the 40-year-old remaining on the team next season. 

With claims about the superstar requesting a trade in case the Lakers fail to construct a roster that can contend for a title, in such an event, the Lakers will witness some drastic changes.

The center position has been the Lakers' greatest priority this offseason, and given their approach to the offseason, the team has failed to address it. As things stand, Maxi Kleber is expected to be the team's starting center unless they make some signings.

The Bench Rotation

As impressive as the Lakers' starting rotation is, the team's bench rotation is where the talent drop-off is felt the most.

In the point guard position, the team currently features Gabe Vincent and Jordan Goodwin in the backup roles. While both Vincent and Goodwin had done impressive work on the defensive end last season, their offensive contribution was negligible, with Vincent averaging 6.4 points a game and Goodwin averaging 5.6 points per game. The limited playmaking ability also raises some eyebrows.

The shooting guard position doesn't inspire much hope either, with Shake Milton and Bronny James filling out the depth. While Milton was a seldom-seen player on the floor, the Lakers are expected to see Bronny take on a more significant role next season. This could be in light of some promising growth over the offseason.

The backup forwards feature the likes of familiar faces such as Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt, along with newcomer Jake LaRavia. 

Knecht has been viewed as one of the Lakers' primary trade chips this offseason, but his offensive productivity remains worth exploring. The sharpshooter averaged 9.1 points per game on 47.6% shooting from the field and 37.6% shooting from beyond the arc.

Vanderbilt has been one of the team's primary point-of-attack defenders over the last few seasons, which made for a solid defensive lineup while Dorian Finney-Smith was still with the side. Although his offensive productivity isn't exciting (4.1 PPG), his average of 5.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals a game remains promising, especially in negotiating trades.

LaRavia is a relatively unknown element at this stage. His averages from last season were 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds, which aren't very impressive. But, the forward has shown great two-way potential and the ability to create his own shot. At 23 years old, LaRavia could either be a steal or a complete miss, i.e., the risk-to-reward ratio could not be higher.

Along with these players, the Lakers will also feature their rookie Adou Thiero and undrafted forward Julian Reese.

The backup center depth is filled out by Trey Jemison III and Christian Koloko. While Jemison showed great initiative during the minutes he received in the regular season, it was abundantly clear that he was outclassed in the NBA. Meanwhile, Koloko is a restricted free agent and isn't a guaranteed addition to the team just yet.

Given how dire the situation is, the Purple and Gold may be forced to re-sign Jaxson Hayes to have some semblance of a big man rotation next season.

What Must The Lakers Do To Save Their Offseason?

The Los Angeles Lakers have barely even begun their offseason, but the alarm bells are already ringing. Having been connected to several targets, the Purple and Gold have been reduced to sifting through the leftovers to build their team.

The solution to save the team is simple. In the center position, the Lakers need to close a deal with Deandre Ayton as soon as possible. Ayton is currently drawing attention from the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers; beating them out should be a priority. If not Ayton, the Lakers must attempt to pick up Al Horford instead.

In the wing depth department, the Purple and Gold need to close the deal to acquire Andrew Wiggins. At this stage, Wiggins' addition could make-or-break the team; trading for him as soon as possible would only benefit their ongoing roster construction efforts.

This only summarizes the moves the Lakers need to make to remain competitive. With the West growing tougher with each passing day, the Lakers' hesitation could result in another failed season.