NBA reporter highlights Lakers’ main roster flaw, says they’re below OKC and Timberwolves

According to NBA reporter Jovan Buha, the team’s roster looks strong in one area but lacks balance on the other end of the court.

While he is confident about their scoring options, he feels that their defence does not quite match up with the league’s top teams.

“On paper, this should be a Top-10, if not a Top-5 offence. You got Luka, you got Austin, LeBron, Deandre, Rui, even going into Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent. You’ve got six-seven guys who can drop 15+ points on any given night.

“To me, it’s the defensive end where if you’re looking at Smart, Gabe and Jarred Vanderbilt as your three best perimeter defenders. It’s solid.

“But when you look at what OKC has, when you look at what Minnesota has, when you look at what Houston has… I don’t really think it’s in the same class.

“So I think they’re still on the deficit on the defensive end and that’s where I think they need to find an upgrade,” he said to NBA X SiriusXM Radio.

Lakers still need more defensive talent

Though Rob Pelinka added Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart, both reliable 3-and-D players, their defensive presence, even with Jarred Vanderbilt, might not be enough to anchor the defence against elite teams.

With the roster still lacking defensive depth, the Lakers may need to consider using some of their remaining assets to find help. Dalton Knecht and Gabe Vincent are two names that could come up in trade talks.

Knecht’s name has already surfaced in trade rumours following a rough showing at the NBA Summer League. If Pelinka can find a deal for a proven defender, it is worth pursuing.

The current group has plenty of talent and should be competitive in the West, but without further improvements on defence, it is hard to see them keeping pace with the top contenders.