Lakers Urgently Need to Build a Championship Team, Despite Not Failing

JJ Redick expressed his discontent.

“We had too many turnovers and allowed too many offensive rebounds,” Redick lamented.

Luka Doncic showed his frustration.

“I didn’t play as well as I should have,” Doncic admitted. “As a team, we didn’t perform to our potential.”

Austin Reaves urged reporters to attribute the Lakers’ disappointing first-round exit to his performance.

“I didn’t perform well enough to help us succeed,” Reaves stated. “I wish I could have contributed more.”

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Lakers were ousted from the playoffs, falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves 103-96 in Game 5. They were dominated in rebounds (54-37) and points in the paint (56-40). Rudy Gobert, with 27 points and 24 rebounds, was overpowering. Julius Randle, scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter, sealed the game. The Lakers’ bench contributed a mere four points.

“Credit to Minnesota,” Redick acknowledged. “They played excellent basketball. We played with everything we had and came up just short.”

Did we overestimate the Lakers? It appears so. The team entered the postseason with high expectations after winning 50 games and securing the third seed in the Western Conference. The Lakers ended the regular season on a high note, winning seven of their last 11 games, despite a deliberate loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. They defeated teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, and Houston Rockets, twice. However, when faced with Minnesota in the playoffs, most analysts, including ESPN’s, predicted a Lakers victory.

“It’s disappointing,” Rui Hachimura expressed. “We certainly didn’t expect an early exit. It’s quite upsetting.”

Simply put: The Lakers were outmatched. The surge after acquiring Doncic was impressive, with a tightened defense and a quickly gelling offense. Many believed, myself included, that the duo of top NBA playoff performers could carry L.A. deep into the playoffs.

But that was not the case. The Lakers struggled with three-point shooting, were overwhelmed by their lack of size, and saw no significant contribution from their bench. Reaves, who had emerged as a potential third star during the season, did not meet playoff expectations. Against a seasoned and deep Minnesota team, the Lakers were simply outclassed.

MINNESOTA IS MOVING ON.

THE BEST PLAYS FROM THEIR 4-1 SERIES WIN OVER THE LAKERS pic.twitter.com/d7tzurrSMM

— NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2025

“We had chances to win in the fourth quarter three times,” Redick reflected, “but each time we fell short.”

The offseason starts early for Los Angeles, and it’s crucial. The optimistic view is that this season was not representative of their true potential. The acquisition of Doncic was not about winning a championship immediately—they made that clear. Doncic, at 26, was brought in to build the future of the Lakers, hopefully clinching a title while LeBron James is still active. Achieving 50 wins was more an anomaly than a standard expectation.

Next season promises changes. James, who remained noncommittal about his long-term future on Wednesday, showed no signs of slowing down at 40. He averaged nearly 25 points this season and is sure to be named to an All-NBA team. He also seemed to thoroughly enjoy playing with Doncic and particularly his son, Bronny, who is on a multiyear deal with the team.

James remarked, “Playing this year alongside my son has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.”

But James needs more support. The frontcourt remains a priority, especially after Jaxson Hayes proved ineffective this postseason, forcing the Lakers to play smaller against a larger Minnesota squad. Doncic works best with agile, athletic centers like Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, and the Lakers need to secure someone of that caliber. They thought they had one in Mark Williams, but that trade with Charlotte was canceled due to health concerns. They need to find another solution.

Depth is also crucial. The Lakers’ bench was outscored by more than 16 points per game in the series against Minnesota. Dalton Knecht saw only limited action. Gabe Vincent, a consistent contributor in the regular season, failed to score in the final two playoff games. While Jarred Vanderbilt is valuable defensively, his offensive limitations are a liability. In Game 4, Redick made no substitutions in the second half.

Moreover, Doncic continues to impress as a scorer, but his defense remains a concern. He often appears disengaged and is frequently outmaneuvered. While the Lakers do not regret acquiring him, his defensive shortcomings must be addressed. Though he may never be a top defender, his size allows him to be adequate, and improvement is necessary.

The Lakers shouldn’t view this season as a failure. They’ve acquired a game-changing superstar and seem to have the right coach to lead them. That’s a positive. They were not as strong as a typical third seed and were defeated by a superior six-seed. But now, the real work begins. There will be urgency next season, especially as James turns 41 and Doncic ideally enters in better shape.

“There’s a lot we can improve on, I can improve on,” Doncic stated. “We have a long summer ahead. We need to focus on our improvements.”

Indeed, the success of the next season hinges on these improvements.

More NBA Playoffs Coverage on Sports Illustrated