The opinions across the NBA on how well the Lakers have rebuilt their roster around Luka Doncic are varied. Some believe the Lakers have done a very solid job in remaking their roster following the departures of LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura and others. Others feel the moves the team made are very underwhelming and that it will be, at best, a play-in tournament team.
There is a good chance that Los Angeles will win fewer than the 53 wins it collected last season -- the question is how many fewer wins it will finish with, if it does indeed finish with fewer than 53 wins. On the other hand, a strong argument can be made that regardless of the record it will have, its roster is now more balanced and coherent, and that it could
have the framework for a potential Luka Doncic-led championship squad.
One NBA scout likes the additions L.A. has made, especially center Walker Kessler, and praised the work the front office has done, via Hoops Wire.
“They got younger, they got more athletic and they finally got a legitimate defensive center in Kessler,” the scout told Hoops Wire.
In particular, the scout likes how Kessler will fit alongside Doncic, who has historically done well playing alongside big men who are lob threats.
“That’s a really good fit with Luka because he doesn’t need touches and gives you vertical spacing and rim protection,” the scout said.
Kessler, by himself, should make the Lakers a better defensive team. They were 20th in defensive rating last season, partly because they didn't have any true shot-blockers or rim protectors. Newcomers Quentin Grimes, Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle are also proven perimeter defenders, something the Lakers have lacked for a while.
As Sam Amico of Hoops Wire noted, that scout likes how the team's backcourt is set up to function offensively.
"He also likes Grimes alongside Doncic and noted that Sexton gives the Lakers another guard capable of attacking the basket," Amico wrote of the scout. "Austin Reaves already has plenty of experience playing off a superstar creator."
Los Angeles came into the NBA's official free agency period with lots of needs, even more so than it had last season or in previous seasons. Other than a true starting-level wing or forward, whether it is one who would be assigned to guard wings or power forwards, L.A. has addressed those needs, according to the scout.
“They tried to build a more balanced roster around Luka,” he said. “I think they accomplished that.”
The Luka Doncic era is truly beginning now, and while the Lakers don't have all the time in the world to win the NBA championship with him, he is just 27 years of age, so it won't exactly be "championship-or-bust" this coming season. They could be set up well to seriously contend as soon as the 2027-28 season.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: NBA scout praises Lakers' roster construction around Luka Doncic
