So, the Los Angeles Lakers roll into the playoffs with Luka and LeBron holding down the fort, and you’re thinking, “Okay, this is playoff-ready right here.” Let’s just say they didn’t exactly bring the heat on defense. Especially with Anthony Davis gone, the paint turned into an all-you-can-eat buffet for the Wolves, who took full advantage. And yeah, those late-game lapses? They weren’t just bad—they were straight-up brutal
The difference? Sixty-six points. That’s how wide the gap was between the Wolves and Lakers just in points in the paint. Minnesota outscored L.A. down low in every game but one—Game 2, the Lakers’ lone win. After that? The Wolves smelled blood and went full attack mode. They hunted mismatches relentlessly and shredded the Lakers’ perimeter defense like it wasn’t even there.
Having Luka and Austin Reaves on the floor together might’ve looked good on paper. In reality? They got cooked. Every. Single. Time. The Lakers’ defense was a sieve, and the frontcourt played like it forgot this was the postseason.
The takeaway? Star power only gets you so far. If the Lakers want to avoid another early exit, they need more than Luka and LeBron playing superhero ball. They need a real, two-way roster—one that can defend, one that can close. No cap, that’s the real offseason challenge.
The Minnesota Timberwolves knew exactly where to attack. The Wolves hunted mismatches relentlessly, especially when Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves shared the floor. While that duo might fly in the regular season, in the playoffs? That’s barbecue chicken — and Minnesota’s wings came out crispy.
Specifically, Timberwolves’ wings like Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker took full advantage, attacking Lakers’ perimeter defenders with precision. For example, in Game 4 alone, Minnesota outscored the Los Angeles Lakers. 32-19 in the fourth quarter, erasing a double-digit deficit and seizing control of the series.
Griffin’s got a point. Ever since the Anthony Davis trade, the Lakers haven’t had a true paint anchor. And it showed—badly. Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert feasted inside, while Naz Reid stretched the floor and buried clutch threes, exposing L.A.’s glaring hole in the middle.
But nothing stung more than Game 5. Rudy Gobert turned into prime Wilt—dropping 27 points, grabbing 24 boards, and shooting a ridiculous 12-of-15 from the field. That was the final nail. No rim protection, no second chances—just another early exit for the Lakers.
Coach JJ Redick tried tweaks — benching Jaxson Hayes and going small with Dorian Finney-Smith at center — but none masked the defensive limitations long. Redick admitted the team’s mentality was to “have a rock fight,” but Minnesota’s physicality and depth wore them down. The Lakers’ season ended in disappointment, despite entering as the third seed with home-court advantage.
The challenge? LeBron and Luka’s massive contracts take up nearly $109 million of the $154.6 million cap for 2025-26, and the Lakers are over the cap by almost $60 million with no first-round pick to help. Griffin put it perfectly:
That creativity starts with addressing the glaring defensive holes that opponents exposed all series long.
The Lakers’ front office — led by Rob Pelinka — is feeling the heat. With the team’s playoff flop still fresh, sources say Pelinka’s being urged to make a move for a legit defensive anchor. One name buzzing around? Nick Richards, the 7-foot shot-blocker who just wrapped a quietly solid stint with the Suns. He didn’t grab headlines in Phoenix, but those in the league know — the big man can bang inside and clean the glass. He’s exactly the kind of under-the-radar move that could shore up L.A.’s soft paint.
That’s why Nick Richards, fresh off a short stint with the Suns, has been catching trade buzz as a potential answer for the Lakers’ interior problems. He quietly turned heads with the Suns, averaging 9.3 points, 8.2 boards, and a block per game in under 23 minutes. Adjust for playing time, and Richards’ numbers pop: 14 points, 11 rebounds, and nearly 2 blocks per 36 minutes. He’s a rim protector who makes opponents think twice about attacking the basket. Exactly what the Lakers needed.
Richards fits Luka’s style well. He can run the floor, set strong screens, and finish tough shots around the rim. Perfect for Luka’s pick-and-roll game. Defensively, he anchors the paint — something the Lakers lacked last series.
Financially, it makes sense too. Richards has an expiring $5 million contract. It fits the Lakers’ tight cap. No long-term risk — just a smart buy to fix their biggest weakness.
Even LeBron, frustrated but calm, stressed the front office must build a roster that protects the stars. Not one that forces them to cover every flaw.
For the Lakers, the message is clear: star power alone won’t carry you through the playoffs. They need to get creative, build around LeBron and Luka with tougher, more versatile defenders, and patch up those glaring defensive holes. Otherwise, history threatens to repeat itself — and that’s a risk neither the franchise nor the fans can afford.
