Soundly beaten by the Timberwolves in the playoffs, the Lakers know they must evolve if they hope to return to the spotlight. And once again, it’s Magic Johnson who’s saying out loud what many are thinking about the team’s upcoming roster moves. According to him, there’s plenty of work to be done within the organization.
According to the franchise legend, the Lakers’ needs are clear. They must recruit a true center—but that’s not all. Magic Johnson recently spoke out to highlight the gaps that led to the failure of the 2024–25 season. In addition to the interior presence, he pointed to the team’s bench depth and overall speed as major weaknesses. These are issues the front office can no longer afford to ignore.
In an interview with ESPN’s Get Up, Magic Johnson didn’t hold back when discussing the team’s current situation. According to him, the Lakers’ lack of speed was fully exposed by a far better-prepared Minnesota squad. To go far, a serious roster overhaul seems necessary—and it will also be needed to support Luka Dončić.
These strong words from Magic Johnson put pressure on the front office. Rob Pelinka knows there’s no room for error this time, especially with an aging core still centered around LeBron James. If LeBron re-signs, it will likely be for one final run—which means the team must be competitive immediately.
Several targets have already been linked to the team, particularly at the center position, such as Clint Capela and Nic Claxton. But improving both the defense and bench depth will require broader adjustments, whether via trades or by using the mid-level exception available this summer. It’s a complex—but critical—mission.
