NBA Insider Reveals Potential Problem For Lakers Ahead Of 2026-27 Season
· Yahoo Sports
On paper, the Los Angeles Lakers have more than enough to keep up with the NBA’s most elite teams. Even without LeBron James, the combined efforts of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves should put the Lakers firmly in the playoff mix, and they have every intention of getting as far as they can.
Even so, one NBA insider noted a very interesting challenge facing this Lakers team, and specifically head coach JJ Redick. Somehow, Reddick will have to find a way to balance maximizing the performance of the roster while giving young players like Adou Thiero, Bronny James, and Cameron Carr a chance to shine. It’s a slippery slope that could have drastic consequences if mishandled.
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“I do think Jake [LaRavia], whether he starts or comes off the bench, is going to factor into the rotation. JJ showed it last year; he started half the season,” said insider Jovan Buha. “I think Jake will play, but I think this is one of the minor tensions of the Lakers’ season is you want to develop a dude in Cameron Carr. At the same time, you’re in win-now mode. This is not like a rebuilding season, this is not another gap year, this is not a let’s just see what we have in Adou and Carr, and let the chips fall where they may.’ No, you’re trying to win a championship this year, and you’re trying to show Luka Doncic that it’s worth signing that extension next summer. So, that’s the tension here of who will help the Lakers win more tomorrow vs who will help the Lakers win more in a year. How do you negotiate that, and that’s something the NBA will have to figure out.”
In the modern NBA, building contending teams is harder than ever, and it often requires years of planning, posturing, and buildup just to make it happen. In the Lakers’ case, the arrival of Luka Doncic in 2025 essentially reset their championship window, thrusting them into win-now mode with added pressure to keep Doncic happy.
His presence is why the Lakers traded for Walker Kessler and why they gave Austin Reaves that massive contract extension. Collectively, the Lakers believe their new star-studded trio is one of the best in the game, and expectations are running high ahead of their first season together.
What often gets overlooked, however, is the Lakers’ plan to build for the future. As much as they want to win now, building and developing their own young players has become an increasingly important matter, especially with how many they have. Between Cameron Carr, Adou Thiero, Bronny James, and Dalton Knecht, the Lakers could see some major internal improvement if they provide the right opportunities to their young core.
The challenge for head coach JJ Redick is deciding how to incorporate the young players into the win-now roster. There’s no clear-cut answer, and some feelings could get hurt, but Redick is a man of results, and he will likely give more opportunities to the young guys who make the biggest impact on the floor. Either way, JJ Redick must navigate this issue carefully, as any wrong step could damage team chemistry and locker room morale.