The Lakers had one of the worst offseasons out of all the teams. Why is that? The front office failed to bring in superstars who were available in the market even after LeBron James decided to take a pay cut. Still, all hope wasn’t lost. Weeks later, during the NBA Draft, the Lakers drafted a first-rounder along with Bronny James. But surely they made other significant moves, right? Well, sadly, they did not! The LA side went on to re-sign Max Christie instead about two months later. So, where exactly is Jeanie Buss’ franchise headed? Is winning the Championship not on their to-do lists?

It seems the team is looking to ‘develop’ its talent while possibly holding down on upgrading the roster. Christie signed a four-year $32 million contract about two weeks ago. This not only fills his pockets but also pulls the Lakers out of the second apron hole. However, the front office could’ve introduced significant talent in the same amount. Nevertheless, the upcoming stars in the Lakers roster would include Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, and, of course, Max Christie, who they are looking to get something out of. But then again, the process will take some time, leaving the Lakers with the option to make trades in the middle of the season.

Borna Nazari, a hoops reporter, weighed in on the team’s current path. “You’re gonna pick a path. You need to go all the way on that path right, and it doesn’t seem that the Lakers, Pelinka, their organizational brass is going all in on one side or the other. In their defense, you need to understand that LBJ is going to be 40 years old and he doesn’t wanna fully commit, but the argument is … That is why you need to fully commit.”

“You have the guy who’s maybe the greatest basketball player to ever touch on earth, and you’re not going all in on that, so you know, I would say this, I wouldn’t wanna bucket Max Christie and Austin Reaves in that same category together,” Borna Nazari concluded on Lakers Nation.

A bad offseason might be the one to blame, as the rest of the assets can’t seem to recover from their injuries. Christian Wood, the 6-foot-8 forward underwent surgery and will be re-evaluated in eight weeks! At this point, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura remain LA’s only hope going into the next season. The Lakers, however, can make in-season trades, but they’ll have to be smart with their decisions considering King James’ remaining tenure with the franchise.

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LeBron and AD recently showcased it all on the floor during the playoffs. But the early first-round exit called for desperate help. It was clear that the Lakers needed shooters and reliable scorers to accompany James and AD. Interestingly, the duo is still waiting on the same. As they head over to another season, what boosts LA’s confidence after a rough offseason?

LeBron James and Co. might just have enough backup

The Lakers look extremely confident in their new head coach, JJ Redick. And why not? After letting go of the entire coaching staff following the playoffs, Redick seems to be their new and untested mastermind. Dalton Knecht, even though a rookie, has shown great potential and can help replace Reaves coming off the bench. He’s a talented shooter and has unlimited potential, as seen in the Summer League. Other than that, as the franchise hopes to develop its younger talent, a lot would depend on how JJ approaches the young guns.

USA Today via Reuters

While they haven’t made any significant moves this offseason, they sure are impactful for the long term. LeBron James, on the other hand, will be playing alongside his son. This historic duo will fill the seats of Crypto Arena, bringing in more revenue in the franchise’s pockets. Even after a dry offseason, the Lakers are hopeful of a better season, as they should be. It will be interesting to see whether Rob Pelinka decides to sacrifice his draft picks and current vision to welcome a superstar in the middle of the season.

What are your thoughts on the Lakers’ situation? Do you think LeBron James and Co. are on track? Let us know in the comments.