Los Angeles Lakers
September 2025
The Lakers strengthened their squad with Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia to support Luka Doncic and LeBron James. However, ESPN’s Kevin Pelton warned their perimeter defense remains a glaring weakness despite their potent offensive trio. Ayton’s arrival plugs last season’s rebounding gap, while Smart adds toughness, but age and inconsistency raise doubts about stopping elite guards. With Doncic locked in long-term, LA may still need another defensive-minded wing to truly contend in the Western Conference.