What happened: Beat reporter Jovan Buha broke down the Lakers' revamped roster, writing that the projected starters complement each other well offensively. Defensively, he noted the group lacks an elite defender outside of Walker Kessler, placing heavy responsibility on the center as the anchor within JJ Redick's schemes. Buha added that the bench is shallow and that Los Angeles needs Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr to contribute.

Why it matters: The assessment frames Kessler as the defensive keystone of a roster built around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, meaning L.A.'s ceiling on that end hinges on one player staying healthy and effective. A shallow bench raises the stakes on internal development, and the caveat 'barring another move' signals the front office may not be finished reshaping the group before the 2026-27 season.

What to watch: Watch whether the Lakers pursue additional wing or point-of-attack defense this offseason, and how Thiero and Carr progress toward carving out rotation minutes.