JJ Redick said on May 13 that the Los Angeles Lakers need to improve their roster if they want to win a championship. The comments came after the Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs, ending a season in which they won 53 games and advanced past the Houston Rockets despite missing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for much of that series.
Redick acknowledged that while he was proud of what his team accomplished this season, there is still work to be done. “That’s what we gotta figure out this offseason,” Redick said after Game 4. “I will say for the things that we set out to do, build our championship habits and build our championship communication and championship shape, I thought we were darn close to doing that.
“And it doesn’t mean you’re gonna win a championship, but I take a lot of, I think I would say I take a lot of pride in our players, and what they all individually went through, what we collectively went through and what we turned out to be. You don’t know on day one of training camp what you’re gonna turn out to be, and I’m just proud of who we are.”
Redick also addressed questions about continuity versus making changes. “Yeah, I believe in continuity,” he said. “I do think that if you’re trying to win a championship, and this organization is. I’m trying to win a championship. I know [Rob Pelinka] is trying to win a championship, I know Jeanie [Buss] is, I know Mark [Walter] is. We’re trying to win a championship. So you have to be realistic and assess where you’re at, and we’re not good enough right now. There probably will be some continuity; there probably won’t be. But that’s what the next two months are for.”
With only six players guaranteed under contract for next season and both cap space and draft capital available during the offseason, changes could reshape how the team looks when training camp begins.
Looking ahead, Redick said he wants core players Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves back with the team next year but recognized adjustments around them may be necessary.
