The one factor the Lakers lack that many aren't speaking about

[ad_1] The Los Angeles Lakers seem to have an excellent roster as we head into midsummer. However most, if not all, would agree that they are not fairly a championship-caliber group.

The primary weak spot many level to on the Lakers' roster is the shortage of defensive standouts. Guard Marcus Good, who received the NBA's Defensive Participant of the Yr award in 2022, not too long ago signed with them after getting his earlier contract purchased out by the Washington Wizards. However even when he's near the participant he was just a few years in the past — which many really feel is a giant if — he, by himself, would not be sufficient to make L.A. a robust sufficient defensive group.

Nevertheless, there's one other deficiency the group seems to have that few are speaking about — 3-point taking pictures.

This previous season, L.A. was 14th in 3-point taking pictures proportion and nineteenth in 3-point makes an attempt. After the All-Star break, the group was tenth and ninth, respectively, in each classes, however a scan of its roster reveals an absence of snipers.

Luka Doncic is at all times one in every of basketball's most harmful 3-point shooters, particularly off the dribble together with his trademark step-back jumper. LeBron James has change into an above-average 3-point shooter during the last two years, and Austin Reaves can be an above-average exterior shooter.

However what the Lakers must refill on is non-stars who're robust 3-point shooters, and so they do not have a lot of them.

Jake LaRavia, a 23-year-old ahead they signed earlier this month, made 42.3% of his makes an attempt from past the arc this previous season. He has mentioned he desires to extend his quantity of pictures from that distance after registering 2.2 makes an attempt in 20.4 minutes a recreation in the course of the 2024-25 marketing campaign.

Beginning ahead Rui Hachimura is a superb exterior shooter who shot 41.3% from downtown this previous season. Dalton Knecht, who's coming into his second NBA season, has had spurts of scorching taking pictures, however he has additionally had chilly streaks which have lasted a minimum of so long as his scorching streaks, and his protection and court docket consciousness appear to be big issues.

The remainder of the Lakers' rotation gamers are non-threats from the surface. Good is a profession 32.4% 3-point shooter, guard Gabe Vincent is about as dependable from that distance as a dying flashlight and ahead Jarred Vanderbilt hits from downtown about as usually because it rains in Southern California in the course of the summer time.

Coach JJ Redick apparently desires the Lakers to change into a high-volume 3-point taking pictures group. However for that to work, the Lakers want extra snipers. Given the truth that they've virtually no area below the primary apron of the wage cap and really restricted commerce belongings, they could find yourself throwing up sufficient bricks to place a significant dent in Los Angeles' homelessness epidemic early within the 2025-26 season.