LA Lakers Spin vs. Reality: Reading Between Lines of Redick/Pelinka Press Conference
The Los Angeles Lakers previewed what's ahead for the 2024-25 season with general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick fielding questions from the media at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo.
After a relatively dormant offseason, the pair was optimistic that Redick (along with health and a bit of luck) could be the element of change needed to improve upon last year's good-but-not-great campaign.
The following are 10 takeaways from the press conference:
How Much Does Management Like Current Roster?
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Like any basketball executive ahead of the season, Pelinka needed to thread the needle by building up the players on the roster while answering if the team is looking to make any trades.
Pelinka expressed a willingness to deal both of the team's two movable first-round picks (2029 and 2031) to bolster the Lakers' "excellence." He'd do the pair for a significant upgrade or one for improvements on the margins.
He also noted that the team won't really know its path until about 30 games into the season, which is the norm and coincides roughly with the start of trade season on December 15.
Not to denigrate the players on the roster, Pelinka expressed confidence in the assembled group—but find a general manager who doesn't use similar words this week as the media day circuit unfolds.
Are Trades Really That Hard?
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Pelinka tried to avoid using the "Trades are hard" line as he previously had, noting that the NBA's new collective bargaining rules aren't an excuse but are restrictive.
He's not wrong, but also not entirely correct.
The new rules can limit trades for teams with higher payrolls, but they also make deals easier to execute for teams below the league's aprons (the first starts at $178.1 million).
Pelinka could and may have approached teams with greater flexibility early in July to help the Lakers shed salary. Other high-spending franchises made similar deals, but as Pelinka noted on Wednesday, none of the opportunities presented made sense for L.A.
That could be true, or perhaps the team couldn't find a creative way to close a viable deal. With the past being the past, where the Lakers sit at about $45,000 below the second apron ($188.9 million), trades are indeed hard—and in almost all cases, they can't add salary to the team's payroll, including restocking the roster to a minimum of 14 players under standard contracts.
Reading into the D'Lo Omission
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About two-thirds of the way through the media session, Pelinka or Redick hadn't mentioned D'Angelo Russell. Others, like Bronny James, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves and Max Christie, were discussed, but Russell was a semi-glaring omission.
Would that suggest he's the most likely piece to be offered in trade? Perhaps, but when asked, Redick spoke highly of the veteran guard and their communication this summer.
At face value, Redick seems to value Russell—but the omission to that point felt notable.
From a financial point of view, a high-dollar player would need to go for the Lakers to make a significant trade. Russell is the team's third-highest player behind James and Davis.
Austin Reaves' Role to Expand
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Redick spoke early and often about Reaves, whose role will expand to be more of a threat on and off the ball. Redick doesn't want to subtract from what he does but expand the circle of what he can do in the Lakers' new system.
What that system will look like remains to be seen, but Redick said that's what he and his staff have obsessed over the last few months.
Reaves felt like a vital part of that plan, based on Redick's language on Wednesday.
Redick Will Win Press Conferences, but Can He Coach?
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If there's one thing Redick can do, it's talk. After his playing career, Redick became a caster (both broad and pod). He handles questions deftly and commands a crowd with confidence and elucidation.
He'll win the press conference throughout the season, which is important for communicating that you are a great coach.
Note that this doesn't mean he is or will be a great coach; it's just that he can explain why he is doing what he's doing. Based on the result, that will only go so far.
With no professional experience in the craft, the Lakers are banking on his experience as a player in the league, intelligence and communication skills translating to coaching. And it might, but that is one of the great questions heading into the season. Can Redick coach? TBD.
Lakers Need a Center More Than They Let On
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Redick ably skirted whether the Lakers have a traditional center and, if not, whether they need one. The same question was asked of then-head coach Darvin Ham last year, and the answers were relatively similar.
The Lakers have Anthony Davis, and he's awfully good (which he is)—they'll be fine without a sized big man (a legit seven-footer with a bigger physical footprint than Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood).
However, hoping the Denver Nuggets aren't great isn't a viable strategy (the team knocked Los Angeles out of the last two playoffs).
After the presser, the Lakers privately clarified to B/R that they recognize adding a center with more girth is a priority. Until then, the team must get by with who they have, including two-way bigs Colin Castleton and Christian Koloko.
No Excuses on the Injury Front
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The Lakers were fortunate last year to have James and Davis relatively healthy, but the supporting cast struggled.
The initial word heading into training camp is that the bulk of the roster is good to go.
The exceptions include Jarred Vanderbilt, who underwent foot surgery after the season. Since he had one scheduled, Vanderbilt also had a bone spur removed from his other foot. While he's not ready for training camp, Pelinka's initial track should have Vanderbilt available around (or near) the start of the regular season.
Wood, however, is six weeks away from reevaluation after knee surgery and won't be ready for opening night.
Others who had previous injuries have been cleared, like Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Hachimura. The Lakers' best hope this season, with some of their roster holes, is a healthier season than the norm.
The Father/Son Reality
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Redick doesn't have a specific plan for Bronny James this season other than giving the young guard the appropriate attention to help him develop into a productive NBA player.
That he's the son of LeBron James will give him more of an opportunity than a standard No. 55 pick, but he'll need to work just as hard as anyone else to earn valuable rotation minutes.
Redick spoke highly of the young James' work ethic and hunger for knowledge. How will he handle the historic nature of a father and son playing together? Redick said he'll leave that up to the pair and coach as he normally would.
Bronny James will garner significant attention, but when it comes to winning basketball games, the elder James remains one of the league's most dominant players despite his age (turning 40 in December).
Max Christie Breakout Season Loading?
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Redick and Pelinka spoke highly of Christie as a player who has improved most over the summer (also name-dropping Hood-Schifino).
Christie will play an essential role for Redick as a defensive-minded wing who can shoot the corner three.
Look for the third-year guard, who re-signed on a four-year, $32 million contract (with a player option on the final season), to see increased minutes (from last year's 14.1 per game).
Are the Lakers Really Still a Contender?
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The Lakers still view themselves as contenders.
Their trust in James and Davis as two of the league's best overall players, surrounded by a good, healthy roster, suggests they believe the franchise will be in the conversation between May and June.
Pelinka acknowledged that the team needs to commit to playing hard, stay healthy and benefit from a bit of luck. At this time last year, following a run to the Western Conference Finals, the confidence seemed higher. Now, expectations seemed more appropriately tempered.
The Lakers seem to recognize that the roster isn't complete, but Pelinka and Redick were generally optimistic about the team's direction heading into 2024-25.
But then, that's normal at this time of year when all 30 teams have the same record and a rosy forecast. By mid-December, the Lakers will have a more realistic idea of whether they are among the West's contenders.
If so, look for efforts to improve via trade—even if they're "hard" to execute.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X/Twitter @EricPincus.
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