Lakers' Rob Pelinka Predicts 'A Lot' of Player Movement During 2025 NBA Offseason

The Los Angeles Lakers saw their 2024-25 season end in disappointment, as the Minnesota Timberwolves dismissed them in five games during the first round of the playoffs.

It's likely that the team will make some serious changes around the starring duo of Luka Dončić and LeBron James, and team president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka is expecting a busy NBA offseason in general.

"I think this offseason, too, there's going to be a lot of movement around the NBA," he told reporters Thursday. "It just feels that way. There's so many aggressive leaders of organizations that are expecting, now, success. And so I think there will be a lot of opportunities for us to look at, I really do. I'm excited about the offseason and what'll come our way."

The Lakers were basically gifted Dončić ahead of this year's trade deadline, though they weren't gifted much time to adjust the roster around him (especially when a trade for center Mark Williams fell through, reportedly due to a failed medical).

Dončić's offensive gifts are undeniable, but his defensive issues are a reality as well. The Dallas Mavericks reached the NBA Finals last season by constructing a roster around him that made up for those deficiencies, and the Lakers are now tasked with doing the same.

Adding a rim-running center who can operate in the pick-and-roll with Dončić offensively and protect the basket defensively is a must-have (as evidenced by the team's attempt to add Williams). Having a number of 3-and-D wings helps as well.

The Lakers have a number of pieces who seem to fit, including Dorian-Finney Smith and Rui Hachimura. LeBron James obviously isn't going anywhere, while Austin Reaves has proven his value time and time again (though he may ultimately be better suited for a role leading the second unit rather than being the third ball-handler with the starting group).

Beyond that, the Lakers have are in need of upgrades. Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent dealt with injuries this past season but weren't particularly effective when healthy. Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber didn't offer much as bigs. Rookie Dalton Knecht was an afterthought in the postseason and didn't crack the rotation, though he flashed potential at times this past season.

Overall, though, the Lakers are in need of some pretty major changes around their starting group. If the NBA offseason ends up being a busy one, as Pelinka expects, it could present the Lakers with solid opportunities to add quality depth.