The Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2025-26 season under the crushing weight of massive expectations, fueled by a superstar pairing that promised instant championship contention: LeBron James and Luka Dončić. For a time, it appeared the hype was completely justified. Starting the year on a blazing 13-4 tear and sitting atop the highly competitive Pacific Division, the Lakers looked every bit the dominant force their roster suggested. Their offensive engine was humming with lethal precision, boasting an Offensive Rating of 118.4 points per 100 possessions and averaging over 118 points a night. They were taking smart shots, hitting 51% from the field, and showing the kind of crunch-time composure that screams ‘playoff contender’.

This success is built on the shoulders of unprecedented individual brilliance. Luka Dončić, looking leaner and fully in his prime, has performed at a level rarely seen in NBA history. He opened the season with back-to-back 40-point games, becoming only the fourth player ever to do so, and the first to combine those numbers with double-digit rebounds and at least five assists in both contests. His dominance didn’t slow down, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to average 35 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds to start a season. In just 12 games, he hit 400 points and 100 assists faster than anyone in league history. This is a player built to carry a franchise.

Alongside him, Austin Reaves has quietly transformed into the team’s irreplaceable heartbeat. His ability to flow between the starting lineup and the bench without losing rhythm has been invaluable, as he has elevated his scoring and playmaking to average roughly 28 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. His 51-point explosion in late October proved he can completely take over a game when the stars rest, placing him in a rare class of Lakers scorers. Furthermore, the addition of center Deandre Ayton, reviving his career with 15 points and eight boards a night, finally gave the Lakers a stabilizing, defensive presence in the frontcourt that was desperately missing last season.

With LeBron James returning to the fold, the pieces seem to be in place for a historic Finals run, one that could secure LeBron’s fifth ring and reshape the GOAT debate.

The Cracks in the Superteam’s Foundation

Yet, behind the flashy highlights and impressive record, a different story unfolds—one that the harsh, exposing light of the NBA playoffs will exploit without mercy. The Lakers have four major systemic flaws that, if left unaddressed, could derail their entire season, turning championship expectations into an early, embarrassing exit. This team is strong enough to coast through the regular season, but the post-season is a different beast entirely.

1. The Catastrophic Spacing Crisis

Every great, successful team in the modern NBA, especially one built around transcendent playmakers like LeBron and Luka, follows one simple rule: surround your superstars with shooters. The Lakers are flagrantly breaking this rule. Shockingly, they rank dead last—30th in the entire league—in three-pointers made.

In today’s hyper-paced, space-dependent league, you simply cannot win titles without spreading the floor. This lack of reliable outside shooting is a strategic death trap. Despite his incredible overall numbers, even Luka is struggling from deep, hitting a career-low 30.3% from beyond the arc. Austin Reaves has also dipped to 31.8%. Even LeBron is hovering right around his career mark of 33.3%.

If this doesn’t change, playoff defenses—specifically those led by rivals like Denver and OKC—will apply the same, simple, devastating strategy as last season: they will dare the Lakers to shoot. They will pack the paint, cut off the driving lanes for LeBron and Luka, and force tough, low-percentage shots against disciplined, tightened defenses. The entire offense grinds to a halt when the outside shots don’t fall, and in the playoffs, this predictability is fatal.

2. The Turnover Epidemic

Perhaps the most baffling flaw, especially for a team piloted by two all-time great playmakers, is the epidemic of turnovers. The Lakers sit dead last in turnover percentage, coughing the ball up on nearly 17% of their possessions.

This is more than just sloppy basketball; it’s a rhythm killer that drains the team’s energy and momentum. Every mistake instantly transforms into a fast break for the opponent, costing the Lakers control of games they should be winning easily. While Luka handles a massive creative load (averaging 4.2 turnovers, which is standard for his usage rate), the problem is clearly pervasive across the roster.

Players expected to be stabilizing presences are struggling with ball control. Marcus Smart is averaging two turnovers to under three assists, and even Deandre Ayton is losing the ball more than he should. As coach J.J. Redick’s frustration must be peaking, these rushed passes and forced drives are exactly the kinds of mistakes that will bury a team when the playoffs begin and the margin for error disappears. Even when the Lakers are shooting well, the constant drain of wasted possessions prevents them from maintaining a steady, championship-level rhythm.

3. The Defensive & Identity Dilemma

While the offense can be lights-out, the defense is, by any objective measure, far from elite, ranking as the team’s third major flaw. This issue was warned about before the season, and it has materialized through struggles with missed rotations, slow closeouts, and lazy switches—all the little things that great playoff teams instantly punish.

Moreover, the Lakers still struggle to establish a clear offensive structure or identity. Every champion in the last decade has finished top six in either offensive or defensive rating, and until the Lakers sharpen their style, they will remain a good team, not a great one. Their offense, their most dangerous weapon, must be the priority. To truly compete for the title, they must lean into their offensive power and push for a top-six Offensive Rating, a formula that worked for recent champions like the 2023 Nuggets.

4. The Bench Fragility and Star Over-reliance

Finally, the Lakers live and die by their star triumvirate: Luka Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reeves. The moment any one of them sits, the entire foundation shifts. Ball movement slows, spacing disappears, and efficiency drops fast.

This kind of dependence is highly dangerous. LeBron must manage his minutes, Luka carries a historically heavy load as the primary creator, and Reeves cannot be expected to run the whole show on his own. A single off-night, a minor injury, or even just fatigue late in the season could throw the entire rhythm out of balance. The bench has failed to provide relief, with the defense softening and opponents gaining ground as soon as the second unit comes in. In the playoffs, where opponents meticulously target weak stretches, the Lakers’ lack of reliable depth behind their three stars could easily turn from a simple flaw into the reason their season ends early.

The Trade Deadline Reckoning

Despite the list of systemic flaws, the path to the championship is not closed. History proves it: in 2024, Luka Dončić dragged a Dallas Mavericks team that ranked just 10th in offensive rating and 18th in defense all the way to the NBA Finals, even taking down the defending champion Thunder in a dramatic series. Luka and LeBron are built for the playoffs, both ranking as the only two players in NBA history to average over 28 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in the postseason. When these two share the floor, anything is possible.

But to complete the mission, the Lakers must make a move. They don’t need another superstar; they need the right supporting pieces to address the spacing and defensive issues.

The front office, led by Rob Pelinka, is reportedly eyeing a few key trade targets. While fantasy targets like Lauri Markkanen (putting up 30 points and shooting lights-out) would be a dream, the Lakers simply lack the assets to win that bidding war.

Therefore, they must think smarter. The key is finding a Three-and-D wing who can hit shots and defend multiple positions.

Keon Ellis: A realistic, under-the-radar fit. He’s been the odd man out in Sacramento, but his perimeter defense and three-point shot would fit perfectly into the Lakers’ system, though it’s fair to question if a young role player is enough.

Herb Jones: A true game-changer. His First Team All-Defense resume and toughness would instantly lift the Lakers’ struggling defense. He would cost a lot of assets, but a serious contender must make the call for a talent that can stabilize their rotations.

Trey Murphy III: The ideal dream pickup. Murphy is putting up close to 20 a game and hitting over 40% from three. If New Orleans ever made him available, the Lakers would have to throw every asset they have to land him.

Andrew Wiggins: A steady, playoff-tested piece. His trade value has dipped, but he has championship experience, can guard multiple spots, and still hits threes at a decent clip. He’s the kind of stabilizing presence that wins playoff games.

Jeremy Grant: A pricey, but perfect fit. If Portland slips, Grant is putting up nearly 20 points a night and shooting over 40% from deep, aligning perfectly with the Lakers’ desperate need for elite spacing.

The bottom line is clear: the Lakers are not far off. They are a solid team with a legitimate shot at history, but they are playing with systemic, fatal flaws that the best teams in the West—the Thunder and the Nuggets—will instantly expose when the playoffs begin. With Luka Dončić in his absolute prime and LeBron James chasing ring number five, the time to act is now. If Rob Pelinka can land the right 3-and-D wing and tighten the rotation around his three stars, this team can turn from solid to scary real quick, setting the stage for one of the most compelling championship runs of the decade.