The Los Angeles Lakers, once again, find themselves with a roster imbalance—too many guards. Under the guidance of general manager Rob Pelinka, the Lakers had consistently stacked their guard rotation. 2024 is no different. Despite offseason efforts to resolve this guard issue, Pelinka now faces a dilemma that leaves the Lakers undersized and at a disadvantage in both physicality and athleticism against many of their competitors.
NBA Business: Rob Pelinka ‘Dooming’ JJ Redick And Lakers With Guard Problem
A Crowded Backcourt
At first glance, having too many guards seems like a luxury, but in the case of the Lakers, it’s more of a problem. The current rotation includes D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Max Christie, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and even Bronny James. Each player brings something unique to the table. However, the Lakers are running into challenges when it comes to their overall lineup balance.
The frontcourt lacks the necessary depth and size to contend with the league’s most physical teams. This leads to defensive mismatches and rebound issues that can’t be masked by a crowded backcourt. Although Pelinka tried to address the imbalance this offseason, the Lakers have yet to find a solution that optimizes their roster.
Financial Commitment to Guards
The Lakers have tied up a significant portion of their salary cap in the guard position. Russell is on an $18.6 million deal. Reaves, fresh off a breakout season, is earning $12.9 million. Vincent takes up $11.0 million. Christie, Hood-Schifino, and James round out the group with $7.1 million, $3.8 million, and $1.1 million respectively.
That’s a total of nearly $55 million locked into guards alone, limiting the flexibility to make significant upgrades in the frontcourt. Some of these players offer long-term upside. The Lakers’ current construction puts them at a disadvantage when facing teams with more size and athleticism.
The Logjam
The Lakers’ guard-heavy roster also presents a playing time dilemma. Russell and Reaves are starters, but there are only so many minutes to go around for the remaining guards. Vincent, for example, was brought in as a key contributor in 2023. He may struggle to find consistent minutes as head coach JJ Redick prioritizes his younger options.
Christie, entering his second season, has shown potential as a 3-and-D guard. With the veterans ahead of him, it’s unclear how much of an opportunity he will get to develop. Redick has been open about wanting to give Christie a meaningful spot on the rotation this season. The Lakers also need to figure out how to integrate sophomore Hood-Schifino into the rotation without further crowding the backcourt.
Pelinka’s Summer Missteps
Reports suggest that Pelinka attempted to address the roster imbalance during the summer but ran into roadblocks. Whether those were failed trade negotiations or free agency targets that didn’t materialize, the result is a roster that still lacks size and strength.
The Lakers could have pursued a more balanced approach by targeting frontcourt help. However, they are now stuck with a surplus of guards. None of them possess the elite size or athleticism to help the team overcome the defensive and rebounding issues they’ve faced.
Redick, now tasked with managing this imbalanced roster, faces similar challenges that led to previous coaching frustrations. The Lakers may eventually pursue larger players, but unless the roster is balanced, Redick could bear the brunt of fans’ disappointment.
Rob Pelinka Needs to Fix Guard Problem to Put Lakers in Situation To Compete
The Lakers need to address their roster construction if they hope to compete in the physically demanding Western Conference. While there’s no denying the talent in their backcourt, the team’s lack of size and physicality could be their downfall.
Rob Pelinka must now explore trade options to clear up the logjam at guard and bring in players who can provide the Lakers with more balance. Whether it’s offloading one of their higher-paid guards like Russell or Vincent or packaging younger assets like Christie or Hood-Schifino, the Lakers need to find a way to add size to their rotation.
As the season progresses, it will become increasingly clear that the Lakers cannot afford to continue relying on an undersized roster. Pelinka will need to be proactive in finding a solution before the trade deadline. The Lakers risk wasting yet another season of LeBron James and Anthony Davis in their pursuit of a championship. The Lakers have a guard problem, and it’s one that only Rob Pelinka can fix.
