Magic Johnson: Lakers Must Add Youth, Speed to Back Luka Dončić
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With NBA free agency approaching, Los Angeles Lakers icon Magic Johnson says the franchise must inject youth and athleticism if it hopes to return to title contention behind Luka Dončić.
Appearing on ESPN’s “Get Up,” Johnson pointed to the ongoing postseason as evidence that roster construction needs to change. “The playoffs tell you everything,” he said, noting that Western Conference rivals such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are built around speed and physicality. “The Lakers have to get younger, more athletic, faster, and help Luka.”
Los Angeles struggled badly against that profile of opponent this season, finishing 0-8 against Oklahoma City, including the playoffs, and 1-3 versus San Antonio. The Lakers were swept in the Western Conference semifinals.
General manager Rob Pelinka now enters an offseason in which several West teams are chasing the same upgrades. Dončić, who just completed his first full year in purple and gold playing at an MVP-level, has made it clear he wants to contend immediately.
Green Echoes Call for Two-Way Help
Former Laker and 2020 champion Danny Green offered a similar assessment on his podcast. He argued that Dončić thrived in Dallas when surrounded by 3-and-D wings and athletic rim-protecting centers—a formula that carried the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals. Green believes Los Angeles needs to replicate that mix, emphasizing versatile defenders who can also stretch the floor.
The Lakers now face the challenge of reshaping the roster without sacrificing the star power that has made them perennial contenders. How quickly Pelinka can add the speed, youth and two-way skill Johnson and Green describe may determine whether Dončić’s prime seasons translate into deep playoff runs in Los Angeles.
Source: LakersNation.com
