With NBA free agency opening on June 30, former Los Angeles Lakers guard Danny Green believes the franchise must prioritize defense and perimeter shooting to build a championship roster around Luka Doncic.
Speaking on ESPN LA radio, the 2020 Lakers champion outlined the profile he feels general manager Rob Pelinka should target. “Defense and shooters,” Green said. “If you want a great winning team, you need superstars, a quality big who can rebound, and some 3-and-D guys around them. If you can get that at a good price, you have a good chance of winning championships.”
Recent shortcomings fuel the call for change
The Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2026 playoffs after a season that leaned heavily on Doncic and Austin Reaves as primary scorers. The lack of proven two-way contributors resurfaced as a critical weakness, repeating a pattern that has hampered the team in recent postseasons.
Looking back at the 2019 blueprint
Green pointed to the 2019–20 roster construction—when Los Angeles added two-way players such as Avery Bradley, Dwight Howard, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, Alex Caruso and Anthony Davis—as a model. That group dominated en route to the franchise’s most recent title.
Roster decisions ahead
LeBron James and Reaves enter the summer as unrestricted free agents, and team officials have expressed interest in re-signing both. Despite questions about the defensive fit of a Doncic-Reaves backcourt, the organization believes the duo can contribute to a title run if surrounded by versatile defenders and reliable outside shooting.
Reaves produced an All-Star caliber campaign before a Grade 2 calf strain, while James excelled as a two-way third option. Pelinka now faces the task of adding complementary 3-and-D talent and a defensive-minded big man to maximize the core headlined by Doncic.
Source: LakersNation.com
