Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick acknowledged after his team’s second-round playoff exit that the current roster is not strong enough to contend for a championship.
The Lakers won 53 regular-season games in Redick’s second year on the bench and defeated the Houston Rockets in the first round despite missing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for most of the series. Their postseason run ended when the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder completed a four-game sweep.
“That’s what we’ve got to figure out this offseason,” Redick said following the Game 4 loss. “We set out to build championship habits, communication and shape, and we were darn close. But you have to be realistic and assess where you’re at, and we’re not good enough right now.”
Redick emphasized that the organization—including general manager Rob Pelinka, governor Jeanie Buss and minority owner Mark Walter—remains focused on winning a title. While he values continuity, he expects both returning pieces and roster turnover during the summer.
The Lakers enter the offseason with salary-cap flexibility and multiple draft picks, and only six players hold guaranteed contracts. Redick said he hopes the front office keeps Doncic, LeBron James and Reaves while adjusting the supporting cast.
Source: LakersNation.com
