The lasting image of the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2025 NBA playoffs was of a team that struggled mightily on the defensive end. A lot of those woes could be attributed to the team’s lack of a rim protector, but also the perimeter challenges faced by their Big 3 of LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic.
To address those issues, the Lakers added Deandre Ayton, former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia and Adou Thiero, while also re-signing Jaxson Hayes and inking Doncic to a contract extension. Furthermore, the franchise is reportedly in hot pursuit of Andrew Wiggins, one of the best two-way wings in the NBA.
Surely, all those moves would help the Lakers improve defensively, right? ESPN’s Kevin Pelton isn’t sold. While analyzing each team’s “biggest role hole” entering the 2025-26 season, Pelton explained why the Lakers‘ perimeter defense remains a worry.
Lakers Defense Still a Problem?
Biggest roster hole: On-ball defense,” Pelton said of the Lakers.
As potent as the Lakers’ perimeter trio of Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves is offensively, it’s limited defensively,” he added. Dorian Finney-Smith, now in Houston, served as the Lakers’ perimeter stopper after the deadline. They added Marcus Smart, but at this stage of his career, Smart might be better against big opponents than defending the point of attack.
To Pelton’s point, the Lakers lost DFS — their best perimeter defender last season — to free agency this season, creating a big hole on the wings. The team is reportedly hoping that Jarred Vanderbilt, who missed a chunk of games last season with injury, could return to the player he was in the 2022-23 season when the Lakers reached the Western Conference Finals.
Can Wiggins Fix the Issues?
Another solution could come in the form of Andrew Wiggins, who was the Warriors‘ best defender during their run to the 2022 NBA championship.
In fact, Lakers beat writer Jovan Buha believes the addition of Wiggins will help the team elevate to the elite tier of West teams such as the Thunder, Nuggets and Rockets.
“If the Lakers were to get Andrew Wiggins, or a player of that ilk, a player of that archetype — I think that’s the ideal player to put besides Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves,” Buha continued.
“A two-way wing who can guard multiple positions, including backcourt players and wings, and take that burden off LeBron, Luka, Austin and Rui [Hachmura], turning them into help defenders — but also someone who can complement the skill sets of Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura.”
According to Forbes’ Evan Sidery, the Lakers are open to trading Dalton Knecht alongside expiring contracts to pull off a trade with the Miami Heat.
“Los Angeles is very open to moving former first-round pick Dalton Knecht alongside the necessary expiring salary. Miami wants a future first-round pick attached in the package,” Sidery reported on X.
The likes of Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber and Gabe Vincent are all on expiring contracts and could be used as trade chips to land Wiggins.
Lakers Predicted to Struggle in One Aspect After Offseason Moves