The Los Angeles Lakers are entering a new era without LeBron James, and head coach JJ Redick is making it clear that his excitement about the team's new roster wasn't meant as a shot at his former superstar. Redick raised eyebrows before training camp when discussing the Lakers' dramatically different roster following James' departure for the Philadelphia 76ers. "I think with this group, probably for the first time in my three years here, I feel like the pieces actually fit together," Redick told reporters back in September.
The timing made the comment particularly interesting. Redick's first two seasons as Lakers head coach came with James on the roster. Now, with James gone and Los Angeles building completely around Luka Doncic, saying the pieces finally "fit together" could easily be interpreted as a shot at James.
Redick felt the need to offer more context. "When I said the pieces fit, that's more about having depth, having multiple ballhandlers besides Luka and AR, having more shooting, more volume shooting, having an elite rim protector — the combination of all those pieces," Redick told The Athletic's Sam Amick. "And it's having great wing defenders." Redick's explanation makes sense when looking at what Los Angeles prioritized this offseason.
The Lakers re-signed Austin Reaves while adding Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Kevon Looney and Jaden Hardy as part of a significant roster overhaul. The result is a younger and deeper group designed to complement Doncic and Reaves. Los Angeles made it a point of emphasis to target areas that presented problems last season.
The Lakers finished 53-29 and fourth in the Western Conference before eventually being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference semifinals. Los Angeles finished 10th in offensive rating and 20th defensively. This offseason, the Lakers wasted no time addressing both sides of the problem.
Kessler gives Los Angeles the rim protection Redick referenced while also providing the Lakers with the type of high-level big man fans have been asking for since before LeBron's arrival. On the perimeter, players such as Grimes, Thybulle and Williams give the Lakers multiple defensive options who could help make life easier for Doncic and Reaves. Sexton and Grimes also give Redick additional players capable of handling the basketball and creating offense, potentially reducing how much responsibility Doncic and Reaves must carry throughout the season.
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