Los Angeles Lakers GM Rob Pelinka announced Thursday that the team is preparing for a significant offseason rebuild following a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Lakers were eliminated in Game 5 on home court, losing 103-96, which sealed a 4-1 series defeat. Despite a strong regular season that saw the Lakers finish third in the West, their postseason shortcomings exposed key weaknesses — especially after trading star big man Anthony Davis to acquire Luka Doncic in February.
While Doncic helped reignite the team’s offense, the lack of interior defense and size became a glaring issue, particularly against Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert. Pelinka admitted the team had little time to balance the roster post-trade and now plans to focus on adding size and a true center during the offseason.
“It’s clear we need more size. Trading one of the best bigs in the league left a big hole,” Pelinka said, stressing a more thoughtful roster construction moving forward.
Although LeBron James has yet to announce whether he’ll return for another season, Pelinka expressed optimism about building around James, Doncic, and Austin Reaves, calling them a core trio with “incredible promise.”
Lakers head coach JJ Redick also emphasized the need for players to reach “championship shape” in the offseason, acknowledging that not all players were in peak condition for playoff contention.
Despite some criticism of Redick’s debut season decisions, Pelinka confirmed the organization’s confidence in the coach’s vision and partnership.