The Los Angeles Lakers enter the 2025–26 season with championship aspirations, a roster headlined by Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves. Offensively, the trio gives the Lakers one of the most dangerous attacks in basketball. But as ESPN insider Kevin Pelton recently pointed out, there’s a glaring weakness that could derail those ambitions: on-ball defense.
Pelton highlighted the Lakers’ lack of reliable point-of-attack defenders as their biggest hole. Last season, Los Angeles improved dramatically on defense after acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith at the deadline.
He became their designated perimeter stopper, guarding top wings and helping mask Luka and LeBron’s limitations on the defensive end. That stability is now gone, as Finney-Smith signed with the Houston Rockets this offseason.
The Lakers responded by adding Marcus Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year. On paper, Smart should help. But at this stage of his career, Smart’s best use might be against bigger, more physical opponents rather than tracking quick guards or wings every night. Pelton noted that this leaves a gap in their defense, particularly when facing dynamic scorers who thrive off the dribble.
That gap explains why Andrew Wiggins has resurfaced as a primary Lakers target. Wiggins, with his blend of athleticism and defensive versatility, would instantly slot into Finney-Smith’s old role.
Trade chatter has heated up, though nothing is imminent. If that pursuit fails, an alternative target could be Quentin Grimes, who is a restricted free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers. While not directly linked to Los Angeles, Grimes’ 3-and-D skill set makes him a logical fit.
Until then, the Lakers are counting on internal solutions. New addition Jake LaRavia, rookie Adou Thiero, and even Bronny James are expected to provide defensive energy. Jarred Vanderbilt, when healthy, is one of the best multi-positional defenders on the roster, while Gabe Vincent has shown flashes as a scrappy guard defender.
The issue is consistency, Smart, Vanderbilt, and Vincent have all dealt with injuries over the last two seasons, making it risky for the Lakers to rely solely on their availability.
The good news is that the Lakers’ offensive ceiling is enormous. Luka is coming off a season where he nearly averaged a triple-double, LeBron continues to defy age in Year 22, and Reaves has become a steady third option. But as Pelton emphasized, their defensive flaw could be the difference between being a playoff threat and a true contender.
For now, Los Angeles is banking on a committee approach. Rui Hachimura, LaRavia, and Vanderbilt will rotate on the wings, Smart and Vincent will hold the backcourt, and the team hopes the young players can develop quickly. If that doesn’t work, February’s trade deadline looms as the obvious pressure point.
The Lakers have the talent, but as Pelton made clear, unless they fix their perimeter defense, their title hopes may rest on shaky ground.
