For the second straight season, the Los Angeles Lakers had been knocked out of the NBA playoffs by celebrity Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, with Mike Malone’s squad making simple work of Anthony Davis and firm in 5 video games.
One of many most important causes for the Lakers merely being unable to get previous the Nuggets is the presence of Jokic within the paint, who dominated Los Angeles from begin to end all through the first-round sequence.
Throughout the second spherical in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves, it grew to become fairly apparent find out how to doubtlessly include Jokic, as Chris Finch had numerous gamers he may throw on the three-time NBA MVP, particularly Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert.
That stated, bringing in a formidable huge that may maintain his personal in opposition to Jokic defensively needs to be a precedence for the Lakers this summer time, and it seems guard Austin Reaves agrees with that principle to usher in a bodily huge man, as he advised Trevor Lane of Lakers Nation.
“There’s obviously room for improvement,” Reaves stated. “I think one thing I personally thought we could’ve had was a more physical five, especially when you run into someone like [Nikola] Jokic.”
I sat down with Lakers guard Austin Reaves for @LakersNation and requested what the Lakers want so as to add to their roster with the intention to contend. He talked about one factor particularly that the entrance workplace wants to search out: pic.twitter.com/mkiIuVK5sn
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) June 26, 2024
Luckily for the Lakers, the group could have some choices to discover this summer time to usher in a bodily frontcourt participant both through the 2024 NBA Draft or in NBA free company.
The Lakers have the No. 17 total choose in Wednesday’s draft and would possibly be capable to convey a veteran like Jonas Valanciunas in free company, which makes this offseason an attention-grabbing one for Los Angeles.
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