As September 15 approaches, the new NBA season is about to begin, but the offseason operation of the Los Angeles Lakers has been widely questioned by the outside world. Since winning the championship in 2020, the Lakers have not been able to find a consistent core roster, especially this offseason, which has left fans and pundits worried about their future. James has made personal sacrifices for the team, including taking a pay cut and aggressively recruiting stars, but the Lakers are still missing out on signing key players such as Harden, Thompson and DeRozan. This series of operational problems seems to have made the Lakers' attractiveness gradually decline.
Although James was willing to take a pay cut for the team, it didn't change the team's position in the free market. The Lakers are no longer as attractive to top players as they once were, in part because of the questionable appointment of coach Redick. Redick was an excellent three-point shooter as a player, but he had no coaching experience. Many have doubts about his ability, believing that he lacks the experience to lead the team to a championship. This uncertainty has made many free agents reluctant to bet their careers on the Lakers.
Since the Lakers won the championship in 2020, the team has asked Davis to play as a center, but this has put a lot of pressure on him. As an offensive interior player, Davis not only has to take on the scoring task, but also has to take on the responsibility of protecting the basket on the defensive end, and this double burden has greatly increased his injury risk.
Davis has spoken out about his frustration back in the offseason, making it clear that he wants to partner with other big men and return to the No. 4 position he is more familiar with. During the 2020 championship-winning season, Davis' partnership with Howard and McGee, two pure centers, allowed him to focus on offense without the distraction of interior defense. Today's Lakers are obviously unable to provide such a stable center configuration, resulting in Davis's form and performance have not been satisfactory.
Lakers management is clearly aware of the problem. Although Wood is considered an important inside addition, he is expected to miss at least eight weeks as he has just undergone arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The team's other center, Hayes, despite his athleticism, was inconsistent on the defensive end and couldn't provide enough support for Davis.
Just when the Lakers' interior problems were in the spotlight, the team finally made a critical operation. According to NBA reporters, the Lakers have reached a signing agreement with center Christian · Kloko. It is reported that Kloko will join the Lakers on a two-way contract and become a member of the team. Kloko was the 33rd pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and played in 58 games for the Toronto Raptors in 2022-23, starting 19 of them, averaging 3.1 points, 3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.
Kloko's defensive prowess was the main reason the Lakers chose him. While his offensive stats may seem average, his performance on the defensive end is quite impressive. With a height of 2.16 meters and an arm span of 2.30 meters, Kloko has excellent physical talent and defensive awareness. According to NBA statistics, Kloko can only allow opponents to score an average of 0.72 points per game when defending in the low post, and when defending with the ball, his movement speed and defensive efficiency are more prominent, allowing opponents to score only 0.63 points per defense. That defensive ability makes Kloko an ideal candidate for the Lakers at the center position.
Despite Kloko's limited offensive prowess, he just needs to defend well with the team and learn how to play with James and Davis on the offensive end. The Lakers' purpose in signing Kloko is very clear, that is, they hope that he can share the pressure on Davis on the defensive end, so that Davis can return to the No. 4 position and give full play to his offensive talents. Considering Kloko's defensive talent, it is no surprise that he will be the starting center for the Lakers in the new season, forming a twin-tower partnership with Davis.
Despite the controversy surrounding the Lakers' offseason operations, the team's overall roster is not without merit. The Lakers currently have 18 players on the roster, and the main lineup is relatively complete:
Point guards: Russell, Vincent, Schifino, Bronny
Quarterbacks: Reaves, Christie, Knecht
Small forwards: James, Reddish, Lewis, Traore
Power forwards: Davis, Hachimura, Vanderbilt
Centre-forwards: Kloko, Wood, Hayes, Castleton
With the addition of Kloko, the Lakers' shortcomings in the center position have been supplemented, and Davis can finally return to his beloved No. 4 position. This change has allowed the team to improve their interior defense. In addition, coach Redick has also hinted that the new season may refer to the 2019-20 tactical system, with James in the point guard role. Such an arrangement will not only play on James's playmaking skills, but also create more opportunities for Reaves and Davis on the offensive end.
If all goes well, the Lakers' starting lineup for the new season is likely to be James, Reaves, Hachimura, Davis and Kloko. This lineup is competitive on the defensive end, and the offensive end is also expected to provide consistent output for the team through James' command and Davis' firepower.
Although the Lakers' offseason performance has not looked optimistic, their reinforcements on the defensive end are still worth looking forward to. The addition of Kloko gives the Lakers much-needed basket protection, which will also ease Davis' defensive burden. Despite Redick's lack of coaching experience, he has a decent roster at his disposal, and as long as they can find the right combination of tactics, the Lakers still have a chance to make a playoff shot in the new season.
In the face of fierce competition in the West, the Lakers need Kloko to integrate into the team as soon as possible, while James and Davis must stay healthy to provide a strong guarantee for the team's playoff journey. After all, with James about to enter his 22nd season, the Lakers' window is running out, and every decision and reinforcement could affect the future direction of the team.