"We gotta improve, get faster and athletic" - Magic breaks down what the Lakers need to do to be a title contender

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"We gotta improve, get faster and athletic" - Magic breaks down what the Lakers need to do to be a title contender originally appeared on Basketball Network.
On paper, the pairing of LeBron James and Luka Doncic — two versatile scorers, pass-first ball handlers and high IQ superstars — should be enough to make any team an instant title contender. However, according to Magic Johnson, the Los Angeles Lakers need far more than star power.
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After witnessing the Purple & Gold suffer a gentleman's sweep in the postseason, Earvin expressed frustration with how the team continues to get exposed on the defensive end. Johnson did not hold back, emphasizing what the franchise truly needs to jump into prime title contention for next season.
Magic on what the Lakers need for next season
When the acquisition of Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets fell through, it seemed like L.A. had solved that dilemma by handing Jaxson Hayes into a more prominent big-man role. Playing alongside Doncic, Hayes averaged a sublime 8.0 points per game on 76.5 percent shooting from the field, showing flashes of his untapped potential. However, when the playoffs arrived and pressure spiked, Jaxson crumbled. His production dropped to a mere 1.8 points, ultimately leading to the center being benched for the entirety of Game 5.
That collapse made Johnson firmly believe that the team needs more than minor tweaks in the offseason. Speaking on ESPN's First Take, Magic highlighted how the Lakers need to improve their bench depth and add an athletic center to withstand playoff intensity.
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In particular, they need a young and dominant force who can protect the rim when the opposition tries to target the defensive weaknesses of Luka and Austin Reaves. Put simply, someone who can anchor the paint and be fast enough to serve as a pick-and-lob threat on the offensive end.
"Now he's (Redick) got to say, 'Okay, LeBron, Luka, now what type of player do we need?' We need a center, and he's got to be athletic, right? And then we need to improve that bench, that roster, because Minnesota… they said, they ran pick-and-roll like, 'Where's Luka? Come here. Austin Reaves?' So, they went at those two guys all day. Then, it cost us the series," Johnson said. "We gotta improve and, I think, get faster, longer, more athletic. So, Rob Pelinka needs to bring in some people who could help us get better on defense and also get longer and more athletic."
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The Lakers need to make massive changes
Since Myles Turner has played a massive part in helping the Indiana Pacers reach the 2025 NBA Finals, and Brook Lopez is already 37 years old, the ideal choice for the Lakers is to pursue a younger, more athletic, and underrated option, such as Clint Capela. The Atlanta Hawks center can be a dominant rebounder and rim protector, as he has shown by averaging 8.9 points and 8.5 rebounds in just over 21 minutes of game time last season. On the other hand, if the Lakers are willing to sacrifice some of their pieces, Nic Claxton is another potential big man they can religiously chase this summer.
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Ultimately, the Purple & Gold must trim the fat from their bench, letting go of players with no meaningful role and bringing in depth that can make a difference, particularly on the defensive end. If the franchise is serious about maximizing LeBron's twilight years and Luka's prime, increasing their tenacity and defensive prowess are non-negotiable factors.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.