Story by
Danny Green Sounds Alarm On Lakers With 1 Brutal Playoff Concern
- Story by
- Danny Green Sounds Alarm On Lakers With 1 Brutal Playoff Concern
Danny Green has seen the Lakers change shape before. A summer can bring plenty of new names, but the real test comes when those players have to fit together on the court.
The Los Angeles Lakers took a different path this time. Green quickly noticed the changes, and as the offseason progressed, he got a clearer view of the team.
Advertisement
Danny Green Sees More Than Just A Better Lakers Roster
The Lakers entered the summer needing to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves after LeBron James left the team in free agency. They responded by re-signing Reaves and adding Walker Kessler , Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes . Sandro Mamukelashvili was another addition as Los Angeles reshaped its roster.
Apr 9, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Danny Green (14) reacts after missing a three-point basket in the fourth quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Green initially had doubts about where the team was heading. After seeing the moves come together, though, his opinion changed. He told ESPN Los Angeles that he liked many of the players the Lakers added, but he stopped short of giving them the benefit of the doubt in the playoffs.
Advertisement
"I mean, at first, I wasn't sure where they were going, the direction, and then everything happened so fast, and I was like, 'Damn, okay, this piece, that piece.' I liked a lot of the pieces they picked up.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with guard Danny Green (14) after a play during the third quarter against the Miami Heat in game two of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
"I know they're young, so not super experienced. I think they're gonna be a pretty good regular-season team. Playoffs, I don't know because of the youth and experience," Green said.
That distinction is what makes Green's take interesting. He is not saying the Lakers made bad moves. He is saying the roster still has something to prove when the regular season ends.
Advertisement
Danny Green's Lakers Concern Starts With The Playoffs
Green's warning is important because he knows what championship teams look like. He won three NBA titles in his 15-year career, including one with the Lakers in 2020, before retiring in 2024. He now works as an NBA analyst.
The Lakers are coming off a 53-29 regular season. They beat Houston in six games before Oklahoma City swept them in the Western Conference semifinals.
That loss gives Green's concern some context. Los Angeles already showed it can win plenty of regular-season games. The harder question is whether a younger roster can stay steady when every possession carries more weight.
Apr 18, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Danny Green (14) celebrates after hitting a three point basket during the second quarter against the New York Knicks in game two of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers have added size with Kessler and more depth around Doncic. They also gave Reaves a four-year, $185 million deal, keeping another major piece in place for the team's next phase.
Advertisement
Green's view leaves the Lakers with a simple test. The new roster does not need to look good on paper. It needs to prove it can hold up when the games stop giving young players room to grow.
