JJ Redick Reveals Lakers’ Most Immediate Roster Need

The Los Angeles Lakers hired JJ Redick as their head coach and will try to bounce back to make a deep postseason run in the 2024-25 season. However, they have yet to make any roster moves so far. They have missed out on several top free-agent targets and have been surprisingly inactive on the trade market. There is a growing concern among the Lakers fanbase that the team will look a lot like the group that lost in the first round of the playoffs to start next season.

Fortunately for the fans, JJ Redick alleviated some of those concerns in his interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio. Addressing the Lakers' offseason, the new head coach said that the team is still looking to add a center to its rotation.

Lakers News: JJ Redick Wants A "Big, Bruising" Center

Referencing the size the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Thunder, and Grizzlies play with, Redick said that the Lakers need to get a big man who can match their physicality.

"We’d love to, at some point, get another five-man, a big bruising five-man. You look at the Western Conference right now, whether it’s Denver, Minnesota, OKC with what they added, certainly Memphis, they’re going to be back in the hunt, they added Zach Edey, certain matchups in the playoffs, you’re going to need a lot of size."

- Lakers HC JJ Redick

Redick is right. The Lakers don't have enough size up and down the roster. However, the issue is that Anthony Davis has to play center to optimize the rest of the roster. Davis at power forward next to another big tends to create significant spacing problems on the offensive end. At this stage of his career, Davis is better suited to play near the rim on both ends of the floor.

Getting a capable center to play during the regular season and reducing Davis' workload is obviously a good idea. However, the Lakers have more pressing needs. The team doesn't have enough two-way players and shooting. It is a top-heavy group with questionable depth and role players outside of the Davis-LeBron duo. The focus needs to be on improving the shooting and perimeter defense rather than getting a traditional center who will likely play a limited role in the playoffs.

More Lakers news and rumors: