Los Angeles Lakers in need of a defensive stopper

While the Los Angeles Lakers have Kobe Bryant on their roster, he’s not the same player he was a decade ago.

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That’s bad news when Bryant is essentially the best defensive player in your rotation which is why Nate Duncan of Basketball Insiders opines the Los Angeles Lakers need to make some changes on the defensive side of the ball.

"We knew this team would struggle defensively without a single above-average defensive player on the roster aside from the limited Ronnie Price. But as Stephen Curry roasted Steve Nash to start Sunday’s game, it was apparent that the Lakers really didn’t have a superior option. Bryant is not a stopper at this point in his career, although he is better on-ball than off. Jeremy Lin was injured and has never been great on D, and Wesley Johnson is probably too slow. It is very difficult to imagine a scenario in which the Lakers avoid the bottom five in defense this year."

While some seem to believe a healthy Kobe Bryant could potentially have the Los Angeles Lakers winning nearly 50 games, that seems difficult to imagine until a defensive stopper is brought to the organization.

More than that though, the Lakers lack a lot of size in the middle and could be eaten alive in the paint because of it. The lack of a perimeter stopper will allow opposing players to get into the paint where they’ll be able to bang around with some of the thinner, but lengthier Los Angeles Lakers defenders.

It also doesn’t help that players like Carlos Boozer, who are expected to see major minutes, aren’t exactly known for their defensive skills.

With few tradeable assets the Lakers may need to find defensive help via the draft or free agency which doesn’t really help them out for the current season unfortunately.

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