"MJ didn't have AD" - Former LeBron James teammate highlights Lakers' roster flaw that could shatter 2025 NBA title hopes

Many expect the LA Lakers to compete for the NBA championship, but LeBron James' former teammate thinks they have to fix their roster flaw first. The 2024-25 NBA season is set to begin in October and fans are picking their favorites to win the championship already.

Despite the star quality that Anthony Davis and the longevity that James has shown, Richard Jefferson thinks the California-based team still needs more.

"To ask Michael Jordan what they would need with the Wizards to win another championship, this is similar. Jordan didn't have Anthony Davis, but ultimately you look at an incomplete team, an incomplete roster, from the standpoint that they don't have enough dogs."

Jefferson did not take long to draw comparisons between the Los Angeles team's roster and that of the Boston Celtics, the reigning champs. According to him, the Purple & Gold have a lackluster team and that could hurt their chances of competing for the title next season.

"You look at the defending champions, the Boston Celtics. The Lakers are three All-Star caliber players away from being on their level. Three All-Star caliber players, that's how far away from being on the same tier as the defending champions."

The 2016 champion clarified his statement about the Celtics. While he said that the starting five of the champions are all All-Star caliber players, only two are real All-Stars. He named Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis as the players who are All-Star caliber players.

Holiday has been selected for two All-Star games, Porzingis was selected to one but didn't play due to injury. White, meanwhile, was mentioned multiple times as a potential All-Star last season.

For Los Angeles, D'Angelo Russell is the only All-Star caliber player as he can put up numbers similar to a star on some nights. He was also named an All-Star back in 2019.

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Lakers could target another All-Star guard, Bleacher Report suggests

The Lakers didn't make any significant changes over the summer. Before the offseason started, there were a few names that were mentioned and linked to the team, but none of them came to fruition. Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus has shared one realistic trade target for the franchise this season.

According to Pincus, the organization could pursue Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Darius Garland this season.

"Still, if Darius Garland became available out of Cleveland, the Lakers would probably offer both of their firsts to the Cavaliers for the young guard. Salary matching would be complex, probably requiring more than one team," Pincus wrote.

Garland was an All-Star two seasons ago and still shows promise on the court. Last season, he averaged 18.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 6.5 assists.

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