As a fan who has watched the Lakers for over 20 years, I feel frustrated watching their games lately.

LeBron is still a monster, but the problem is that he is over forty... and still the focal point of the team.

And there is no real 'center' to help him.

Basketball is a team sport, but lately, the Lakers feel like they are relying more on 'individual skills' than on teamwork.

In February 2025, many fans were hopeful about the acquisition of Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets, which was not just a simple expectation but a 'hope.'

However, for some reason, the trade fell through, and... the repercussions of that are still being felt today.

The current Lakers are literally playing games without a 'big man.'

With no quality big men on the roster, Maxi Kleber often plays center, but his outside three-point shooting is ineffective.

Due to the lack of center resources, forwards have to reluctantly take on the responsibilities in the paint.

This absence in the paint is maximized when facing traditional big men like Rudy Gobert from Minnesota.

Rebounds are lost, paint defense has holes, and points are scored inside.

The opponents know this and relentlessly exploit it. Ultimately, switching defense fails, creating an environment where the opponent can play freely in the paint.

This weakness is not simply a problem caused by the absence of one center.

It indicates that there were issues with the team composition itself.

In recent years, the Lakers have been relying on flashy names and building a 'star-centric roster,' but they have continuously failed in bench and positional balance.

In the end, they have become a 'team with weak fundamentals' with a few superstars.

Adding to this is the fact that LeBron, born in '84... not '94, haha, his aging and injury concerns.

For the game to work, he needs to be healthy, and other members must perform their roles, with D'Angelo Russell playing out of his mind.

But such things can't happen every day. The NBA is a marathon season with 82 games.

The conclusion is clear.

The Lakers need to secure a defensive big man and adjust roster balance as soon as possible.

Especially if they aim for the playoffs, they need to be prepared to face top league centers like Gobert or Jokic.

Otherwise, they will continue to plant the hope of "maybe this time?" in the hearts of fans every season, only to pack their bags in the first round.

As a fan, I just want to see LeBron win one more championship before he retires.

But with the current state of this team... I don't know, they might need another LeBron.