The Los Angeles Lakers currently have plenty of issues they need to address, but Brian Windhorst of ESPN thinks the roster is the team's biggest problem.
In an appearance on The Jump with Rachel Nichols and Amin Elhassan, Windhorst discussed the recent news of Magic Johnson reprimanding and allegedly “yelling” at Luke Walton for their poor start. However, the ESPN Journalist, who spent years covering the NBA and LeBron James, said that what he wants to know is who is yelling at Johnson for the roster he built.
Windhorst explained that the Johnson has “unreasonable” expectations on Walton considering what he described as a “flawed” Lakers roster.
“This roster is really the major problem. This is a flawed roster,” Windhorst said. “Look, there are a lot of flawed rosters out there, the difference in this one is they just put it together.”
“If he [Walton] inherited a team that didn't have a center and didn't have the cap space or roster spots, I will get it. I think Tyson Chandler is a nice addition, but they are correcting a mistake that they had just made.”
Windhorst furthered that the 38-year-old coach is in a “completely different situation,” particularly with his experience and the amount of pressure on him.
“I think Luke Walton is in a difficult position here because there is higher expectation that the talent on this team will actually allow,” Windhorst added. “You're asking him to juggle a lot of balls, with all these guys on one-year contracts, all these young players, LeBron.”
“He still doesn't have a lot of experience. I think Magic is holding him to an unreasonable standard.”
Johnson's offseason move that saw him sign the likes of JaVale McGee, Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo and Michael Beasley raised plenty of eyebrows. Many are left wondering how the players—often called misfits—will work with the Lakers, and it appears there is an answer now.
The Purple and Gold are currently 4-6 in the season, and their performance on the court shows they are not clicking well. While the Lakers have no problem offensively, they are also allowing opponents to outscore them on a nightly basis.
Windhorst may be right with his assessment of the Lakers. As of now, things aren't just working for them, and if this continues, they may soon need to look at Johnson and tell him the problem with the team he built.
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