Rich Paul Says Lakers Aren’t Contenders, Raising Pressure for Upgrades

Overview

• On the Game Over podcast, Paul said the Lakers do not have enough to reach the Western Conference Finals and are not true contenders right now.
• He argued the team’s style will be easy to guard in the postseason, citing concerns about athleticism, length, shooting, speed and playing fast.
• Coverage notes Los Angeles sits at 17-6 and second in the West, underscoring the contrast between results and Paul’s assessment.
• Analysts frame Paul’s stance as part of a familiar LeBron–Paul pattern of public leverage to spur roster moves, with no new transactions reported.
• Commentary highlights defensive and cultural issues, including communication, transition defense and paint protection, with recent additions viewed as partial fixes rather than solutions.