Lakers insider criticises roster construction as Sexton signing deemed strategic error
Yahoo Sports reporter suggests the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to utilise the room exception for Sexton was a misstep, advocating instead for acquisitions such as Kelly Oubre Jr or Marcus Smart to address defensive size.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha has publicly characterised the acquisition of guard Collin Sexton as a strategic error, arguing that the salary cap space utilised for the signing would have been more effectively deployed on a two-way wing. Speaking on the 'Lakers Collective' podcast, Buha suggested that the team should have gambled on the health of Marcus Smart or pursued Kelly Oubre Jr, citing their comparative value and contract structures.
Buha, writing for Yahoo Sports, maintained that while he views the broader offseason as successful, the specific allocation of the "Collin Sexton room exception contract" represented a flawed direction. He noted that both Smart and Oubre secured two-year deals for less money, arguing that the Lakers would have been better served by securing a player who could provide immediate wing size and defensive versatility.
The signing of Sexton, aged 27, was intended to address significant statistical deficiencies from the previous season, where the Lakers ranked 29th in bench scoring and 22nd in pace. Sexton signed a two-year, $19 million contract, with the second year structured as a player option, providing the organisation with flexibility to move on if the acquisition fails to meet expectations.
Despite the criticism, Buha acknowledged that the Lakers have a longstanding need for a high-motor guard capable of facilitating and scoring at the rim, a void exacerbated by the departure of LeBron James. He noted that filling this specific skillset requirement on a veteran minimum salary was impossible, particularly given the team’s limited trade assets and the difficulty of acquiring a Sexton-type player without significant capital.
The report also contextualised the signing within other recent roster movements, including the acquisition of Walker Kessler and links to Ziaire Williams, Jonathan Kuminga, and Matisse Thybulle. Buha suggested that the contracts of Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili could potentially be moved in the future if the organisation requires additional flexibility, though he emphasised that Kessler remains a locked-in piece of the current construction.
