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Should the Warriors mold their roster to combat the Lakers?

By Nathan Beighle

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after shooting a three point basket to win the game over Denver Nuggets in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 20, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after shooting a three point basket to win the game over Denver Nuggets in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 20, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers won the 2020 NBA Championship. They’ll be the favorite to repeat, and the Warriors need to make sure that doesn’t happen.

The Los Angeles Lakers met the Houston Rockets in the 2020 NBA Playoffs. The Lakers prevailed, and that may mean something for the Warriors.

It may mean that they need to shape their offseason around competing with Los Angeles. Let’s think — what does Los Angeles have that most other teams do not? Well, it’s not shooting. They have some shooting, but the Rockets had a far better cast of shooters.

The Lakers have length, and they proved that they can dominate you with JaVale McGee or Dwight Howard on the court for the majority of the game along with Anthony Davis. That type of length isn’t oftentimes found in the league during this modern-day period.

The Warriors need to counterbalance that, and they can’t do that with their current team. Marquese Chriss and Kevon Looney just couldn’t keep up in the paint and on the boards. For starters, neither are seven-foot.

Neither are even 6-foot-10, and they’ll be going against ultra-athletic players that have a significant height advantage. That’s why the Warriors should at least consider James Wiseman at No. 2.

If they don’t, acquiring Marc Gasol for the mid-level exception could be in play. But, with McGee and Howard having shown that they can defend highly-skilled guards, it might be a nightmare of a matchup for Golden State if they can’t get another true rim-protecting center.

The Warriors are no longer the league’s golden standard. The difference between the top tier of teams and the bottom has arguably gotten larger since their dominance, meaning the Warriors must continue to improve their roster, especially after losing the likes of Kevin Durant.

They don’t have length on their roster to combat a frontcourt with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Howard or McGee.

It doesn’t matter how skilled defensive you are. When those two or three are pounding the glass with players that aren’t even 6-foot-10, you’re going to give up a game-changing amount of boards.

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The Warriors must adapt this offseason, and it may start with taking Wiseman over Deni Avdija.

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