Shaquille OโNeal isnโt sugarcoating the Lakersโ situation โ and heโs not hopeful for what comes next.
After the Lakers were bounced from the playoffs in five games by the Timberwolves, the Inside the NBA crew had plenty to say โ but it was Shaq who delivered the coldest truth.
โThey have two of the top-name players on their team, but let’s just keep it real โ they’re not good enough.โ
Shaq, a Lakers legend with three rings in purple and gold, didnโt stop there. He doubled down on his belief that this isnโt a one-year issue โ itโs the start of a longer drought.
โThey’re gonna be like this for a while. They’re not gonna make any moves this summer. Gotta pay two guys $50 million and upโฆ So get used to this.โ
The Cap Is Heavy โ And So Is the Pressure
Shaqโs pessimism centers around LeBron James and Luka Donฤiฤ, who command superstar salaries (LeBron: $52.6M option, Luka: max extension eligible). With so much tied up in two players โ both defensive liabilities in the postseason โ the margin for error is razor thin.
L.A.โs depth issues were exposed all series:
- No true rim protector after Jaxson Hayes was benched
- Small-ball lineups crumbled against Gobert (27 pts, 24 reb)
- And Game 5? A 103โ96 loss that sealed the 4โ1 series collapse
Even with LeBronโs 22-7-6 line and Lukaโs near triple-double (28-9-7), the team simply wasnโt built to compete inside.
Is Shaq Wrong About Pelinka?
OโNeal believes the Lakers wonโt make moves โ but history says Rob Pelinka isnโt afraid to act. Just in the last few years:
- Traded for Anthony Davis (2019) โ won a title
- Pulled off the Westbrook deal (2021) โ backfired
- Rebuilt midseason (2023) โ reached Western Conference Finals
- Landed Luka Donฤiฤ in a blockbuster (2025) โ playoff flop
With tradable veteran contracts (Vanderbilt, Vincent, Kleber) and two future first-round picks, the Lakers do have tools. But Shaqโs point remains: the wrong move could burn this coreโs final shot.
Will LeBron Even Return?
In the same night Shaq dropped his harsh truth, LeBron himself fueled retirement rumors, telling reporters:
โI have a lot to think aboutโฆ Iโll sit down with Savannah and my family and see what happens.โ
If LeBron walks, it changes everything. If he stays, Pelinka must build a title-caliber team around two superstars with major defensive questions and limited time left.
The Bottom Line
Shaqโs message is blunt: get used to this.
A team stuck in the middle, too expensive to rebuild, not deep enough to win.
But if Pelinkaโs past proves anything, itโs this โ when the walls close in, he swings big.
Whether he hits or misses this time will decide if Shaqโs warning becomes prophecyโฆ or just another hot take.
