The Los Angeles Lakers are building a roster with long-term championship aspirations after acquiring 26-year-old guard Luka Doncic this winter. The Lakers found themselves in a rare situation where a team willingly traded away an MVP candidate entering his prime, giving the Lakers an unexpected advantage.

Despite the Lakers emerging as clear winners in the trade, franchise legend Michael Cooper criticized the decision to acquire Doncic, citing the loss of key defenders like Max Christie and Anthony Davis. Cooper referred to Luka, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves as the “three worst defenders in the NBA,” expressing concerns about the team’s defensive stability.

“I don’t necessarily like the trade. I respect the trade. I don’t like the trade because you had [Max] Christie, a young, good perimeter defensive player. Yes, very good, and AD, that’s defense wins championships. They don’t have that now. You’ve got probably three of the worst defensive players on the Lakers team but three of the best offensive scorers on the Lakers team in Luka, Reaves and LeBron.”

“Magic Johnson was not a great one-on-one defender, but he was a hell of a double-team defender. He was always there to help. He was always there to double-team a player, but if you put him one-on-one, he couldn’t guard too many people. I mean, he can keep them in front, but they eventually go by. But for us, we use Magic as a double team. He was very good at that, so to me, that is, and again, playing defense, you have to put your heart into that, and you gotta want to play.”

It’s surprising to see Cooper voice his opinion publicly without closely following the team’s on-court performances. Although the Lakers lost Davis and Christie while only adding Doncic, the team has managed to adjust well, overcoming lineup challenges.

In February, the Lakers posted a 109.9 defensive rating, ranking fourth in the NBA, which is a significant improvement over their season-long defensive rating of 113.9. While the team initially struggled to adopt JJ Redick’s defensive philosophy, they have now been able to make the most of their defensive possessions through smart, aggressive play, avoiding the loss of a defensive anchor like Davis.

Lakers Defense Can Survive

The Lakers’ defense continues to be scrutinized, but the team is showing they can succeed without a traditional rim protector or dominant presence in the paint. LeBron James, who is often criticized for conserving his energy on defense during the regular season, has stepped up due to Doncic alleviating some of his offensive load.

Doncic struggled initially in Los Angeles but