Danny Green Weighs In on Lakers’ Playoff Outlook: ‘I Don’t Know’ Because of Youth and Experience
Former Los Angeles Lakers champion Danny Green likes the team’s offseason overhaul, but he isn’t convinced the revamped roster is ready to make a deep playoff run.
The Lakers have entered a new era following LeBron James’ departure, reshaping their roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. While the moves have added youth, athleticism and depth, Green believes those same changes could create a major postseason question mark.
Speaking about the Lakers’ new-look roster, Green admitted that he was initially unsure about the direction of the franchise. But after seeing the front office make a series of moves, his view became considerably more positive.
“I liked a lot of the pieces they picked up,” Green said. He added that he expects the Lakers to be “a pretty good regular season team”, but remains uncertain about their playoff prospects because of their youth and lack of experience.
Lakers Have Gotten Younger and Faster
Green believes the Lakers have addressed some of the weaknesses that affected them last season.
Los Angeles added Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Kevon Looney, Matisse Thybulle and Jaden Hardy, among others. The roster now has considerably more depth and athleticism.
Green specifically pointed to the team’s increased speed as a positive.
The Lakers should have more options to push the ball in transition and create offense without relying entirely on half-court possessions.
That could become particularly important around Doncic, who remains the team’s primary offensive engine.
The Playoff Experience Is the Big Question
The biggest concern is what happens when the regular season ends.
Green’s argument isn’t that the Lakers lack talent. Instead, it’s about whether a relatively inexperienced group can execute consistently when playoff defenses become more physical and every possession carries greater importance.
Several experienced players from last season are gone, including LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton.
That leaves Doncic and Reaves as the central pieces of a roster that looks significantly different from the one that reached the Western Conference semifinals last season.
Depth Could Become a Major Advantage
There is an interesting contradiction in Green’s assessment.
The Lakers may be less experienced, but they could also be deeper.
Last season, Los Angeles struggled with its rotation during the playoffs, particularly against Oklahoma City. The Thunder’s ability to use a deep rotation created problems for the Lakers, while Los Angeles leaned heavily on a smaller group of players.
The additions of Kessler, Sexton, Grimes, Looney, Thybulle and Mamukelashvili give head coach JJ Redick more options.
If those players develop chemistry during the regular season, the Lakers could enter the postseason with a much more flexible rotation.
Luka Doncic Remains the Foundation
Despite the uncertainty, the Lakers have something every contender needs: an established superstar.
Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists during the 2025-26 season and earned First-Team All-NBA honors. He will enter the new season as the clear centerpiece of the Lakers’ offense.
Austin Reaves is also coming off a strong season and remains an important part of the team’s long-term plans.
The question is whether the supporting cast can provide enough two-way consistency when the stakes rise.
Green’s Take Is More Positive Than Negative
Green’s comments shouldn’t be interpreted as a prediction that the Lakers will fail in the playoffs.
In fact, he repeatedly praised the moves the organization made and believes the roster has become younger, faster and deeper.
His concern is simply that regular-season success doesn’t automatically translate into postseason success.
For a team undergoing such a significant transition, the regular season will therefore serve another purpose beyond determining playoff seeding: it will give the Lakers time to build chemistry and allow their young additions to gain experience in their roles.
The Verdict
Danny Green’s assessment of the Lakers is essentially a wait-and-see verdict.
He likes the talent, depth and athleticism. He expects the team to be competitive during the regular season. But when it comes to the playoffs, he’s not ready to make the same commitment.
And that may be the biggest storyline surrounding the new-look Lakers.
Can a younger, faster and deeper roster replace the experience that left with LeBron James and several veteran rotation players?
The answer could determine whether the Lakers are simply a good regular-season team — or a legitimate Western Conference contender.