Shaquille O’Neal isn’t sugarcoating the Lakers’ situation — and he’s 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 — but it was Shaq who delivered the coldest truth.
“They have two of the top-name players on their team, but let’s just keep it real — they’re not good enough.”
Shaq, a Lakers legend with three rings in purple and gold, didn’t stop there. He doubled down on his belief that this isn’t a one-year issue — it’s the start of a longer drought.
“They’re gonna be like this for a while. They’re not gonna make any moves this summer. Gotta pay two guys $50 million and up… So get used to this.”
The Cap Is Heavy — And So Is the Pressure
Shaq’s pessimism centers around LeBron James and Luka Dončić, who command superstar salaries (LeBron: $52.6M option, Luka: max extension eligible). With so much tied up in two players — both defensive liabilities in the postseason — the margin for error is razor thin.
L.A.’s 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 103–96 loss that sealed the 4–1 series collapse
Even with LeBron’s 22-7-6 line and Luka’s near triple-double (28-9-7), the team simply wasn’t built to compete inside.
Is Shaq Wrong About Pelinka?
O’Neal believes the Lakers won’t make moves — but history says Rob Pelinka isn’t afraid to act. Just in the last few years:
- Traded for Anthony Davis (2019) → won a title
- Pulled off the Westbrook deal (2021) → backfired
- Rebuilt midseason (2023) → reached Western Conference Finals
- Landed Luka Dončić in a blockbuster (2025) → playoff flop
With tradable veteran contracts (Vanderbilt, Vincent, Kleber) and two future first-round picks, the Lakers do have tools. But Shaq’s point remains: the wrong move could burn this core’s final shot.
Will LeBron Even Return?
In the same night Shaq dropped his harsh truth, LeBron himself fueled retirement rumors, telling reporters:
“I have a lot to think about… I’ll sit down with Savannah and my family and see what happens.”
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
Shaq’s message is blunt: get used to this.
A team stuck in the middle, too expensive to rebuild, not deep enough to win.
But if Pelinka’s past proves anything, it’s this — when the walls close in, he swings big.
Whether he hits or misses this time will decide if Shaq’s warning becomes prophecy… or just another hot take.