Copyright Lake Show Life
With the 2025-26 regular season just over the horizon, defense is being rewarded with rookie-scale extensions. Christian Braun, Dyson Daniels, and Keegan Murray have all been paid handsomely by their respective teams, with each contract reflecting the increasing value of high-level defenders. In the process, the Los Angeles Lakers have been reminded of an unfortunate truth: They don't have a young defender worth extending. Los Angeles deserves credit for placing a greater emphasis on defense during the 2025 offseason. It brought in former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart in hopes of changing the culture, with versatile 3-and-D wing Jake LaRavia aspiring to contribute favorable minutes, as well. There's also optimism that center Deandre Ayton can rediscover the defensive form he displayed when he helped the Phoenix Suns reach the 2021 NBA Finals. Unfortunately, Los Angeles has yet to unearth an up-and-coming talent comparable to Braun, Daniels, or Murray on the defensive end of the floor. It's an unfortunate result of their well-documented discarding of draft picks in favor of players who can provide immediate value. Perhaps LaRavia will change the narrative in 2025-26, but as it stands, the Lakers lack the type of young defensive ace that's become so clearly coveted in the modern NBA. Everyone is extending their young defensive aces, but Lakers lack one Braun is perhaps the best example of the type of player the Lakers need, but currently lack. He's made his name with the Denver Nuggets by stepping into a high-demand role on defense while balancing increasing defensive responsibilities. Braun often matches up against rival teams' best backcourt scorers and even flexes to the 3 when the situation demands it. For his efforts, Braun has been rewarded with a five-year, $125 million contract extension that will begin in 2026-27. Daniels, the reigning Most Improved Player and a 2024-25 finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, secured a matching annual salary with a four-year, $100 million extension. The difference between Braun and Daniels is that the Nuggets drafted their defensive ace—at No. 21 overall—meaning they benefited from years of rookie-scale pay for a starting-caliber player. Regardless of how they were acquired, the bottom line is that Braun and Daniels provide immeasurable value to their respective teams. They're not only willing defenders, but eager to take on the challenge of slowing down top-tier scorers and playmakers. The Lakers, which are likely to pay offensive specialist Austin Reaves even more money per season than what Braun and Daniels received, haven't yet found their comparable player. Lakers desperately need a two-way player who can be the defensive ace Braun, Daniels, and Murray are just the latest in a long line of two-way players with high-level or even elite defensive proficiency to be rewarded by their respective teams. The Oklahoma City Thunder epitomized the value of such players with 26-year-old Luguentz Dort starting and playing a pivotal role during the team's run to a championship. For the Lakers, there are potential resolutions to be found in optimistic thinking, but a shift in priorities amongst the front office's decision-makers needs to be embraced. LaRavia is an intriguing two-way player who has proven to be competitive on defense and capable of excelling as both a floor spacer and a playmaker. He's been praised en masse for his potential and could very well prove to be the cost-efficient talent the Lakers will one day extend. Unfortunately, context rears its head in the form of LaRavis battling injuries throughout the early stages of his career—thus painting a picture all too familiar to Jarred Vanderbilt's post-extension injury woes. Vanderbilt is another player who could soften the blow of the Lakers' lack of high-level two-way players as a tremendous defender in his own right. He's appeared in just 65 games over the past two seasons, however, and hasn't exactly turned heads with his offensive play during his NBA career. There are avenues to erasing the Lakers' inability to keep up with the growing trend of needing a high-level two-way player with youth on their side, but at this stage, the rush of extensions is a harrowing reminder of their roster's limitations.
