The Los Angeles Lakers are running out of answers at the worst possible time.
After a Game 5 loss exposed growing concerns about their rotation and depth, one Lakers insider believes the team may need to consider a surprising adjustment heading into Game 6.
It’s not a move many expected — and it involves Bronny James.
The idea, floated by Jovan Buha, comes as the Lakers search for solutions following a performance that raised new questions about their bench production and overall lineup balance.
“I thought it was interesting that they took Bronny out of the rotation,” Buha said on his Buha’s Block podcast after the Lakers’ 99-93 loss on Wednesday. “At this point, you need to try different things.”
Bench Struggles Put Lakers in Tough Spot
The urgency behind that suggestion is rooted in what unfolded in Game 5.
The Lakers leaned heavily on their core, with six players logging 31 or more minutes — a sign of both trust and necessity as the bench failed to deliver.
Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes combined for a minus-20 rating, underscoring the team’s difficulty sustaining production outside its top contributors.
The imbalance was even more striking when isolating the second unit.
The Lakers’ bench officially scored 26 points, but 22 came from Austin Reaves, who effectively played starter-level minutes. Without him, the rest of the bench managed just five points.
Meanwhile, Houston’s reserves — Josh Okogie, Aaron Holiday and former Laker Dorian Finney-Smith — combined for 18 points and were a plus-13, consistently winning their minutes.
“It feels like they barely have six playable guys,” Buha said.
Lakers Rotation Questions Grow After Game 5
GettyLuke Kennard of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a foul call as his struggles continued in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets.
The Lakers’ rotation decisions only magnified those concerns.
Reaves started the second half in place of Kennard, who struggled to find any rhythm. After strong showings earlier in the series, Kennard missed all four of his shot attempts and finished with just one point.
Reaves, coming off a nearly month-long layoff, showed signs of rust. He shot 4-for-16 from the field and posted a minus-5 rating across 34 minutes.
Still, he is expected to improve as he regains rhythm, particularly with a likely return to the starting lineup moving forward.
The larger issue, however, remains depth.
And that’s where Bronny enters the conversation.
Bronny James Emerges as Potential Adjustment
Before receiving a DNP in Game 5, Bronny had shown flashes in limited opportunities.
Across his previous two appearances, he averaged 5.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.0 rebound in 12.3 minutes while shooting 57.1% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.
His on-ball pressure also provided a defensive element that has been inconsistent elsewhere in the rotation.
Buha pointed to that stretch as a reason to at least consider revisiting the idea.
“I’m not saying it’s going to swing a game,” Buha said. “But based on how he played in those Houston games, can you find him a shift?”
Buha acknowledged that veterans like LaRavia and Vanderbilt remain ahead in the rotation hierarchy, but suggested the current struggles may force a reevaluation.
“I don’t think you can afford to have spots seven through nine in your rotation combine for just 25 minutes,” he added.
Game 6 Could Force Lakers’ Hand
The Lakers now face a defining moment.
Stick with a shortened rotation that has struggled to produce — or explore alternatives in search of balance.
Reaves’ second-half promotion may already signal one adjustment.
Whether Los Angeles is willing to go further — including revisiting Bronny’s role — could determine how long its season continues.
At this stage, as Buha noted, the solution may not be obvious.
But doing nothing may no longer be an option.
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