LOS ANGELES (AP) — JJ Redick already knows he will start preparations for the Los Angeles Lakers next season as the coach watches his team’s decline in the first round series against Minnesota Timberwolves.

"I'm going to start the offseason and be in the championship form during the offseason," said Wolves, the day after beating the Lakers 103-96 in Los Angeles.

"We have a roster approach," Redick added in a press conference with general manager Rob Pelinka. "Of course, some people are in amazing shape. Of course there are others who could have performed better. That's where my ideas develop immediately, we have to be in the championship form."

Redick didn't mention any players, but Luka Doncic believes the lack of attention to conditioning and weight-keeping is widely reported, one of the best young scorers for the NBA for Dallas general manager Nico Harrison was transferred to Anthony Davis.

Redick probably isn't saying his comment was shot at Doncic, as the pair have been teammates with the Mavericks at the end of Redick's career since 2 1/2 months. Doncic praised Redick on Wednesday night after the Lakers season.

"I think he's a coach's hell," Doncic said. "I'm really happy I've been coaching over the past few months. Sometimes it feels like I'm going back to Europe a little bit, so I love it. We have a great bond. It's amazing for him as a coach."

Redick clearly believes fitness is a problem that the Lakers can't perform in the fourth quarter of Minnesota. The Wolves surpassed Los Angeles 127-85 in the final stage of the first round, surpassing the Lakers and winning the last three games in three straight games.

Redick was helpless in Game 4 when he refused to replace the replacement in the second half, watching the Wolf crossed the tired player over his help with the decision of several lucky referees. But Redick believes the Lakers' overall results are fair, trying to compete for the championship despite the Lakers' championship and despite their huge mid-season deals - a gambling that rarely pays off immediately in NBA history.

“We lost to a better team,” Redick said. "That's just reality. We did."

The Lakers will have more time than they expected to prepare for the first whole season in the Doncic roster. Pelinka made it clear that the Lakers also expect to have at least another season with LeBron James, even if the highest scorer in NBA history said Wednesday that he will take time to decide whether to return to a record-breaking season 23.

"LeBron James and Luca Doncic's confidence level in Austin Reaves is still at an all-time high," Pelinka said. "I think these three guys have incredible hopes to play together. Together we will do better work to make sure they are surrounded by the right work for ultimate success."

Pelinka repeatedly mentions that Reaves, along with the two superstars, are the backbone of the Lakers' current roster, which may be good news for Reaves. The previously undrafted free agent plays a major role and is one of the Lakers' most valuable assets as they look for deals to improve the roster, but both Pelinka and Redick emphasize the value of Reaves as a player rather than a trade chip.

Pelinka still intends to add a lot to the Lakers in the offseason, and during the offseason he predicts a wide range of sports in the league.

The top center on Pelinka’s shopping list is a huge weakness in the series, especially when Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert was allowed to dominate Game 5, while Redick replaced Jaxson Hayes on the bench to create more offenses. Pelinka went to the Charlotte Center Mark Williams for the deadline, which only allowed the Lakers to cancel the deal after a medical check.

"I think when you trade your starting center as a point guard when you're doing a huge trade on the deadline, that's going to create a big problem with the lineup, and we're seeing some of that work," Pelinka said.

Pelinka also said that the Lakers need another wingback and external shooting will always be necessary. He plans to specialize in shaping the lineup to complement Don Cic and 40-year-old James, whose games remain world-class.

"I think LeBron has high expectations for the roster and we will do everything we can to meet those rosters," Pelinka said. "But I also know that whatever it is, he still gives him 110% of people every night."

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