The Los Angeles Lakers have moved forward with the Luka Doncic era, spending the summer reconstructing the roster around the point guard.
The Lakers’ options opened up after veteran LeBron James told the franchise he wasn’t going to return to the team and test free agency.
The Lakers knew acquiring a talented center to complement Doncic on the roster would’ve needed to be a priority this summer.
Doncic had reportedly requested an “A-List” center, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Deandre Ayton spent the past season as the primary player at the position and decided to pick up his player option for the upcoming season. After the Lakers made some of their offseason moves, Ayton was traded to the Washington Wizards.
The former No. 1 overall pick averaged 12.5 points and eight rebounds in 72 games for Los Angeles this past season.While most of the Lakers’ roster was reshuffled, the team did manage to re-sign Austin Reaves, who has continued to come into his own for Los Angeles after originally going undrafted.
Here’s how the Lakers did during free agency:
Austin Reaves, guard
There was always a level of certainty that both sides would try and make things work to stay together.
Reaves did deal with some injuries this past season that limited him to just 51 total games played (45 starts), but he did show when healthy that he can be a solid No. 2 option alongside Doncic in Los Angeles.
He managed to get off to a fast start, scoring 51 points in his third game of the season (vs. Sacramento Kings) before following up with a 41-point game (vs. Portland Trail Blazers) the following night.
It will be up to Reaves and the Lakers to try and make sure he can improve on the defensive side of the ball as well, but he does have some physical limitations by NBA standards.
He signed a four-year deal worth $184.7 million.
Grade: A-
Walker Kessler signed a four-year, $130 million deal with the Lakers, but it’s what else the Lakers needed to give up that prevents the move from having a higher grade.
In order to secure the big man, the team acquired the rights to Kessler from the Utah Jazz for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030. Kessler will sign a massive four-year, $130 million deal with the Lakers.
Grade: B-
Sexton provides depth at guard and a potential scoring threat off the bench.
It’s likely that he will have the opportunity to make multiple starts for the team during the upcoming season, considering Doncic and Reaves both missed time throughout parts of last season.
He signed a two-year deal worth $19.2 million.
Grade: B
Grimes agreed to a four-year deal worth $60 million. That will place high expectations on the guard, which some pundits already think the Lakers overpaid for.
Grimes started 19 of the 75 games he played in last season, averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 29.4 minutes per game.
Grade: C
Mamukelashvili has the ability to play both forward and center in the NBA. He started 13 of the 80 games he played in, averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 21.9 minutes per game for the Toronto Raptors last season. He finished 10th in the Sixth Man of the Year award voting.
Mamukelashvili is being viewed by some pundits as Rui Hachimura’s replacement. While there might be some size and statistical comparisons, Hachimura started 41 games for the Lakers last season.
Mamukelashvili agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal.
Grade: B
Looney agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million minimum contract with the Lakers after spending the past year in New Orleans.
Looney adds depth to the bench as a player who can serve as a forward or a center. He averaged 2.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game last season.
He will add championship experience to the roster, having spent the first decade of his career with the Golden State Warriors. He played in all 82 games in back-to-back seasons from 2021-2023.
Grade: C+
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did Lakers lose or win free agency? Grading massive roster overhaul.
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