The Lakers’ offseason has been a success.
An overwhelming success? No, that would be a bridge too far.
Especially when factoring in the holes remaining on their roster seven weeks before training camp starts and some of the details with certain decisions.
But considering what the Lakers’ goals and options were entering the summer, and what they have been able to accomplish with rebuilding the roster around franchise superstar guard Luka Doncic over the last 1 ½ months, the Lakers have delivered an offseason they should be proud of.
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, on Monday, March 23, 2026. (Getty Images North America) Getty Images
Key Offseason Moves for Lakers
Los Angeles brought back 28-year-old homegrown star Austin Reaves on a lucrative longterm contract (four years, $180 million) that’ll keep Reaves signed to the Lakers for what should be the prime of his career.
The Lakers filled their biggest need by landing Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade with the Jazz to pair the 7-foot-2, 245-pound big man alongside Doncic and Reaves, and ending a multiyear saga of attempting to bring Kessler to Los Angeles.
Quentin Grimes (four years, $60 million), Sandro Mamukelashvili (four years, $52 million) and Collin Sexton (two years, $19 million) were complementary additions.
Ziaire Williams (one year, $2.8 million) and Matisse Thybulle (one year, $3.3 million) were signings made to address the Lakers’ need for wings while clearly also having the upside to outperform their veteran’s minimum deals.
Cameron Carr (first round draft pick), Kevon Looney (one year, $3.9 million) and Jaden Hardy (acquired from the Wizards) could factor into the Lakers’ rotation for 2026-27 to varying degrees.
The Lakers addressed their biggest needs.
They got younger and more athletic. They improved their collective perimeter defense while also adding more bench scoring.
These moves came at a cost, though.
Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the first half of the Emirates NBA Cup game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on Friday, October 31, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Jazz 118-96. (Getty Images North America) Getty Images
Lakers Roster Gets Shake-Up
LeBron James is no longer a Laker after eight seasons with the franchise, leaving for the 76ers as a free agent.
Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Luke Kennard are also no longer on the roster, and were among the eight players that ended last season with the Lakers who won’t return for 2026-27.
The Lakers lost one of their best players in James. They lost their best defender from 2025-26 in Smart. They lost a player in Ayton who could’ve been a strong reserve center behind Kessler. They lost one of the league’s best 3-point accuracy shooting pairings in Hachimura and Kennard.
A lot of experience and proven production have left the building.
And it was – and will be – worth it.
Because the Lakers chose a direction, firmly establishing themselves in the Doncic era by surrounding him with a better-fitting roster.
A roster with a foundation of room for growth and improvement, rather than year-to-year retooling and rentals.
And they aren’t done yet despite the significant roster reconstruction.
Quentin Grimes of the New York Knicks takes a shot in warmups before the start of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at the Kaseya Center on Friday, May 12, 2023, in Miami. (FR NY POST) Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
LA Not Done in Free Agency
The Lakers remain interested in Jonathan Kuminga, the unrestricted free agent forward whose free agency has stalled out over the last few weeks. Kuminga would address the Lakers’ last big need, which is a wing/forward who could be a credible starter.
They could also add another big man to back up Kessler.
Neither move would be likely to close the gap between the Lakers and the top two teams in the Western Conference (Spurs and Thunder).
At the minimum, they’ll need to drop one player from their roster by the start of the regular season to be compliant with the league’s rules.
But even without another significant addition, president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka has built a roster that made this offseason successful.
Was the price for Kessler steep? Yes, but the two first-round pick swaps the Lakers sent the Jazz shouldn’t convey. And the pair of unprotected first-round picks were in line with Kessler’s market before he became a restricted free agent.
As for his pay: Kessler’s $30.1 million salary for 2026-27 will make him either the 10th- or 11th-highest paid center in the league next season – in line for a player with All-Defensive upside.
Similar could be said for Reaves, who could’ve signed a more lucrative contract with another team.
The criticisms for the long-term nature of the deals for Grimes and Mamukelashvili are fair. But that’s also the prime for locking up good players – players the Lakers believe in – for what could be the prime of their careers.
And despite the outside noise, the Lakers will still have ways to make moves beyond this summer to improve the roster.
The Lakers weren’t realistically going to be able to make enough moves this summer to become upper-tier NBA title contenders.
But their present and future appears brighter than it did when their 2025-26 season ended.
Which is why the last three months have been a success.
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