The Lakers enter the 2026-27 season with a completely remade roster built around Luka Doncic after an offseason of sweeping change. The franchise was sold again, LeBron James was traded to Philadelphia, and the front office let Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes depart while retaining Austin Reaves and adding seven veteran players.
The centerpiece acquisition was Walker Kessler, obtained from Utah for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 plus pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. Kessler ranked in the 95th percentile or higher in block rate and the 73rd percentile or higher in foul rate over his first three seasons, but durability is a concern after he played just 63 games over the past two years. He also lacks the lob-threat dimension that typically thrives alongside Doncic.
Offensively, the Doncic-Reaves pairing was elite when sharing the floor, posting a 120.3 offensive rating and plus-9.1 net rating while ranking in the 96th percentile in halfcourt efficiency. However, the offense plummeted to a minus-1.5 net rating and 57th-percentile offensive rating with Reaves on and Doncic off, highlighting a need for Reaves to elevate the second unit.
Defensively, both Doncic and Reaves are considered subpar at their positions, leaving projected starters Quentin Grimes and Jake LaRavia to handle the toughest perimeter assignments. Coach JJ Redick is viewed as a strong game planner, but the team's defensive ceiling may hinge on whether Kessler can anchor a unit that lacks perimeter stopping power, a dynamic that doomed Utah's Rudy Gobert-centered defenses in the postseason.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
English (US)·