Pre-Draft Outlook
The Lakers posted back-to-back 50-win seasons for the first time in 15 years, but their 2026 playoff run was doomed by an injury to Luka Dončić and a West Semis matchup with OKC that ended in a sweep. L.A. enters the offseason with only two of its top 10 scorers under contract for next season. The Lakers have a plethora of free agents and plenty of questions to answer this summer, from the potential return of LeBron James to a new deal for Austin Reaves, should he decline his player option and become an unrestricted free agent. With Dončić set to begin the first year of his three-year extension, how will the Lakers construct their roster around the league’s top scorer?
The Way to Go
The Lakers hold only one pick in this year’s draft, No. 25 overall, which they can use to add a young player to develop on a rookie deal, or potentially package in a move to add a more established talent. L.A. can target additional frontcourt help (a pick-and-roll partner with Dončić who can also protect the rim) or perimeter shooting (catch-and-shoot threats ready to take advantage of Dončić’s gravity). Multiple mock drafts have the Lakers pointed toward the frontcourt, with players such as Chris Cenac Jr., Malachi Moreno and Henri Veesaar in this range.
— Brian Martin
Under Contract
G: Adou Thiero
G: Bronny James
F-G: Luka Dončić
F: Dalton Knecht
F: Jake LaRavia
F: Jarred Vanderbilt
Free Agents
G: Austin Reaves
G: Luke Kennard
G: Marcus Smart
G: Nick Smith Jr.
F: Rui Hachimura
F: LeBron James
F: Maxi Kleber
C/F: Jaxson Hayes
C: Deandre Ayton