Lakers Eye Roster Upgrades Around Doncic as Reaves, LeBron Decisions Loom
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The Los Angeles Lakers are planning significant roster changes after concluding that their current group is not strong enough to challenge the NBA’s elite, team and league sources told The Athletic.
Despite a 16-2 surge late in the 2025-26 regular season, club officials do not see “running it back” in 2026-27 as realistic. Internally, the consensus is that the team needs additional firepower even if Luka Doncic had been healthy for the second-round loss to Oklahoma City.
Key targets: center, wings, secondary playmaker
The front office intends to add an elite lob-threat center, more two-way wings and a secondary ball-handler to complement Doncic. When Los Angeles acquired the Slovenian guard, executives promised to build a roster equal to or better than the 2024 Mavericks club that reached the NBA Finals.
Doncic wants Reaves to stay
Austin Reaves is viewed as the ideal secondary creator, and sources said Doncic has informed team officials he opposes including Reaves in any trade package for Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Keeping Reaves while landing another star will be difficult because the Lakers have limited high-end trade assets.
Reaves enters free agency this summer, and rival executives predict his next deal could approach $40 million annually. The Bulls and Nets are the only teams projected to have that level of cap space; clubs such as the Jazz and Hawks would need to shed salary or arrange a sign-and-trade.
LeBron’s future and cap outlook
LeBron James served as the third star this season. Both sides have “mutual interest” in extending the partnership for at least one more year, according to The Athletic. Should James depart, the Lakers could open roughly $50 million in space, assuming Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart exercise player options and before accounting for potential new deals for Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura.
If the team stays over the cap, executives believe real improvement is still possible via trades that could involve this year’s No. 25 overall pick and first-round selections in 2031 and 2033.
Injury update and national-team decision
Further evaluation in Spain revealed Doncic’s injured hamstring was more severe than the Grade 2 strain initially diagnosed in Dallas. He is now pain-free and is not expected to face major offseason limitations. On Monday, Doncic announced he will skip Slovenian national-team duty this summer to focus on gaining joint custody of his daughters.
Other offseason notes
- The Lakers will explore Antetokounmpo trade scenarios, though some within the organization are wary of the cost.
- The franchise is moving its G League affiliate from Los Angeles to Coachella Valley, a relocation that led to multiple business-staff layoffs but is expected to boost revenue earmarked for scouting and medical upgrades. The move means NBA and G League players will no longer practice in the same facility.
The Lakers enter the offseason armed with limited draft capital, high-priced stars and ambitions of surrounding Doncic with a championship-caliber cast. Decisions on Reaves and James are expected to shape the club’s next round of moves.
Source: Hoops Rumors
