LOS ANGELES — General manager Rob Pelinka indicated that the Los Angeles Lakers will lean on their dominant March performance when reshaping the roster around All-NBA guard Luka Doncic this summer.
Speaking after Los Angeles was ousted in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, Pelinka said the club’s 16-2 run in March showed the type of lineup head coach JJ Redick wants to deploy.
“That March stretch was a powerful and strong data point, a proof of concept,” Pelinka said at Crypto.com Arena. “To go 16-2 and play as well as any team in the league during that span will be part of our deconstruction as we retrofit things around our primary pieces.”
Cap space and limited commitments
Only six Lakers players hold guaranteed contracts for 2026-27, leaving the front office with one of the league’s largest salary-cap cushions. Pelinka acknowledged the rare flexibility and pointed to deadline addition Luke Kennard and forward Rui Hachimura as examples of the shooting that sparked the late-season surge.
The Lakers maintained momentum despite late injuries to Doncic and guard Austin Reaves, ultimately winning a first-round series without their leading scorer.
Western Conference landscape
Pelinka and his staff must also gauge how their ceiling compares to the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, who are meeting in the Western Conference Finals. If Los Angeles views itself as a tier below those contenders at full strength, more aggressive moves could follow.
Decision on LeBron James
Another pivotal offseason variable is LeBron James. The four-time MVP, an unrestricted free agent, could enter his 24th NBA season at age 42. League sources say James wants the Lakers to outline both his prospective salary and the club’s broader spending plan before he commits to a new deal.
The Lakers now turn to an offseason that begins with an open checkbook and a recent winning formula they believe can be replicated.
Source: Lakers Nation
