The Los Angeles Lakers’ busy summer only earned them the No. 24 spot in The Athletic’s annual NBA offseason rankings, compiled by veteran reporter David Aldridge.
Key moves on the court
• Aug. 2, 2025 – El Segundo, Calif. Superstar guard Luka Doncic signed a three-year maximum contract extension that keeps him under team control through the 2027-28 season.
• Los Angeles addressed its need at center by adding Deandre Ayton in free agency.
• Former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart and second-year wing Jake LaRavia were brought in to bolster perimeter defense.
Front-office shake-up
Off the court, the Buss family agreed to sell the franchise to Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter, ending decades of family stewardship. Aldridge wrote that while Walter’s financial resources are significant, Major League Baseball’s lack of a salary cap makes his impact there more noticeable than it may be in the NBA.
Why No. 24?
Aldridge cited several questions behind the ranking: whether Ayton can rebound from stints in Phoenix and Portland, how much Smart has left in the tank, and the loss of forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who played a key role last season. Even so, advanced metrics still rate Smart as one of the league’s better defensive guards, and Ayton’s success could determine how the summer is ultimately judged.
Looking ahead
Assistant coach Greg St. Jean said he is eager to see Doncic and LeBron James share a full training camp, believing extended time together will sharpen the team’s chemistry heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
The Lakers open training camp next month.
Source: Lakers Nation
