The Lakers enter the 2026-27 season looking almost nothing like the team that won 53 games a year ago. LeBron James is gone. So are Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, and Jaxson Hayes. In their place stands a roster that was, in the span of about 48 hours after James informed the front office he wouldn’t be back, completely rebuilt around one player: Luka Doncic.
This is Doncic’s third season in Los Angeles, but his first as the unquestioned face of the franchise from day one. Everything the front office did this summer — every trade chip spent, every contract signed — was built around answering a single question: what does Doncic need to get this team back to the Finals for the first time since the 2020 bubble title?
The Kessler Trade Changes Everything
The headline move was the sign-and-trade for Utah center Walker Kessler, a deal that cost the Lakers two unprotected future first-round picks and pick swaps, plus a four-year contract. It’s a steep price, but it addresses the single biggest hole in this roster for two straight seasons: a rim-running, rim-protecting big man who can finish Doncic’s lobs and anchor the defense. Head coach JJ Redick has been explicit that improved defense and interior presence were non-negotiable this offseason, and Kessler is the direct answer to that.
Reaves Gets Paid, Stays Put
Keeping Austin Reaves was the other pillar of the offseason. He re-signed on the largest contract in NBA history for a player who went undrafted, and he’ll continue operating as the second half of the Lakers’ offensive engine — running actions himself when Doncic sits, and playing off him as a scorer and connector when they share the floor.
What the Roster Looks Like Now
The projected starting five is Doncic, Reaves, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Kessler — a group built for spacing and size around the two ball-dominant guards. Off the bench, Collin Sexton gives the second unit a scorer who doesn’t need Doncic on the floor to create offense, while Kevon Looney and Jarred Vanderbilt add experience and versatility up front. Bronny James, Adou Thiero, and Cameron Carr represent the developmental pieces the organization is building around its new core.
The Big Question
On paper, this roster is deeper and more complementary than last year’s. But it’s also almost entirely new, with a new starting five that has never played a meaningful minute together. Chemistry, not talent, may be the deciding factor in whether the Lakers are a true title contender in the loaded Western Conference or a team that needs a full season to figure out who it is.
Either way, LakersBeat will be here all year breaking down every game, every trend, and every storyline as this new-look team finds its footing. Welcome to the Luka Doncic era.