The Los Angeles Lakers have retooled again, adding size, grit, and a mix of championship experience this offseason. The arrival of Luka Dončić, DeAndre Ayton, and Marcus Smart has reignited expectations. Still, the path to the 2026 NBA Championship is lined with competition from teams that have been just as busy improving their rosters. For Lakers fans, the question is whether this squad has enough talent and whether it can stay healthy and cohesive long enough to navigate the toughest Western Conference race in years.
To that end, it is no surprise that bookmakers have been reevaluating the Lakers’ chances since Dončić’s blockbuster move to Los Angeles was confirmed. According to BetNow sports betting, the Lakers are listed at +1600 to win the 2026 NBA Championship, putting them in the mix but trailing teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder (+250), Houston Rockets (+900), and Denver Nuggets (+800). Those numbers reflect optimism about what the Lakers could be and doubts about how quickly these new pieces can gel. Let’s focus on the optimism first.
What the Lakers Did Right This Summer
Any successful Lakers team in the modern era begins with two things: a superstar core and role players who fit around them. By bringing in Dončić, the Lakers paired one of the league’s most versatile offensive engines with LeBron James, creating a unique dual-playmaker setup that can stretch defences to breaking point. Dončić’s ability to control tempo, exploit mismatches, and hit from deep gives the Lakers a late-game weapon they did not have last season.
The addition of Ayton provides a genuine two-way big man who can run the floor, protect the rim, and score efficiently in the post. In a Western Conference packed with dominant frontcourt players, having Ayton alongside Anthony Davis should make the Lakers more resistant to being bullied in the paint. Ayton’s presence also allows Davis to pick his spots defensively, conserving energy for the moments that matter most.
Smart, meanwhile, brings the kind of defensive identity that head coach JJ Redick has spoken openly about wanting to establish. His ability to guard multiple positions, disrupt passing lanes, and lead vocally in the locker room could be the glue that holds this new roster together.
The Anthony Davis Factor
If the Lakers are going to push past the Nuggets, Rockets, and other contenders, Anthony Davis has to be the best version of himself. That means anchoring the defense and being aggressive offensively from day one. Davis’s tendency to drift to the perimeter has been criticised. Still, with Ayton in the mix, he may find more freedom to operate inside without the constant physical toll of guarding the most significant body on the floor.
Smart’s arrival should also help Davis. With another elite defender in the lineup, Davis will not have to cover for every mistake on the perimeter. That reduction in workload could keep him fresher and healthier deeper into the season, which is a priority given his injury history. If Davis can play 70-plus games and maintain his defensive dominance, the Lakers’ ceiling rises significantly.
The Competition Is Brutal
The BetNow sports betting NBA Championship markets have the Thunder as the measuring stick in the West, with their +250 odds underlining the challenge of toppling the reigning champions. Fresh off their first title since the franchise’s Seattle SuperSonics days, Oklahoma City’s core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren gives them elite two-way balance while their depth and chemistry remain unmatched in a conference full of moving parts.
While the preseason will reveal more, the Nuggets remain firmly in the championship conversation. Nikola Jokic is still playing at an MVP level as the front office adds complementary size and shooting. Their continuity is a significant edge against teams still building cohesion, and their half-court execution travels in playoff series.
The Rockets have also become a genuine threat. A combination of shrewd trades and internal development has turned them into a squad capable of winning. In particular, their young core is athletic and fearless, and the bench can score in bunches. Their summer upgrades addressed fundamental weaknesses, which is why the futures market has pushed them ahead of the Lakers.
Even teams outside those three cannot be ignored. The Warriors still have Stephen Curry and a system built for high-stakes games. The Timberwolves pair Anthony Edwards with defensive anchor Rudy Gobert in a high-ceiling roster that just returned to the Western Conference Finals. The Mavericks have pivoted around Kyrie Irving and No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. They added D’Angelo Russell to stabilize the backcourt while Irving recovers. The reality is that every week in the West will feel like a playoff series.
The Trade and Flexibility Factor
The Lakers have kept multiple expiring contracts on the books, allowing them to make in-season moves if the roster needs fine-tuning. Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber are the most obvious trade pieces, and their salaries could be combined to bring in a quality rotation player without jeopardising future cap space.
Rumours have linked the Lakers to names like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Dillon Brooks, and Malik Monk. Each would bring a different skill set, whether it is Caldwell-Pope’s proven three-and-D reliability, Brooks’ elite perimeter defence, or Monk’s instant offence and familiarity with LeBron’s game. While none of these moves are guaranteed, the fact that the Lakers have options speaks to the front office’s long-term planning.
Luka Doncic’s Integration
Doncic is the linchpin of this season’s plan. He is used to being the sole orchestrator, but playing alongside LeBron will naturally require adjustments. Both are ball-dominant, but their skill sets can complement rather than clash if managed correctly. Expect more off-ball action from Doncic, particularly in sets where Smart initiates and LeBron acts as a screener to free Luka for catch-and-shoot opportunities.
Defensively, it’s worth saying that Doncic’s effort has been questioned in the past, but with Smart and Davis covering for him, he can focus on staying disciplined and avoiding foul trouble. The bottom line is that the Lakers do not need him to be a stopper; they need him to be engaged enough to prevent breakdowns.
Bronny James and the Backcourt Picture
While the headline names dominate the conversation, one of the most intriguing subplots is the development of Bronny James. Taken 55th overall in the 2024 draft, Bronny showed flashes of poise and decision-making in Summer League that hint at a steady backup role in the rotation. He is not expected to be a primary scorer. Still, his defensive instincts, passing vision, and ability to space the floor could give Redick the flexibility to rest Smart or stagger minutes for LeBron and Dončić without losing structure.
Nate McMillan, part of the Lakers’ player development team, has already said he expects a more physical Bronny to get minutes this season. That alone should generate buzz, but the bigger picture is that the Lakers are building backcourt depth that can hold up in a long playoff run.
Why the West Could Come Down to Matchups
In a competitive conference, matchups will matter more than raw win totals. Against the Thunder, the Lakers must find a way to slow down Gilgeous-Alexander while keeping Holmgren from dictating the paint.
When facing Denver head-on, the Lakers must find a way to disrupt Jokic without overcommitting and leaving shooters free.
Likewise, against Houston, they will need to keep pace with a high-octane offence while controlling the glass.
As is always the case against Golden State, they must survive stretches where Curry catches fire.
This is where Redick’s coaching will be tested. His ability to make in-game adjustments, deploy the right defensive schemes, and manage rotations could be the difference between a deep run and an early exit.
The LeBron Question
LeBron James is 40 years old and remains an outlier in production and conditioning, but the Lakers must manage his minutes carefully. The goal is to have him peak in April, not January. That means trusting Dončić and Davis to carry more load early in the season. If the Lakers can keep LeBron fresh, his leadership and playmaking in crunch time will still be as valuable as ever.
What Needs to Happen for a Championship Run
For the Lakers to close the gap on the Thunder, Nuggets, and Rockets, several things must align. Davis must stay healthy and dominate defensively. Dončić must integrate smoothly without sacrificing his own efficiency. Ayton has to embrace a role that might not feature him as the first or second option but still demands high energy every night. Smart must set the tone defensively and keep the locker room locked in.
Role players must also hit shots, particularly in playoff games where half-court execution becomes critical. Players like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Jarred Vanderbilt can tilt a series if they produce consistently.
Ultimately, the Lakers are not the favorites but have a pathway. The roster is deeper, more versatile, and built to withstand the physicality of postseason basketball. Whether that is enough to outlast the best in the West will depend on health, chemistry, and the ability to win challenging games on the road.
For now, the odds at Betnow sports betting see them as a contender but not a frontrunner. That might be the sweet spot, a team with enough talent to win it all and just enough doubt to keep them hungry.
