An incredibly important offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers begins in less than one week. It starts with the first round of the NBA Draft on Tuesday, June 23, and continues into free agency, beginning on June 30. The task is both simple to explain and difficult to execute: build a championship roster around superstar Luka Doncic.
The Lakers have long touted cap space in the summer of 2026 as their means of making significant upgrades to the roster. They now have to fulfill that promise to Doncic. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, he has made clear to L.A. what he needs their top priority to be:
While the 27-year-old Doncic is preparing for another season squarely in his prime, he has made one roster preference clear to Pelinka and Redick, sources said.
It’s the same one he made in the days after he first arrived in Los Angeles 16 months ago.
“Luka’s first and foremost desire is an A-list center,” the source said.
Doncic’s wants have not changed since he was first traded to the Lakers. It’s why they immediately turned around and traded for Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets, before eventually backing out due to injury concerns. Not trading for Williams turned out to be a decent decision, but it has left them without a true starting caliber big.
Deandre Ayton performed well in a stopgap role in 2025-26, but it’s hard to imagine him as the center of the future next to Doncic. Jaxson Hayes is a quality backup who has played serviceably in that role for years with the Lakers.
Getting an A-list center is easier said than done, of course, and mostly because there simply aren’t that many in the league, and even fewer of them are available. Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz and Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons qualify, but they are restricted free agents.
Some other trade options include Jarrett Allen of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Isaiah Hartenstein of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but it’s unknown yet if those guys are actually available, and if there’s a deal to be made with L.A. The best available unrestricted free agent center is New York Knicks champion Mitchell Robinson, but he may not qualify as an A-list guy.
Luka Doncic healthy for offseason
The Lakers star missed the end of the regular season and entire playoffs with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. He was unable to return in time, but was reportedly cleared for basketball activity on May 28 and is a full go for the offseason.
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