The end of the LeBron James era has brought a major overhaul to the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster, centered on Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
The Lakers made their biggest move by acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz, giving them the rim-protecting center they had sought for years. They also added Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Kevon Looney, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, and Jaden Hardy as they reshaped much of their supporting cast.
It has been an aggressive effort to build a deeper, younger, and more versatile group around Dončić and Reaves. But with the bulk of their offseason work complete, the question now becomes whether the Lakers have another move coming before the 2026-27 season begins.
Lakers Championship Odds
The Los Angeles Lakers are listed at +2,500 to win the 2026-27 NBA championship, according to Ballislife’s latest championship-futures update. Those odds mean a $100 winning wager would return $2,500 in profit, plus the original stake, though the line will move as roster news, injuries, and market action change, and that’s before promotions listed by ballislife.com.
These odds place the Lakers behind early favorites Oklahoma City and San Antonio, while putting Los Angeles in the same general range as other established contenders such as the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. Championship futures are long-term bets, so the Lakers’ price should be treated as a current market snapshot rather than a projection set in stone.
Is Another Major Move Likely?
The Lakers should never be fully ruled out when a major player becomes available, but it appears unlikely that they will make another franchise-altering move after failing to land Jonathan Kuminga before opening night.
Kessler was their defining acquisition of the summer. Los Angeles paid a significant price to land him, sending Utah unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 along with first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030. The Lakers viewed Kessler as a long-term answer at center next to Dončić, and the deal represented a substantial commitment to their new core.
That does not mean the Lakers will stop monitoring the market. They are one of the NBA’s most closely watched teams, and major names will inevitably be connected to Los Angeles whenever trade speculation picks up. But “big name plus Lakers rumor” is often more useful for generating attention than predicting an actual transaction.
The Lakers do not have meaningful cap space for another conventional free-agent signing. They have already used their room mid-level exception on Sexton, meaning their remaining free-agent options are largely limited to minimum-salary contracts unless they create flexibility through a trade. Current projections place them around the luxury-tax line, rather than dramatically above it, and their precise tax position can still change with incentives, roster charges, and future transactions.
For now, any additional move before training camp is more likely to be a smaller signing, a camp competition addition, or a low-cost depth move rather than another blockbuster.
What the Lakers Still Need
The Lakers substantially improved their defense by bringing in Kessler, one of the league’s better young rim protectors. His presence should help cover the perimeter for a group led by Dončić and Reaves, neither of whom is known primarily for defense.
Los Angeles also has more shooting and ball-handling than it did last season. Grimes offers floor spacing and two-way potential on the wing, Sexton brings scoring and downhill pressure in the backcourt, and Mamukelashvili provides frontcourt shooting. Hardy gives the Lakers another younger guard who could develop into a useful secondary creator.
However, there are still reasonable questions about the roster.
The Lakers have veteran coverage behind Kessler with Looney, while Mamukelashvili can also play center in certain lineups. Still, the team could benefit from another big man who provides more size, mobility, or defensive versatility, depending on the matchup. Looney offers experience and rebounding, but the Lakers may eventually want a different kind of backup frontcourt option against opponents with more athletic or physical big men.
Wing depth also remains an area worth monitoring. Thybulle gives the Lakers a legitimate defensive-minded wing, while Grimes and Williams add different skill sets on the perimeter. But the Lakers could still use another player capable of guarding bigger forwards, rebounding, making open shots, and handling the physical demands of a playoff series against elite Western Conference opponents.
The Lakers’ most obvious needs are therefore not necessarily star-level needs. They are more likely to be matchup-driven needs: another versatile frontcourt defender, a bigger wing, or an inexpensive playmaker who can keep the offense organized when Dončić or Reaves sits.
Why December Matters
The Lakers’ trade flexibility will expand in December, although that does not mean a deal is guaranteed to follow.
Most players who sign as free agents during the offseason cannot be traded until December 15. That restriction applies to much of the Lakers’ new group, including Kessler, Grimes, Sexton, Mamukelashvili, Looney, Thybulle, and Williams. Once those players become trade-eligible, Los Angeles will have more options for potential deals if a worthwhile opportunity emerges.
That timing is important because the Lakers will also have more information about their team by then. They will know how Kessler fits alongside Dončić and Reaves, whether Sexton and Hardy can provide enough secondary creation, how much Thybulle improves their wing defense, and whether their frontcourt has enough size and versatility for the opponents they are likely to face in the postseason.
The Lakers are not overflowing with premium draft capital after using two unprotected first-round picks and two swaps in the Kessler trade. Still, they have movable contracts, younger players, and future second-round picks acquired from Washington in the Deandre Ayton trade. That gives them at least some ability to explore upgrades if the right player becomes available.
The Lakers Need Time to Evaluate
The Lakers have changed too much to make definitive conclusions before they play meaningful games together.
Dončić and Reaves remain the offensive foundation, but Kessler, Grimes, Sexton, Mamukelashvili, Looney, Thybulle, Williams, and Hardy will all need to establish roles around them. The team should be better equipped to protect the rim, add perimeter shooting, and generate offense beyond its two leading stars, but those improvements will need time to translate into a functioning rotation.
Health will also be central to the Lakers’ plans. An extended absence for Dončić, Reaves, or Kessler would place immediate pressure on a newly constructed roster. Injuries elsewhere could also quickly expose a shortage at a particular position, especially in the frontcourt or on the wing.
Absent that type of development, Los Angeles is likely to use the first part of the season to evaluate its new group rather than rush into another major transaction.
What a Midseason Move Could Look Like
If the Lakers pursue an upgrade during the season, the most logical target profile would be a veteran power forward or versatile big who can defend larger forwards, rebound, provide physicality and complement Mamukelashvili’s shooting.
They could also look for a two-way wing with enough size to defend top scorers or a secondary ball-handler who can reduce the workload on Dončić and Reaves.
Specific names will depend on which teams fall out of contention, who actually becomes available, and how the Lakers’ new players perform during the first two months of the season. For now, the Kessler trade appears to have been the Lakers’ last major summer move.
The front office has done the heavy lifting in reshaping the roster. The next step is to allow this group to develop chemistry, identify where it falls short, and decide whether a targeted midseason move can push the Lakers closer to the top of the Western Conference.
