The Los Angeles Lakers are in the spotlight as the NBA gears up for the 2025-26 season, with a fresh roster, big-name additions, and significant organizational changes setting the stage for a championship run. This summer, the Lakers made aggressive moves to retool their squad around Luka Dončić and LeBron James, most notably bringing in Marcus Smart and DeAndre Ayton and other strategic signings.
These maneuvers have shifted the vibes around the franchise and, crucially, the team’s odds of claiming the 2026 NBA Championship.
Championship Odds: The Shift After a Bold Offseason
At the close of the 2024-25 season, sportsbooks and analysts pegged the Lakers in the second tier of Western Conference contenders. Opening lines for the 2026 NBA championship had them at around +1600, reflecting lingering uncertainty about their direction and staying power in a conference currently dominated by rising powers like the Oklahoma City Thunder. Significant moves, particularly the acquisition of former No. 1 pick DeAndre Ayton and defensive stalwart Marcus Smart, changed sentiment on betting markets almost overnight.
The Lakers have already seen their odds grow shorter, with a list of offshore sportsbooks this offseason. The initial impact of signing Ayton saw their title shot shorten from +1600 to +1400, reflecting growing public and oddsmaker confidence in the new-look roster. Other betting sites have listed the Lakers at around +1400 to +1500, keeping them just behind the Thunder and Knicks but firmly entrenched among the Western Conference’s most credible threats.
Despite being below the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, and Houston Rockets on several boards, the Lakers’ movement is notable in a betting landscape that rarely sees such heavy action on teams outside the top three through early July. The upward shift in odds directly signals that oddsmakers believe the recent signings—particularly those of Ayton and Smart—address critical needs and vault the franchise into a more serious contender status.
Impact of Offseason Moves
Marcus Smart and DeAndre Ayton are the Lakers’ biggest headline grabbers this summer. Fresh off a buyout with the Washington Wizards, he brings a Defensive Player of the Year pedigree and a reputation as one of the league’s toughest perimeter defenders. His leadership, defensive tenacity, and ability to guard multiple positions give the Lakers a significant defensive boost, something they sorely missed in last year’s early playoff exit. Projected as a starter alongside Dončić, Smart’s presence should help relieve Austin Reaves and Dončić from the most challenging defensive assignments, in turn, keeping the team fresher and more effective on offense across the season. The importance of a player like Smart cannot be overstated for a team loaded with offensive talent, but that needs grit and stability on the perimeter.
DeAndre Ayton’s arrival may be even more transformative. Once a franchise cornerstone for the Phoenix Suns and later the Portland Trail Blazers, Ayton joins the Lakers on a two-year deal meant to finally solidify the center position, which has been a revolving door since the days of Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee. Ayton offers rim protection, scoring inside, and the ability to run the floor, giving Los Angeles a modern big man who can both finish lobs and hold his own in playoff switch scenarios. Early fan and analyst reaction has been positive, with many seeing Ayton’s presence as the missing piece in a team that has occasionally struggled with size when Anthony Davis was unavailable or in decline.
Following the team’s sale to Mark Walters, the Lakers re-signed key supporting players and absorbed new organizational leadership. While other moves flew under the radar, these headline additions cemented a new defensive identity and pushed the team’s floor and ceiling higher for 2026.
Luka Dončić: Contract Extension and Conditioning
Dončić’s arrival last season via a blockbuster trade instantly reversed the Lakers’ narrative. Though he faced criticism for conditioning issues late in the 2024-25 season, Dončić has spent this entire offseason recommitting to his body. Reports indicate he has dropped significantly, worked with nutritionists, and dedicated a sizeable portion of the offseason to strict diet and cardio work. Photographs from summer training—not to mention sources from both The Athletic and the Lakers organization—highlight a visibly slimmer, sharper, and more determined Dončić, with the superstar guard keeping on-court training secondary to physical transformation for the first time in his career.
The expected impact of Dončić’s improved conditioning is multifaceted. Not only should it yield greater consistency and durability across a long campaign, but it could also help on the defensive end, addressing an area where Dončić has historically struggled. The Lakers posted an 18-10 record in the 28 regular-season games that Dončić played, supporting the case that—at his best—Dončić can lift the Lakers deep into the postseason.
Off the court, Lakers management has prioritized locking Dončić into a long-term deal. Eligible to sign a four-year extension worth up to $228-229 million after August 2, this contract represents a significant commitment—and Dončić’s recent comments and recruitment of Marcus Smart show that he’s planning a multi-year run with the franchise. There is added complexity, as some reports indicate Dončić could choose a shorter three-year deal with a player option, setting himself up to re-enter free agency at the 10-year service mark and potentially sign a historically significant contract in 2028. Most insiders, however, sense a mutual desire for a long-term partnership, especially given Dončić’s public statements about bringing championships to Los Angeles and the franchise’s move to give him more control over roster decisions.
LeBron James: The Next Chapter
Amidst the star-studded turnover, LeBron James remains an anchor for the Lakers, both on the court and in the locker room. Entering his record 23rd NBA season and having just exercised his $52.6 million player option for 2025-26, James is not yet signaling a curtain call. He has returned from an MCL sprain with renewed vigor, reportedly spending considerable time in the weight room and training alongside his son, Bronny James, who is set to embark on his professional journey.
James has spoken openly about his willingness to play beyond this upcoming season, emphasizing that he wants every year left in the league to count for a championship run. The dynamic in Los Angeles is shifting—with Dončić becoming a clear organizational focal point—but James has expressed comfort in adapting to a more playmaking, secondary role. His production remains at an elite level; playing 70 games last season, he averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds, confirming he still has plenty left in the tank.
All indications are that James is closely monitoring the Lakers’ direction and might be open to playing at least another season, particularly if the team he’s helping shape is a legitimate title contender. With first full-season chemistry alongside Don?i? and new running mates like Smart and Ayton, expectations for LeBron’s 2025-26 campaign are sky-high.
Outlook for 2026
The Lakers’ path to the 2026 NBA Championship presents opportunity and challenge. Oddsmakers place them among a handful of serious contenders, with their improving odds reflecting the franchise’s storied history and the calculated risk of reshaping the core around Dončić. Internal dynamics have never been more promising: an in-shape superstar in Dončić, a rejuvenated LeBron James, a steadier defense thanks to Marcus Smart, and stability in the paint behind DeAndre Ayton.
While the Western Conference remains stacked, and rivals like the Thunder, Knicks, and Rockets will not yield ground easily, the Lakers have definitively moved up a rung in the NBA’s pecking order. If the offseason moves pay off as planned and the stars remain healthy, Los Angeles may well be positioned for another championship parade in 2026.
