The sun has risen on another day, and with every sleep, we become one step closer to the 2026-27 NBA season.
Everyone is excited to see their favorite players return to the floor, and few are more amped than the Los Angeles Lakers.
It’s finally time to enter a new era after LeBron James led the team for the last eight years. The four-time MVP brought a ring to the city in 2020, and when the Lakers acquired Luka Dončić via trade in February 2025, they tasked him with the same responsibility.
Now in his prime, the 27-year-old has been surrounded by his best supporting cast thanks to general manager Rob Pelinka’s moves, which improved many weaknesses of last season’s 53-win team.
The new-look Lakers hope to climb into a premier standing in the Western Conference.
Lakers’ Biggest Offseason Loss: LeBron James
Change is inevitable in the NBA, and the Lakers experienced one of the league’s biggest differences when LeBron joined the Philadelphia 76ers on July 24th.
LeBron averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 51.5% from the field last year. Besides James’ production, his leadership was invaluable to the locker room. Many of the players were sad to see the king leave, including Dončić, the heir to his throne.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Luka shared details of their conversation surrounding LeBron’s departure from Los Angeles.
Lakers Biggest Offseason Addition: Walker Kessler and Quentin Grimes
While Dončić is sad to see his favorite player leave, he’s expressed excitement about what’s to come. The press wanted Dončić’s powerful opinion on his new teammates during the 2026 media day, and he’s clearly ready to hit the hardwood.
The entire fanbase is enthusiastic about defensive star Walker Kessler’s arrival. At 7-foot-2, the 25-year-old is exactly what this Lakers roster needed.
He is one of the league’s best defenders, and his offense is underrated. Kessler’s career field goal percentage is an impressive 68%.
Another key addition for the Lakers is Quentin Grimes, who will shoulder an important role on offense this season. The pair will form a beneficial two-way duo for the starting lineup.
Walker will provide much-needed rim protection, while Grimes defends the perimeter.
Both are perfect for L.A. long-term, and Grimes has already made an impact. Although the NBA preseason is seen as trivial, Quentin has been applying defensive pressure and showing off his repertoire with a few buckets.
Lakers’ Best-Case Scenario Outcome
These two players are reasons why the Lakers should finish this season as a top-three seed. The Lakers must have home-court advantage heading into the 2027 postseason.
This roster should at least make the second round. Once they hit the semifinals, it’s free game.
After beating one of the bottom seeds, the bracket will have them against the winner of the 2-7 matchup. That means they’ll have to face the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder to reach the 2027 Western Conference Finals.
Both teams are interchangeable as the top two seeds. They will only improve from their historic Western Conference Finals last postseason. If the Lakers eliminate either team, it will really boost their championship hopes. It’s truly their best-case scenario since, in this scenario, they’ll have to face both powerhouses regardless.
Lakers Worst-Case Scenario Outcome
Other than their competition, the only thing stopping the Lakers is health.
Multiple players dealt with injuries last season, including Dončić, Reaves, and Kessler. Their impact is vital to a successful season. The trio has missed significant time when hurt.
Recently, Dončić experienced pain during the team’s preseason opener.
He’s been relatively healthy throughout his career, so there shouldn’t be much concern. The same isn’t true for Kessler. Injuries limited his availability in his last two years with the Utah Jazz, and he played only five games last season before suffering a season-ending torn labrum.
If the Lakers lose his defense, their championship hopes will crumble along with their new center. This roster without Kessler down low or their star backcourt could finish around 34-48 in this stacked Western Conference.
Lakers’ Biggest Question Heading Into 2026-27 Season
How good is Austin Reaves really?
The 28-year-old signed a well-deserved $180 million extension with the Lakers. With a bigger paycheck comes a bigger role. If he is going to be the long-term co-star for a future Hall of Famer, he must solidify All-Star status.
In their illustrious 80-year history, the Lakers have never won a championship with a single All-Star. It’s almost impossible in today’s NBA. Reaves has played well these last two seasons, but playing alongside Dončić in the All-Star game will validate Austin’s place as a co-star.
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