As the NBA landscape shifts ahead of the 2025-26 season, all eyes are on the Los Angeles Lakers and their bold moves—both confirmed and rumored. The Lakers, a franchise steeped in history and expectation, are predicted to notch 50 wins in the upcoming campaign, mirroring their record from last season. But after a disappointing first-round playoff exit, the question remains: can this retooled roster finally push the purple and gold back into true championship contention?
NBA analyst Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report projects the Lakers will finish the regular season at 50-32, a mark that would once again place them among the Western Conference elite. Bailey writes, "The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t make a lot of changes to their 50-win team this offseason, but the individual upgrade from Jaxson Hayes to Deandre Ayton is significant (regardless of what you might think about Ayton as a player)." That sentiment echoes throughout the Lakers fanbase, which is eager to see how the new additions will mesh with the established core.
This season’s Lakers roster is headlined by a mix of veteran star power and rising talent. Luka Dončić, the Slovenian superstar, is now the face of the franchise after signing a contract extension well before the summer’s end. As Bailey puts it, "Signing Luka Dončić to an extension long before the summer ended should instill a sense of stability throughout the organization. The Slovenian playmaker is clearly the face of the franchise going forward. And while that may ruffle the feathers of 40-year-old LeBron James, it’s the right move." Still, LeBron James, entering his 40s but refusing to fade, remains a vital part of the team's identity, both on and off the court.
Joining Dončić and James in the projected starting lineup are Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton. Reaves continues to develop into a reliable two-way threat, while Hachimura brings versatility and energy to the forward spot. The addition of Ayton, formerly of the Phoenix Suns, is perhaps the most scrutinized move of the Lakers’ offseason. Ayton, along with fellow newcomers Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia, was actively recruited—Dončić played a pivotal role in bringing Ayton and Smart to Los Angeles, while Reaves helped secure LaRavia’s arrival.
Marcus Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year, is expected to bolster the Lakers’ perimeter defense and provide veteran leadership. Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes return to offer depth and rebounding, rounding out a roster that, on paper, looks deeper and more balanced than last year’s squad. However, the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith, who signed with the Houston Rockets on the first day of free agency, leaves a defensive gap on the wing that the Lakers hope their new additions can fill.
Second-year head coach JJ Redick faces the task of blending these pieces into a cohesive unit. Redick is expected to start Dončić, Reaves, Hachimura, James, and Ayton—a lineup that combines scoring punch, playmaking, and defensive potential. The Lakers’ approach this offseason was less about wholesale change and more about targeted upgrades. As Bailey notes, "As L.A. spends the next few years looking for talent that fits its younger generational talent, those two, Ayton and Austin Reaves should allow the team to compete at a high level now."
Despite the optimism, the Lakers are not the odds-on favorites to win it all. As of August 17, 2025, they hold the sixth-best preseason odds for the 2026 NBA championship, trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves. That’s a crowded field, and the Lakers’ path to another title is anything but guaranteed. The franchise’s last championship came in 2020, when they triumphed over James’ former team, the Miami Heat, in the NBA Finals at the Walt Disney World bubble. Since then, postseason heartbreak has been the recurring theme, including last season’s early exit at the hands of the Timberwolves.
One storyline that’s finally been put to rest—for now—is the persistent rumor mill linking Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler to Los Angeles. For much of the past year, speculation swirled about the Lakers’ interest in acquiring Kessler, a defensive anchor who re-established his value with the Jazz. But the arrival of Ayton has effectively silenced those whispers. As reported on August 17, 2025, "rumors linking Utah Jazz player Walker Kessler to the Los Angeles Lakers have died down." The Jazz, for their part, have little incentive to trade Kessler, especially given their existing draft assets from previous deals with the Lakers.
The Jazz are expected to reward Kessler with a significant contract extension by 2025, cementing his place in Utah’s future plans. The logic behind the Lakers’ pursuit of Kessler was always shaky. Any trade would have diminished the value of the 2027 draft pick Los Angeles owes Utah, not to mention the uncertainty of whether any Lakers asset could match Kessler’s impact. As one source bluntly put it, "The Lakers' attempts to acquire Kessler have been considered unlikely and annoying rumors." With Ayton in the fold, those rumors have faded—though some suggest they could resurface if Ayton proves to be a one-year rental.
While the Lakers’ front office has been busy, their rivals across the league have also been making moves. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets, both loaded with young talent and draft capital, are expected to be formidable opponents. The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers are building on recent playoff success, while the Timberwolves remain a thorn in Los Angeles’ side after last season’s upset. It’s a Western Conference that’s as deep and unpredictable as ever.
The Lakers’ fortunes this season may hinge on how well their new core gels. Dončić’s leadership and playmaking will be under the microscope, particularly as he steps into the franchise’s spotlight. LeBron James, ever the competitor, will be aiming to prove he can still deliver in high-stakes moments. Ayton and Smart bring fresh energy and defensive grit, but must adapt quickly to Redick’s system and the pressure cooker that is Los Angeles basketball.
For Lakers fans, hope springs eternal. The blend of established stars and promising newcomers has reignited dreams of another title run. Yet, as the season approaches, the real test lies ahead—can this group overcome recent playoff disappointments and restore the Lakers’ place atop the NBA hierarchy?
As training camp looms and the preseason buzz intensifies, the Lakers stand at a crossroads. Their path is filled with potential and peril, but one thing’s certain: the basketball world will be watching every step of the way.
