Everything was at stake for the Los Angeles Lakers, but as free agency started Monday, the organization seemed stuck in neutral — if not moving backward in reverse.
In no way would the Lakers be more talented in 2026, not when LeBron James and his representatives informed Los Angeles’ front office and the rest of the league he would be playing a 24th season for, essentially, anyone but the team he just spent eight seasons with. They weren’t going to be more physical on the perimeter, where Marcus Smart was always willing to punch first because “the toughest team sets the rules,” as he frequently said.
The Lakers weren’t going to have the same kind of “if he shoots it, it’s going in” threat from 3 after Luke Kennard signed with the Phoenix Suns.
And again — they were losing LeBron James.
But though the Lakers’ fanbase winced, the franchise pushed forward with its plan — one more grounded in reality than people outside the organization could’ve imagined … even if day one was a total dud.
“We weren’t surprised,” one team source told The Athletic, granted anonymity to freely discuss the Lakers’ offseason moves.
Even if it appeared otherwise, the Lakers had a strategy — albeit a tricky one — but a strategy nonetheless. Its results spewed from a transactional firehose Tuesday morning.
Top 5 LeBron Lakers Moments
The first (and most pivotal example) was a blockbuster trade for 24-year-old rim protector Walker Kessler — the Lakers’ summer centerpiece, figuratively and literally. Long-expected deals for Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton materialized over the ensuing days.
In total, the Lakers committed over $262 million in contracts for players with a combined 81 career playoff points scored. James has scored more than 100 times more postseason points by himself. The team, according to league sources who were granted anonymity to freely discuss the Lakers’ offseason moves, is still seeking a young wing to help its perimeter defense. A high-upside swing receiving significant consideration, per league sources, is former Golden State Warrior and Atlanta Hawk Jonathan Kuminga, whose $24.3 million team option was recently declined by Atlanta.
In Kessler’s case, it took the Lakers offering their two available unprotected first-round picks and two swaps to push the Utah Jazz off matching Kessler’s offer sheet, something the latter swore up and down they were more than happy to do.
Still, there were optimistic people in and around the organization because these moves were carefully made with Luka Dončić in mind.
There was truly only one decision to make, and it was made for them early in the morning Feb. 2, 2025, when they traded for Dončić. The lessons the Lakers should have — and seemed to have — learned since then are simple: The only viable path to an NBA championship in this era is by allocating all resources around the best player.
It starts with Kessler, a player Dončić wanted at center most of all. The future first-rounders lost will certainly come back to sting the Lakers at some point. In addition to representing young, cost-controlled talent, those picks were also pathways out of unforeseen trouble — assets they can use to get off a bad contract or to upgrade a weakness. The Lakers sacrificed that flexibility for a player they believe fits “perfectly” alongside Dončić and Austin Reaves, a team source told The Athletic.
The biggest draw is Kessler’s rim protection — which charts as close to the best in the league. Finding a center whom the Lakers can funnel players toward was a critical piece of their puzzle, and they now have one of the best. Since being drafted 22nd in 2022, Kessler ranks seventh among all players with 474 blocks. In the last two seasons, only Kessler, Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Davis have averaged at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and multiple blocks. The Lakers, who finished 22nd among teams in blocks per game each of the last two seasons, haven’t ranked top 10 in rejections since the 2021-22 season (seventh), according to NBA.com
The next stop for LeBron should be…
David Aldridge, Joe Vardon and more
Grimes will be slotted in as a point-of-attack defender with plenty of offensive game, a bet on him as a two-way talent. Team and league sources have long known JJ Redick to be a fan of Grimes, who was a priority target this summer.
Mamukelashvili is a gifted offensive player the Lakers think will slot nicely next to Kessler, per a team source. A Toronto Raptors source, granted anonymity because the deal isn’t official, pointed to Mamukelashvili’s floor spacing (he shot 38.9 percent last season with a quick lefty release) as a strength. He also has some positive decision-making traits that pop in his highlight reels.
Sexton, a 2018 lottery pick, is a gifted scorer who has always been a little too turnover prone. He’s certainly capable as a bucket-getter on the nights when neither Dončić nor Reaves has it going.
Luka Re-Writing Lakers History
James Jackson
None of the Lakers’ newly added players is older than Sexton — who will turn just 28 in January. Getting players who align with Reaves and Dončić’s timeline was a large part of Los Angeles’ plan, according to team sources.
The Lakers have made their moves, having used their assets on Kessler and cap space on long-term deals for Grimes, Mamukelashvili and Sexton. All three got player options. So did Reaves, for that matter.
The Lakers have carried out their plan with conviction.
Now, they just have to hope it works.