Los Angeles Lakers Championship Contenders: Can They Win It All?
The Los Angeles Lakers finished with a 53-29 record in 2025-26, but their roster underwent a significant transformation this offseason. The team still has their franchise cornerstone, Luka Doncic, and brought back Austin Reaves on a four-year, $184 million contract. However, the departure of LeBron James and many others caused a complete overhaul of the roster.
What Happened?
The Lakers' president of basketball operations, Rob Pelinka, went out and acquired Walker Kessler, a player who has been linked to the team since they traded for Doncic. Kessler is the perfect fit next to playmakers like Doncic and Reaves, who both love to get their big men involved in the pick-and-roll. Although Kessler's season was cut short due to a torn labrum, he averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in five appearances.
Why It Matters for Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers' projected starting lineup consists of Doncic, Reaves, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Kessler, which is good but not up to par with the top teams in the West. The Oklahoma City Thunder's lineup of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein is certainly better and has more experience playing with each other. The San Antonio Spurs' lineup of De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, and Victor Wembanyama is also superior.
What Comes Next?
The Lakers will have to beat at least one of the Thunder or Spurs to make the Finals, which is a difficult task. However, they are not the only teams they have to worry about. The Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Houston Rockets are also in their path. The Lakers have almost a brand-new team, so it will take time for them to mesh and learn how to play together.
Recent Form
The Lakers have lost their last five games, with their most recent loss being a 110-115 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on 2026-05-12. This recent form suggests that the team still needs to work on their chemistry and cohesion.
Conclusion
The Los Angeles Lakers are not yet in the contender tier, but with a healthy Doncic in the playoffs, anything can happen. This is more of a developmental season, as the players need time to learn how to play together. The team has the talent to compete with the best, but it will take time for them to gel and become a cohesive unit.
