The Los Angeles Lakers' roster overhaul has left them with one of the worst contract situations in the NBA, according to a new analysis. This financial bind comes even as the team shows signs of life on the court.
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report ranked the Lakers' contract outlook as the fourth-worst in the league. He pointed to the massive financial commitments to Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler as the core issue. The team went all-in this past summer, giving Reaves a near-maximum four-year deal and trading their remaining draft capital to the Utah Jazz for Kessler.
That trade drained the Lakers' assets. They now have just one first-round pick swap available and only three second-round selections to offer, with two of those not coming until 2031. It leaves the front office with very few tools to improve the roster through trades.
With limited draft picks and heavy money tied to a few players, the Lakers' path to upgrading is narrow. They need the Dončić-Reaves-Kessler trio to perform at an elite level to justify the investment. Any significant roster shakeup would be incredibly difficult to execute under these constraints.
Following a second-round playoff sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Lakers completely retooled. They will have three new starters when next season begins, and the bench looks dramatically different. The goal was clear: build a contender around their star core.
But the cost was high. Pincus notes the financial structure now looks "bleak." The team's flexibility is almost gone. Success hinges entirely on the current group's health and performance, with little safety net for injuries or underperformance.
Their playoff series with Houston highlighted their volatility. After winning 107-98 on April 19 and 101-94 on April 22, they dropped two of the next three before the decisive Game 6 win. Consistency remains a challenge they must solve with the roster they have.
