The Lakers are walking into 2026-27 with Luka Dončić holding the keys, a rebuilt rotation around him and no LeBron James on the roster for the first time since 2017-18. Los Angeles won 53 games last season, finished fourth in the West and reached the conference semifinals, but an offseason with major turnover has given coach JJ Redick a new set of lineup questions before the opener.
Dončić enters his first full season in Los Angeles as the unquestioned centerpiece. He powered the Lakers to 53-29 last year, claimed the second scoring crown of his career and landed on the All-NBA First Team. The challenge now is pushing a remade group beyond a postseason run that ended in a four-game sweep by Oklahoma City in the West semifinals.
A new frontcourt and more guards around Dončić
Los Angeles retained Austin Reaves, reportedly on a maximum contract, then reshaped much of the supporting cast. Walker Kessler and Sandro Mamukelashvili arrive to reinforce the interior after Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes departed. Veteran center Kevon Looney is also among the incoming pieces.
The Lakers added several options for the perimeter rotation as well: Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Jaden Hardy, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Cameron Carr. The backcourt additions follow the exits of Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart.
Smart’s defensive presence will be difficult to replace, but the Lakers have clearly targeted speed, shooting and younger legs around Dončić. They ranked 22nd in pace and 23rd in made 3-pointers last season, two areas this roster construction could address if the new pieces settle quickly.
That settling process will be urgent. Only eight players are back from last season’s team, and that returning group accounted for just 42 percent of the Lakers’ regular-season minutes. It is the NBA’s lowest continuity rate by a considerable margin. Los Angeles moved on from seven of the 12 players who logged at least 500 minutes, while its eight veteran arrivals came from eight separate organizations.
Reaves steps into a larger share of the offense
With James gone, Reaves moves into a clear No. 2 role beside Dončić. The 28-year-old set career highs last season with 23.3 points per game, 12 games of at least 30 points and three 40-point performances.
Reaves has raised his scoring average in each of his five NBA seasons since entering the league undrafted in 2021. His 23.3-point average was the best by an undrafted player since Moses Malone in 1985-86.
The Dončić-Reaves partnership already produced high-end results. They combined to average 56.8 points per game, the league’s top scoring duo last season, and the Lakers posted a 30-11 record when both were available. In 532 minutes with Dončić and Reaves on the court without James, Los Angeles outscored opponents by 10.1 points per 100 possessions.
That pairing gives Redick a dependable starting point, but the daily rotation remains open. Kessler and Mamukelashvili must find a workable fit in the frontcourt, while Grimes, Sexton and Hardy will be competing for touches and minutes in a crowded perimeter group.
Preseason begins against Sacramento
The Lakers’ first preseason game is set for Oct. 5 against the Kings. It will be Redick’s first chance to test the combinations around his two stars, establish the center rotation and sort through a bench that has been almost entirely rebuilt.
The regular-season spotlight arrives quickly. Los Angeles opens its featured schedule with a home matchup against Stephen Curry and the Warriors on Oct. 21, the second night of the 2026-27 season.
Dates to circle on the Lakers calendar
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Oct. 21, Warriors at Lakers: Dončić and Curry headline an early look at the rebuilt Los Angeles group.
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Nov. 27, Lakers at Spurs: Los Angeles visits Victor Wembanyama and the defending Western Conference champion Spurs on the final night of Emirates NBA Cup group play.
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Dec. 25, 76ers at Lakers: James returns to Crypto.com Arena with Philadelphia for his first game against the Lakers after eight seasons in Los Angeles.
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Jan. 26, Thunder at Lakers: The Lakers get their first meeting with Oklahoma City since last season’s playoff sweep, with Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander matching up after finishing as the league’s top two scorers a year ago.
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Feb. 28, Lakers at Mavericks: Dončić makes his late-season return to Dallas, another visit to his former home that will carry obvious weight.
The Lakers have their star, an established No. 2 scorer and a roster designed to play with more athleticism and offensive variety. Whether that is enough to withstand the loss of James will depend on how fast the new faces learn Redick’s system and how much of the load Dončić and Reaves can carry from opening week onward.
