The Los Angeles Lakers underwent significant changes this offseason to retool their roster around Luka Doncic. They got rid of LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, Luke Kennard, Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber, and Nick Smith Jr. to create the cap space to fit the pieces around number 77. The Lakers got younger and more athletic, but some fans are questioning the moves. Let’s not forget why they did it.
Los Angeles wanted to build a consistent winner around Luka. That meant cutting ties with a 41-year-old LeBron after he won them a playoff series. They needed shooting, athleticism, and defense around the superstar in his prime. The Lakers had to make bold moves to accomplish that. They paid handsomely to sign-and-trade for Walker Kessler. LA gave four-year deals to Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili. This was all to maximize Doncic now and long-term.
The Lakers have nine new players on guaranteed contracts entering training camp, and all of them should succeed in Los Angeles. Fans should be excited about the new-look roster, and here is one reason each new player should thrive wearing purple and gold.
Jaden Hardy gives the Lakers a needed shooter
Hardy is a career 38.6 percent 3-point shooter, who spent his first two and a half seasons playing with Luka Doncic in Dallas. The 6’3 guard’s defensive struggles have limited him to 14.9 minutes per game for his career, but Hardy isn’t afraid to fire away. He averages 8.6 3-point attempts per 36 minutes, which is significantly more than Kennard’s 6.7.
Last season, the Lakers had just five players shoot over 37 percent from long range, and only Rui Hachimura took more than 3.0 attempts per game. Hardy shoots 3.6 a night for his career in under 15 minutes. The Lakers will need his shooting, and the 24-year-old will happily fire away.
Kevon Looney has championship experience
Loon won three championships with the Golden State Warriors and is the only player on the new-look roster with a ring. The 6’9 big man played a crucial role in winning two of those titles. He knows exactly what it takes, and the Lakers will need his leadership.
Looney’s production has steadily declined. He struggled to crack the New Orleans Pelicans' rotation last season, and the 30-year-old’s best playing days may be behind him. Los Angeles could use a veteran presence, and they will lean on him when things get tough. Loon has seen it all in the NBA and will be important even when he’s glued to the bench.
Matisse Thybulle is an elite defender
There are questions about the Lakers' defense, but they signed an elite defender on a minimum contract this summer. Thybulle made second-team All-Defense twice and rated eighth in the NBA by Defensive EPM last season. He created 2.0 steals per game in just 16.0 minutes per night. The 6'5 wing can wreak havoc with his defense and will be a needed game-changer for LA.
There are questions. Thybulle has played just 45 games in the last two seasons combined, and he’s played more than 23 minutes per contest just once in seven NBA seasons. The Lakers can’t expect too much, but the 6’5 wing will offer elite defense when he’s on the floor. Los Angeles certainly needs it.
Ziaire Williams is the athletic wing Luka Doncic maximizes
Williams has shown flashes in his first five NBA seasons, but the excitement has been more about his potential instead of his production so far. The 6’9 wing could be a plus defender, scorer, and versatile threat, but he needs to put it all together. That is where Luka comes in.
Doncic maximized several wings during his time in Dallas, including making PJ Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. key parts of a team that reached the NBA Finals. Washington was known as an offensive-first player in Charlotte, and DJJ was a defense-first option. Both became 3-and-D forwards on the Mavericks.
Luka will do the same for Ziaire. Expect the 6’9 forward to lock in defensively and make more plays thanks to Doncic’s basketball IQ. Williams will get wide-open looks from number 77 to improve his 3-point percentage too. The Don will bring the best out of the 25-year-old.
Cameron Carr is a plus shooter with size
The rookie shot 37.4 percent from 3-point range last season at Baylor and showed a strong offensive game at summer league. The Lakers traded up to draft the 21-year-old, and Luka's success maximizing athletic wings will help here too.
Los Angeles hopes to turn Carr into a starting 3-and-D wing, but the rookie needs time to develop. Even in year one, he should be a plus floor spacer that shows bursts of potential. He will be competing for minutes on the wing. Expect a few memorable nights as Luka keeps creating him open looks.
Collin Sexton gives Lakers a needed shot creator
The Lakers were light on shot creators behind their three stars last season. With LeBron James gone, the front office tried to put more versatility around Doncic and Reaves. Sexton is a bucket-getting sixth man capable of playing on or off the ball.
The purple and gold will need the veteran guard whenever one of the stars is out. Mamu and Grimes can do some ball-handling, but Sexton will need to be the lead creator in some units. This is his first chance to show what he can do on a contender. The 27-year-old should be motivated and provide some needed ball-handling and shot creation.
Sandro Mamukelashvili is a bucket
The Lakers made a four-year, $52 million bet on Mamu after a breakout season with the Toronto Raptors. The 6’9 big man shot 38.9 percent from 3-point range and showcased some unique scoring and playmaking chops. LA clearly thinks that was just the beginning.
Mamukelashvili is elite in transition and keeps improving. He will efficiently get buckets and should be even better playing off Luka. Giving Doncic a stretch big man who wants to run should result in elite offense. Lakers fans will quickly fall in love with Mamu.
Quentin Grimes offers upside on both ends of the floor
Grimes was an elite perimeter defender in 2023 when he started for the New York Knicks. He had a 28-game sample to close the 2024-25 season where he averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 33.7 minutes per game for the Philadelphia 76ers. The 6’4 wing has shown flashes of being a difference-maker on both ends of the floor, and the Lakers hope he can put it all together in the opportunity he has waited years for.
Los Angeles agreed to a four-year, $60 million contract with Grimes. The Lakers will be his fifth team in four years. He has struggled to find a home, a consistent role, and a team that fully believed in him. Grimes has all of those things now.
He is thrust into being the Lakers' perimeter defensive stopper. Expect him to excel on the defensive end and offer a versatile offensive game that pops with the additional floor spacing created by Luka and AR.
Walker Kessler gives the Lakers an elite rim protector
Doncic has been asking for a rim-protecting big man since he arrived in Los Angeles. The Lakers finally fulfilled that wish this summer. They gave up two first-round draft picks and two swaps to land Kessler, along with paying him $129.4 million over the next four years. This big bet will pay off thanks to Luka.
Doncic will get him more involved in the offense. Kessler was an elite defender in Utah, but few noticed because the Jazz were tanking. Expect the 7’2 big man to catch more lobs in LA, and the Lakers will encourage him to expand his shooting range. His offensive game is exciting, but the best thing will be Kessler’s elite rim protection.
Teams don’t want to challenge Kessler in the paint. He will be in the running for All-Defense as he anchors a surprisingly above-average D. The 25-year-old is special and will finally have the stage to let everyone know in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Lakers added plenty of talent that fits around Luka Doncic this summer. Fans should be excited entering training camp. Every player has a chance to stand out in their new home. This is Luka’s team. He needs the right role players to win it all. The Lakers think they have them, and every newcomer should thrive in LA.
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