2026-27 will be as important of a season as the Los Angeles Lakers have faced in quite some time. The franchise has fully transitioned to the Luka Doncic era, and has drained their flexibility to do so. That puts a ton of pressure on the guys presently in the building.
The new roster in Los Angeles will need to deliver. Among them, there are four individuals who should be expected to face a heavier burden than the rest.
Bronny James
Let's start with the player in the headline: Bronny James. This one is simple. There are many still out there who do not believe the young Lakers guard is an NBA-caliber player. Some will still argue that his roster spot is being wasted.
The Lakers clearly believe in Bronny to a fair degree. They did not budge to move him in the wake of LeBron James' departure from the team. On a cheap $2.3 million deal, why would they?
The problem for Bronny is that 2027-28 has him on a team option for the franchise. If the Lakers wanted to close the chapter on his time in Los Angeles, they could do so worry-free next summer. That turns this 2026-27 campaign into one where James needs to reassure the organization of his continued growth as a player.
Bronny would only cost the Lakers around $2.5 million to keep around for 2027-28. Even so, they could just as easily use that money and roster spot for a vet minimum player. That puts pressure on him to make his case.
Austin Reaves
Speaking of money, Austin Reaves got a ton of it this summer. $185 million guaranteed is coming his way over the next four years.
With that type of payday, expectations on Reaves to deliver as a bona fide star are higher than ever. The talented guard will need to showcase his ability to be the second option that Doncic needs during his prime years with the Lakers.
That includes needing to display excellent regular season production, improved postseason play, and the ability to be healthy when it matters most. Otherwise, Reaves' contract could start to look ugly.
Walker Kessler
Walker Kessler is here for very similar reasons as to why Reaves is, and then some. On top of the $129.5 million contract that Kessler received, the Lakers also surrendered multiple unprotected picks and pick swaps to acquire their new starting center.
It was a fair gamble, one built on paying up for the player Los Angeles thinks he can be with Doncic. Luka has certainly done a lot for bigs far less talented than Kessler.
All the same, the new Lakers center carries the price tag of an All-Star. Hovering at or around that level will be what Los Angeles expects of their freshly-signed big man in 2026-27.
Collin Sexton
The Lakers could have given Marcus Smart the money they ultimately decided to use on Collin Sexton instead. That comes with a great deal of expectations for Sexton.
Smart was everything the Lakers needed on the defensive perimeter last season. It was a brilliant individual campaign on that side of the basketball court, resembling something akin to his better years as a member of the Boston Celtics.
Despite that, the Lakers opted for the two-way balance of Sexton's game. Smart's age was also said to be a factor in that decision.
On top of replacing the defensive star, Sexton will also be under pressure to prove he can contribute to a team with playoff and championship aspirations. That is something the veteran guard has never done through his eight-year career in the NBA.
If Sexton falls short of what the Lakers are looking for, his $19.2 million deal sure does look tradeable.
Add us as a preferred source on Google