The Los Angeles Lakers' offseason is not quite over just yet, with moves still left to be made to get the team to 15 players. However, the framework for how they should be deploying their defense in 2026-27 should already largely be in place.
At least four of those players should be on the Lakers roster already. The fifth starter could come externally or involve an internal gamble.
The defensive anchor down low — Walker Kessler
Let us start with the most obvious part of this formula. The Lakers defense should be built around Walker Kessler and his talents as a rim protector. The new starting center in Los Angeles will be expected to carry a heavy burden at his spot.
Unlike Deandre Ayton, Kessler fully understands that defensive side of the court is his to command. The Lakers' perimeter defenders will be relying on him for clean-up duty when things break down.
Kessler has averaged 2.4 blocks per game during his four-year NBA career deterring opponents at the rim. Expect the Lakers to lean on more drop coverage in addition to some of the zone or zone-man hybrids seen from JJ Redick's team last season.
The point of attack defender — Quentin Grimes
Quentin Grimes' arrival in Los Angeles came with conversations of an expanded offensive role, but also the responsibility of matching up against opposing teams' best perimeter players. The new Lakers guard spoke to that himself.
"[I'm] taking on that challenge. ... Being a point of attack defender that I am, have been for my four or five years in the NBA," Grimes said earlier this summer.
With Marcus Smart gone, no one among the Lakers' main rotation players is better suited to the point of attack role than Grimes. The results have sometimes varied for him, but it is clear the desire to compete has always been there. Los Angeles will need that hunger to turn into effective play.
The chaser — Austin Reaves
Austin Reaves has not always been effective in isolation or at the top of a defense. However, Reaves does have solid work ethic that is well suited for chasing the other perimeter matchups off the ball.
The Lakers star should be able to play to his strengths in 2026-27 with Grimes taking on the more challenging job of being at the point of attack. Reaves will get the lesser of perimeter matchups and that should prove to have a positive impact on his own individual defense, plus the team as a whole.
Defensive concerns about the Lakers star guard have been overblown over recent years. The realignment on that end should work to prove that.
The helper — Luka Doncic
Speaking of players whose defensive concerns are vastly blown out of proportion, Luka Doncic is a far more capable defender than given credit for. His loudest critics would like to convince you otherwise, but Doncic is a solid player on that end.
Even so, Luka will be asked to do a lot on the offensive side of the court for the Lakers next season. That should invite Redick to regularly have him on the lesser of two forwards that an opposing team features.
Doncic's strength and IQ places him most ideally in a helper role on the defensive end. His ability to jump passing lanes, rip players, or successfully apply double team pressure would be given an opportunity to shine with these responsibilities.
The wing stopper — the Lakers' last remaining mystery
If Doncic is going to take the lesser of two forwards, someone has to be there to match up against the better of those options. The Lakers are still trying to figure out who that is.
Jonathan Kuminga has been regularly linked to Los Angeles. There is clearly a desire to get a deal done for the Lakers.
Alternatives external options could include the likes of P.J. Washington, Kyle Kuzma, Cameron Johnson, or Derrick Jones Jr. That all depends on how the rest of this summer shakes out.
The Lakers could end up stuck, and just need to dump one of their own players to get the roster to 15. In that instance, they could gamble on one of their own guys popping off. This was something Jovan Buha discussed on The Lakers Collective.
"I just wonder if this is a hole on the roster that you hope someone grows into that starting spot. Adou [Thiero] pops or Ziaire Williams shows you something that you didn't know he necessarily had. Jake LaRavia regains his shot," Buha said.
Any of those three could be the internal solutions that Los Angeles looks at if there is no successful venture to nab a starting forward via trade or free agency. Whoever that player is, they need to be capable of guarding the better of two forwards for opposing teams to complete this defensive unit.
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