The Los Angeles Lakers retooled their entire roster this offseason, and there are plenty of new faces. None of these new players is as experienced and dripping with plug-and-play capacity as Collin Sexton is, however. This is why Sexton will require the shortest adjustment period of anyone. In fact, Sexton probably won't need an adjustment period at all.
Sexton's microwave scoring and competitive fire have a way of impacting games from the second he steps on the floor. Last season, the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls benefited from that skill set without much delay; even if they ultimately couldn't invest in Sexton beyond 2025-26 for financial reasons.
Collin Sexton will hit the ground running in a way that the other Lakers' new additions will not
Sexton's two-year, $19 million deal with the Lakers includes a player option in year two -- it's not a long-term contract. But the Lakers aren't bothered by that, because they know that Sexton will inject the team with value from game one of the upcoming season and onward. LA is going to receive a ton of production out of Sexton in one (or two) season(s), just as Charlotte and Chicago did in even less time.
The sexy and exciting narrative surrounding the new-look Lakers is the star duo of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who'll now be unencumbered by the star power of LeBron James. All attention will be on Doncic and Reaves, which is another reason why Sexton is going to surprise a lot of people with his play.
Not only can Sexton still crush defenses with his speed and penetration (he's still only 27, remember), he's also an underrated 3-point shooter -- 40.1 percent last season! Moreover, Sexton's experience and mindset will make him completely unafraid to dive into the deep end and unashamedly give the Lakers the aggression they need from him as soon as he checks into his first game. Fans will love it. Opposing benches will not.
The Lakers are set to boast one of the league's best offenses, and Sexton's going to be a huge part of that. He's also capable of applying highly annoying ball pressure on opposing guards, which the Lakers will welcome with open arms after losing Marcus Smart and his bulldog defense to the Houston Rockets.
Some of the Lakers' other newcomers will need some time to get their sea legs. Walker Kessler played five games last season. Sandro Mamukelashvili could be adjusting to an increased role; Quentin Grimes might be overwhelmed by his. But Sexton will probably be hungry for even more responsibilities, not less.
Collin Sexton will love playing for a winning team
Sexton missed the most successful stint of Charlotte's season, and then he played for the mediocre Bulls. It'll be such an energizing experience for him to play for a team that's looking ahead to the playoffs from the get-go. For this reason, Sexton's already-intense motor will be operating at an even more pronounced level.
There's also the fact that Sexton can thrive in so many different ways. He can catch and shoot, as aforementioned, and he can score in isolation, but he can also run pick-and-roll as a lead ballhandler when Doncic and Reaves are resting.
Don't be shocked if Sexton generates a ton of Sixth Man of the Year buzz this season, even in the loaded West. Kessler received all of the attention this summer in terms of the Lakers' additions, but Sexton was their shrewdest move, and perhaps the one that'll mean the most in 2026-27.
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