Now that we're less than two months away from the start of a new NBA season, Los Angeles Lakers fans are establishing their expectations. Is this Lakers team closer to contention than last year's squad? It's not an easy question to answer.
Last year's Lakers were far from perfect. Before they gelled in March -- which stemmed from LeBron James embracing a third-option role -- the Lakers weren't seen as any sort of threat in the Western Conference. Their supporting cast was too flawed, their defense too inconsistent.
Then, in that fateful March, LA showed signs of being a team that might not contend seriously with San Antonio or OKC, but also weren't totally excluded from the conversation. Had Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves not suffered injuries on April 2, that conversation would have become a lot louder as the postseason approached.
Now, we're in a new season, and the personnel framework of the 2025-26 Lakers is gone. Reaves is the only player remaining on the team from LA's top seven guys in playoff minutes last season! LeBron's departure was the most meaningful, of course, but the Lakers will also miss established pros like Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, and Luke Kennard, especially if LA's new acquisitions don't deliver.
The new-look Lakers are good in theory, but it'll take time for them to become a juggernaut
The new roster has appeal on paper. If Kessler can stay healthy (and be effective in the playoffs), the Lakers have themselves a rim protector and classic big-man partner for Doncic and Reaves that they didn't have last year. Athletes like Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton should provide versatility and explosiveness that was also missing to an extent last season.
That being said, LeBron's production isn't easily replaceable. He's still a potent scorer when needed (see: 2026 playoffs), and his decision-making and ability to control a game are GOAT-certified. The Lakers weren't going to replace LeBron's impact with a single player, but they're hoping that their new additions can collectively form a winning team around Doncic and Reaves.
The cost of acquiring Kessler won't soon be forgotten, especially if Kessler struggles or gets injured. The fact that LeBron went off and signed a minimum deal elsewhere leaves a bitter taste in LA's mouth in light of this. Did the Lakers pay big money to get ... worse? Snagging Kessler stripped the Lakers of nearly all of their draft capital, meaning that they don't have much flexibility at all to pivot in a new direction if this core doesn't work out.
Lakers fans will need to exercise a bit of patience with the 2026-27 club
Chemistry takes time to develop. This current group won't look as good as last year's team in March ... that's just the reality. Lakers fans will need to stay calm and allow this team to get to know each other and mesh over the course of the season. As long as Doncic is putting up MVP numbers as he's expected to, the entertainment factor won't be lost.
This is absolutely a playoff team on paper, but it's difficult to argue that they are any closer to a title right now than they were six months ago. The loss of James will be heavily felt, especially during the first half of the season.
ESPN's Zach Kram summed this up nicely recently: "It's hard to overcome not replacing James' production, even in his 40s. They have less flexibility now, and it's hard to say with confidence that they're any closer to title contention."
The harsh truth about this offseason for the Lakers? It was designed to set up the franchise for the next five to seven years, not immediate contention. Just because LA isn't in the Finals in 2027 doesn't mean this wasn't a good or productive offseason. The goal was to move on from James and start building a future around Luka. Lakers fans will need to be comfortable playing the long game.
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