The Los Angeles Lakers enter the 2026 offseason with a ton of areas to address as they look to fill out a championship roster around Luka Doncic. Although I'm not in favor of paying Austin Reaves and having him return to LA next season, the mutual interest between both parties and his relationship with Luka will likely lead to an extension.
A move like that would address the need for a secondary star and scorer next to Luka. Beyond that, it would still leave the Lakers with still massive holes on the wing and at the center spot.
To address that need for a true wing that can slot between Reaves and potentially LeBron James next season, Rob Pelinka should look into Kelly Oubre Jr. The former Kansas wing is coming off an incredible season in Philadelphia that saw him average 14.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while connecting on 36 percent of his triples.
With him set to be an unrestricted free agent, Oubre could be a great veteran addition for the LakeShow in the 2026-27 campaign.
Kelly Oubre Jr. should be one of Pelinka's top targets
In his 11-year NBA career, Oubre Jr. has played several roles. He's served as a third scoring option with the Phoenix Suns, a sixth-man of the year candidate in Charlotte, and, at times, eclipsed the 20-point-per-game mark.
However, he is at his best when playing that complementary starter role, surrounded by star players who draw the majority of the attention. Oubre was in that exact role this past season with Philly, playing behind their big three and V.J. Edgecombe. He arguably played the most winning basketball of his career.
His multi-faceted skill set as a good downhill athlete, solid outside shooter, capable ball handler, good perimeter defender, and high-energy player make him perfect next to stars.
With the Lakers, he will be surrounded by both Doncic and Reaves, plus potentially LeBron. Those three would draw enough attention where Oubre Jr. could cash corner 3s and backdoor cuts like he did with the Sixers the past two seasons.
Expect Oubre Jr. to be getting anywhere from $8.5-$12 million annually in free agency this summer, and that fits right into LA's price range. The Lakers can't afford to break the bank on these elite or young two-way versatile players like Peyton Watson or Tari Eason. We saw in the postseason that this team needs depth. Oubre is exactly that type of signing.
He can start or come off the bench. He can dribble, pass, shoot, rebound, and defend, as well as bringing playoff experience and a winning mentality. At the end of the day, Oubre is the type of two-way connective piece every single Doncic-centered team needs.
That's exactly why he is a must-target for the Lakers.
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