In 2024-25, the Los Angeles Lakers traded for a generational talent who still hasn't entered their prime and posted their highest win total in five seasons. With this in mind, it's difficult to blame the front office for believing they can replicate much of what went right a season ago.
Unfortunately, the Lakers' optimistic viewpoint includes a calculated risk that Rob Pelinka may be a bit too comfortable making: The hope that injuries will be avoided by players with a history of them.
A season ago, the Lakers went all-in on the hope that Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Gabe Vincent would be able to overcome extensive injury histories. It worked out to some degree, with the team winning 50 games and receiving key contributions from all four.
Vanderbilt still missed 46 games, however, and backup-turned-starter Jaxson Hayes experienced bad luck of his own with 26 absences.
In 2025-26, similar gambles are about to be placed. Los Angeles' success will hinge on Luka Doncic, James, Austin Reaves, and a high-level starting lineup, but it will also depend on the depth of the rotation proving stronger than it was a year ago.
The issue that the Lakers are hoping to avoid, however, is continued availability concerns among some of the most important players on the roster.
Lakers have an injury-plagued supporting cast once again
Deandre Ayton is widely expected to start at center in 2025-26, with his untapped potential and past success with the Phoenix Suns offering reason for intrigue. It must be noted, however, that he missed 42 games in 2024-25 and 27 in 2023-24.
Ayton was also sidelined for 24 games in 2021-22 and 35 in 2019-20—meaning he's missed at least 24 games in four of his seven NBA seasons.
Hayes and Maxi Kleber will thus be tasked with providing relief as both backup bigs and potential temporary starters if Ayton misses time. Considering Hayes played 56 or fewer games in two of the past three seasons, and Kleber hasn't played 60 since 2019-20, there's ample reason for concern.
The center position has more depth and talent than it did during the post-deadline portion of the Lakers' 2024-25 season, but injuries continue to be an issue worth monitoring.
Furthermore, Los Angeles is banking on four key supporting players providing pivotal value on the defensive end of the floor: Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart, Vanderbilt, and Gabe Vincent. Unfortunately, LaRavia has never played more than 47 games in a season—due in no small part to the fractured thumb he suffered in 2024-25.
Compounded by Smart playing just 54 games over the past two seasons, Vanderbilt's well-documented injury issues, and Vincent missing 71 games in 2023-24, this is far from a safe bet.
If the Lakers manage to stay generally healthy, they'll have equipped Doncic with enough support to produce another 50-win season. Unfortunately, Los Angeles is right back to where it's become all to familiar with being: Banking on questionable injury histories resolving at the perfect time.
Talent is abundant in Los Angeles, but the Lakers are in the same position in 2025-26 as they were in 2024-25: Banking on injury-plagued veterans to produce a clean bill of health.