The Los Angeles Lakers completely overhauled their roster in the offseason, and we're looking at a brand new (and successful) team so far in 2026-27.
Beyond LA's 11-2 record (atop the NBA entering Thursday), Lakers fans have to feel good about the fact that almost all of the players LA moved on from in the summer aren't doing too hot with their new teams. Am I saying that Rob Pelinka cooked (more or less)? Yeah ... I guess I kind of am.
The only summer-departed Laker who's performing relatively well this year is LeBron James, and remember, he chose to leave LA of his own accord. Among everyone else whom Pelinka chose to discard, there's not a single player who's generating significant seller's remorse. The season is young, but still.
Take a look at this recent BBall Index analysis of the Lakers' "exes" (shoutout to X user @Tim_NBA for the share). Whereas LeBron grades out as an A- overall talent, no one else is eating.
Checking in on the exes pic.twitter.com/X3WfjCrrVi
— Cranjis McBasketball (@Tim_NBA) November 12, 2026
None of the recently departed Lakers are playing that well (other than LeBron James)
Let's run through the non-LeBron list of players above and check in with how they've been balling with their new squads, shall we?
Marcus Smart is averaging a modest 8.3 points per game and 21.4 minutes per game for the Houston Rockets -- both lower figures than his 9.3 PPG and 28.5 MPG with LA last season. Oh, and Smart just got suspended for three games for punching Charles Bassey. Nice!
Rui Hachimura suddenly isn't an efficient shooter. He's down to 38.7 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three, possibly due to his increased usage (that he says he's built to handle, but clearly isn't). The Lakers are better off with Sandro Mamukelashvili. Good call, Pelinka!
Luke Kennard remains a sniper from three (48.7 percent this year), but his diminished role with the Phoenix Suns isn't making the Lakers jealous about losing him, especially with how much better Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams are as two-way wings (who can both shoot!).
Do we even need to talk about Deandre Ayton? He's averaging 4.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in a reduced role on the Washington Wizards. Not sure any Lakers fans miss having him around...
Jaxson Hayes has actually been pretty okay for the Utah Jazz, and he's the one guy on this list that the Lakers miiight still think about every now and then, given the early-season failings of Kevon Looney. Hayes is averaging 8.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, but he's also getting seven more minutes a night than he did with the Lakers, and he's not exactly moving the needle in Utah.
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