The Lakers' front office gave itself a clear assignment this offseason. LA wanted to build another version of the 2024 Dallas Mavericks, the squad that rode Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to the NBA Finals. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka spent the offseason assembling the pieces to fit that template, and he did a pretty good job, all things considered.
Resemblance between the 2027 Lakers and the '24 Mavericks isn't hard to see. You have a generational creator at lead guard (Doncic), a second, All-Star-level creator who can also cook defenses in isolation (Irving/Austin Reaves), centers who can finish Luka's lobs and protect the rim (Daniel Gafford/Dereck Lively II/Walker Kessler), and defensive wings who can switch everything on defense and hit an open jumper on offense.
Comparing the 2027 Lakers to the 2024 Mavericks ... which team is better?
— Luka Legend (@LakersLuka_) September 26, 2026
These teams were built on different timelines. Pelinka used the offseason to arrive at a roster that's probably close to "complete" (what other trade assets do the Lakers have?), whereas the '24 Mavs added P.J. Washington and Gafford at the trade deadline that season, and both were game-changers.
Lakers analyst Jovan Buha recently compared these two teams and gave the edge to the Mavs due to their superior top seven or eight players (in his view). Dallas definitely had a better situation at center with both Gafford and Lively in the fold. LA's Kessler/Kevon Looney situation isn't nearly as dynamic.
Collin Sexton is an X-factor in Lakers-Mavericks comparison
If Sexton can operate like a Sixth Man of the Year candidate off the bench for LA, he'd give the Lakers something that the '24 Mavs didn't have. This is another reminder that Sexton's production will be crucial for LA this coming season.
The Lakers probably have a higher number of capable players on the roster than the '24 Dallas team. The above graphic doesn't even mention Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt, Bronny James, or Jaden Hardy on the Lakers' side of things. Any four of those players are good enough to be in an NBA rotation. The Lakers are carrying a ton of guys who can play -- the end of their bench will be talented, whatever that's worth.
Mavericks had superior top-end talent to this Lakers squad, but not by a mile
Kyrie in 2024 was playing at a very high level. Reaves hasn't reached that level in the postseason yet, nor has he ever approached the sort of Hall of Fame level that Irving has existed in at various points in his career (including with Dallas). In a 2-on-2 battle between 2024 Doncic/Irving and 2027 Doncic/Reaves, you have to give the edge to Doncic/Irving.
In sum, the 2024 Mavericks look like a better roster, but we already saw what they did and didn't accomplish. The 2027 Lakers haven't played a game yet. They still have the chance to exceed expectations and prove that they're better than they look on paper. Title contention is not out of the question if JJ Redick maximizes this roster and everyone stays healthy. Look at what Luka did with this Mavs group! Pelinka might have one more trick up his sleeve at the deadline, too ... who can rule it out for sure?
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