The Los Angeles Lakers were bought by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger after Rob Pelinka built this roster around Luka Doncic, and fans won’t have to wait long to see what the new owners think. They are just $469,322 over the luxury tax line, according to Spotrac. The Lakers would owe $1.4 million in tax, but the windfall for dodging it is even greater because LA would get a payment from the teams over the line. With millions in the balance and clear roster holes to fill, the new ownership will show what they think by the trade deadline.
The Lakers desperately need a starting power forward. They tried to sign Jonathan Kuminga, but he decided to take a short-term deal with the Timberwolves. LA hasn’t found a backup plan.
Acquiring a starting-level talent would push the Lakers further into the tax. Kushner and Iger are only doing that if they believe this team has a serious shot to contend. Luka gives them a chance, but he needs a supporting cast. Pelinka remade it this summer, but that doesn’t mean the new ownership believes in it.
Lakers are no strangers to paying the tax
LA has paid the tax for six straight years, including a massive $53.5 million bill in the 2024-25 season. Since 2002, the Lakers have paid it 15 times for a total of $288.5 million spent in penalties alone.
This is what contenders do. The Knicks paid $44.4 million last season as they won the championship. Boston paid $41.4 million during their title-winning season in 2024. Five of the last six champions have paid the tax.
Lakers must fill need to be serious contender
Los Angeles has the top-end talent to compete for a championship and improved their depth this offseason. Luka is one of the five best players on the planet. Austin Reaves is a star and ready to prove he can be the purple and gold’s number two option. The Lakers signed Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton to add depth, but it left them with a clear missing piece.
The Lakers have depth in the backcourt and on the wings, but are missing a starting-level power forward. Mamu, Jake LaRavia, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle, and Jarred Vanderbilt figure to compete for the job in training camp, but everyone would feel a lot better if those were reserve options behind someone capable of handling 30-plus minutes every night.
Trading Vando won’t be easy thanks to his $13.2 million player option for the 2027-28 season and the Lakers' lack of assets. They have just three second-round draft picks and one first-round swap to deal. Vanderbilt’s salary is their best bet at acquiring difference-maker, but it will force Kushner and Iger to spend even more money.
New owners aren’t afraid to spend
The Lakers hired Eric Amsler to be their assistant general manager on Sept. 9. That shows some willingness to spend. The Lakers front office was one of the smallest in the league under owner Jeanie Buss. They had plans to revamp it after Mark Walter bought the team, and those efforts will clearly continue as Kushner and Iger take over.
The new owners certainly aren’t afraid of paying the tax. They bought the team at a $12.5 billion valuation. Kushner and Iger aren't being frugal. They would be dodging it because they don’t believe this roster is good enough.
The Los Angeles Lakers just remade their roster around Luka Doncic and had the long term in mind. Reaves, Kessler, Grimes, and Mamu all got four-year deals. Rob Pelinka views this as the foundation for years to come, which makes the new owner’s call even more important. Dodging the tax means this roster isn’t a title contender, and changes must be made. It would also raise questions about Pelinka’s future.
Josh Kushner and Bob Iger have plenty of decisions to make after taking over the Lakers. This one will have a significant on-court impact, and fans should be watching closely. LA is just over the tax and could easily dodge it, but doing so would have larger implications. It is on the new owners to decide the direction before February's trade deadline.
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