When compiling the list of players who qualify for the topic at hand, there were 10 new Los Angeles Lakers to consider. That is a lot.
Rob Pelinka overhauled the main roster to the point of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Bronny James, Adou Thiero, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia, and Dalton Knecht being the only returning faces. Even among that group, someone could still be on their way out before the offseason ends.
If you count the two-way contracts, Chris Mañon and Arthur Kaluma join the returning players as well. Kaluma was only elevated to a two-way deal this summer, but he has been with the organization dating back to last season. The Lakers forward spent 2025-26 with South Bay.
With so many new players in Los Angeles, there is bound to be different levels of expectations for the bunch. The bar ranges from "Oh cool, you're here" to "You better deliver" for the 10 names to come.
10 — AK Okereke
Starting with a guy who has virtually no expectations for 2026-27, AK Okereke joined the Lakers on a two-way contract after going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft. The bar for him is set at a solid season with the recently relocated Coachella Valley Lakers.
That is, if Okereke sticks around with the franchise for the upcoming campaign. There is still a fair shot the Lakers tinker with the two-way spots in Los Angeles. If Pelinka is looking to add a new young player on one of those deals, Okereke could be the guy cut to make room.
9 — Jaden Hardy
Jaden Hardy's future in Los Angeles has yet to be truly locked up. As the Lakers push to finalize the roster before the new season starts, Hardy's contract stands out as one that could be on the move before the games start to count.
Even if Hardy does secure a spot on the team, it would be surprising to see him play a ton. The Lakers have several options ahead of him at the guard position. There could be times of injury that call for him to play off the bench, but a regular role in the rotation is unlikely.
8— Kevon Looney
Kevon Looney has very modest expectations set for the upcoming season. His main value to the Lakers will be as a veteran leader for the locker room. Thus far, Looney is already delivering considerable value as a voice in Los Angeles.
As far as on-court impact goes, assuming the Lakers cannot add another player to the frontcourt, it should give their new backup center a handful of opportunities to play in 2026-27. It will not be anything crazy, by any means, though.
Depending on the matchup, the Lakers could look to Looney for around eight to 10 minutes of action off the bench. That should perfectly exemplifying how unassuming the expectations are for him. A touch of on-court value here and there will satisfy what the team is asking for.
7 — Cameron Carr
Cameron Carr could easily find himself as a member of the rotation this season. The Lakers rookie is the likeliest of the young players to deliver consistent impact. Even with that in mind, that much would be more of a nice-to-have component of the team than the clear bar for Carr in 2026-27.
The tools to be on the court are there for him. The Lakers want him to shoot and defend in order to secure playing time. Carr has some of the smoothest mechanics on his jumper among his draft peers, and has the athletic gifts to stay in front of his matchups.
Do the Lakers want that to translate to an on-court role as quickly as possible? Sure. Will the pressing demand be there for Carr to immediately give them as much? No.
6 — Matisse Thybulle
Unlike the previously-discussed Carr, Matisse Thybulle will be instantly counted upon to play a notable role for the Lakers. There has been some buzz about the idea of him being that fifth starter. However, Thybulle's best utility would be as a bench spark in Los Angeles.
The new Lakers wing should be looked to for around 15-plus minutes of disruptive play and defensive playmaking as a part of JJ Redick's second unit. That is the best way to help maintain his physical health while also maximizing what Thybulle can bring in terms of his on-court value.
Los Angeles lacks a ton of proven and well-established perimeter defenders. Thybulle is easily the best of the bunch when combining both of those factors. That should get him thrust into plenty of instances that make him extremely important to what the Lakers are trying to execute.
5 — Ziaire Williams
There would have been a point during this offseason when Ziaire Williams would have been lower on this list. With the way the summer has gone, the 25-year-old suddenly finds himself in the running to be a starter for the Lakers.
No Jonathan Kuminga means there is a clear opening for someone to seize at forward. For several reasons, Williams stands out as the best option to secure that gig.
Ziaire can hit his wide-open shots from deep, is an athletic cutter and lob threat off the wings, plus he brings capable defense on the perimeter. All of that makes him an excellent candidate to fit alongside Doncic and the rest of the starters. That will be the bar for him moving forward.
4 — Collin Sexton
There was a point this offseason where it looked like the Lakers simply chose Collin Sexton over Marcus Smart. That may not have been the case. However, the money spent on him does stand out as something that will fuel high expectations for the energetic guard to live up to.
Giving the room exception to Sexton meant foregoing several other options on the open market. That, in hindsight, included passing up an opportunity to secure a starting forward there and then.
On top the pressure that comes from that, Sexton will be tasked with alleviating Doncic and Reaves of having too much of an offensive load. If the Lakers do not want to run their star backcourt into the ground, they need a healthy dose of offense off the bench from their 27-year-old backup guard.
3 — Sandro Mamukelashvili
The Lakers handed out the largest payday that Sandro Mamukelashvili has seen in his career. After years of two-way deals, minimum contracts, and a modest financial commitment with the Toronto Raptors last season, Mamu got $52 million over four years to come play in Los Angeles.
That money alone will put a good deal of expectations on him. On a salary basis for the upcoming season, Mamukelashvili will be the fifth-highest earner on the Lakers.
Add to that the responsibility of replacing Rui Hachimura, serving as the primary backup big man, and teaming up with Sexton to revive a struggling bench unit. Mamu has a lot on his plate. Failing to tick any of those boxes will quickly bring up discussions of whether the Lakers were wise to pay him.
2 — Quentin Grimes
Speaking of living up to sizable paydays, Quentin Grimes got even more money from the Lakers this summer. Four years and $60 million makes Los Angeles the first place that has been really willing to commit to having Grimes for the long haul.
There is good reason for that. Grimes has a strong relationship with both Redick and Doncic. That made him an easy target to anticipate well ahead of the summer.
The Lakers are asking for several important things of Grimes in the upcoming season. They need him to replace Smart as the point of attack defender in the starting lineup. They are also looking for his 3-point shooting percentage to come back up so he can space the floor around Luka.
On top of that, Grimes is effectively the third option in that starting group. That will task him with extending plays and taking pressure off Doncic and Reaves, when it is necessary. If the 26-year-old can deliver all of those vital elements, the Lakers' financial gamble will be deemed a success.
1 — Walker Kessler
There should have never been any mystery as to who would be at the top of the list here. Walker Kessler stands head and shoulders above all other new arrivals as the player with the most expectations thrust upon him ahead of the new season.
There will be a need to satisfy the draft capital the Lakers surrendered to land him in a sign-and-trade. Kessler will also be asked to live up to the sizable contract that Los Angeles gave him. $129.5 million over four years has been brought up with endless question marks by the skeptics.
In order to quickly quiet the pundits, the Lakers will need Kessler to serve as a strong defensive anchor for the team. They will also ask him to be the high-motor screen setter and play finisher that Deandre Ayton never proved to be. There might even be a 3-ball in there somewhere.
Think it stops there? It doesn't. Kessler needs to control the glass for the Lakers, on both ends, too.
In short, the team is going to ask A LOT of their new starting center in the coming season. That makes the expectations on Kessler much higher than any of his fellow new arrivals.
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