The Los Angeles Lakers offseason ended with a whimper, not a bang. Despite rumors of a consolidation trade or a Jericho Sims swap, all the Lakers did was eat their losses by releasing Dalton Knecht and calling it a day. It was uninspiring, but they did finalize their 15-man roster.
Now that it is clear who those players are, why not rank them top to bottom?
Just to be clear, these rankings will only include the main roster guys. Chris Mañon, Arthur Kaluma, and AK Okereke will not be included. Although, you can pretty much add those two-way guys at the end of this list in that exact order.
With that being said…
The 2026-27 Lakers ranked from 1 to 15
1. Luka Doncic
There is no need to overcomplicate this one. Luka Doncic is a top-five player in the world. The Lakers superstar is head and shoulders clear of everyone else on this roster. It is not even particularly close.
2. Austin Reaves
Much like Doncic being in his own tier as the number one, Austin Reaves sits comfortably at number two among the Lakers. There was a clear intent to give their star guard an opportunity to have full reins as the second guy behind Luka. Austin has it now.
3. Walker Kessler
The Lakers gave up their fair share of draft capital and cap space to make Walker Kessler their number three on the roster. Understanding why they did that has never been difficult.
Kessler has exactly the type of defensive skill set the Lakers are going to need behind their two stars. Their new starting center can also be an effective outlet for the playmaking of both Doncic and Reaves on offense. The fit makes perfect sense, and the talent is there to match.
4. Sandro Mamukelashvili
At an earlier point in the offseason, Sandro Mamukelashvili could have found himself a few spots lower on this list. A tremendous preseason run has raised both the excitement and the expectations for Mamu.
The new Lakers big man has quickly proven to be an excellent fit in JJ Redick’s new offense. That has invited everyone to start dreaming a little bit bigger with Mamukelashvili. Being in the running for the Sixth Man of the Year award is certainly doable for him.
5. Quentin Grimes
Quentin Grimes should still be positioned for one of the starting jobs in Los Angeles. Redick chose to go with the combination of Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams in the preseason finale. However, the Lakers coach wanted it to be clear that it was a trial run, not a long-term commitment.
JJ Redick says Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Walker Kessler are starting tonight.
— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) October 17, 2026
He says they "just want to get a look" at that group tonight, and nothing is definitive for Opening Night.
Grimes still has much of what the Lakers need on the wings. On one end, there is an ability to bring physicality and aggression on defense. On the other, there is a scoring threat to play off Doncic and Reaves. That should still give him a shot to be one of the first five on the court for Los Angeles every night.
6. Ziaire Williams
If Grimes gets one of the two spots, who between Thybulle and Williams gets the other? The safe bet would still be Ziaire.
Williams brings solid defense, has more size and length to offer than Thybulle, plus the offense has looked pretty darn good in limited preseason action with the Lakers. All in all, it just feels like one of those situations you do not overcomplicate.
7. Collin Sexton
The Lakers have yet to see Collin Sexton outside of practice. Despite that, there are still healthy expectations for what he can bring once the regular season starts.
Sexton should be one of the co-captains of the second unit alongside Mamukelashvili. The Lakers are also going to try and maximize his defensive impact by having him pick up the ball-handler full court. If the veteran guard can do all of that effectively, there is plenty of opportunity for him to climb to a higher spot in these rankings.
8. Matisse Thybulle
The limitations of featuring Thybulle in a starting role were on display in the Lakers’ preseason finale against the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets defense forgot all about him and attacked his superstar teammate. That is why a bench role may be best for Matisse.
Thybulle brings plenty of defensive playmaking whenever he is on the court. The Lakers wing can also knock down his open shots when he is in rhythm. Using him as a super-sub will help balance out the rotation and let his gifts shine without overly exposing his flaws.
9. Jake LaRavia
The talk of Jake LaRavia’s demise was greatly exaggerated. Granted, the Lakers forward brought that on himself after a rough stretch to end the season and playoffs in 2025-26. All the same, everyone can get behind where LaRavia has ended up now.
It was a strong preseason for him. Things were not always perfect, but LaRavia displayed improved confidence to go with a reworked jump shot. Both of those things should help him stay afloat amid a revamped wing group in Los Angeles.
10. Adou Thiero
Adou Thiero is still raw on the offensive end, but there should be a spot for him in the rotation to get the reps needed to add the much-needed polish to his game. Few players stand to benefit more from Redick’s intent to utilize a deeper bench this season.
All the athletic gifts in the world are there for Thiero. This stage of the developmental process is all about figuring out how to use them. Adou knows that. The extra opportunities should help him actualize at least some of his exciting upside.
11. Cameron Carr
Cameron Carr arrived in Los Angeles with the need to win his minutes being obvious. There have been some strong impressions made along the way, but it may take a bit of time before Carr truly carves out a consistent role with the Lakers this season.
It is tough not to be enamored with his athleticism, shooting ability, and excitement to improve. The last part is what the Lakers will need to see more of before Carr truly leapfrogs any of the wings ahead of him. The talent is there, so that should remain a very real possibility for the near future.
12. Kevon Looney
Kevon Looney looks his age. That does not necessarily make him a bad player. However, a preseason of seeing him on the court has invited thoughts about what an upgrade at backup center could look like for the Lakers.
The most optimistic interpretation of how things have gone is thinking that Looney could find his legs later in the campaign. Older players tend to follow that pattern. The hope for the Lakers would be that their veteran center can look more formidable as the season hits its stride.
13. Jaden Hardy
Jaden Hardy did not have a great preseason for the Lakers. Thankfully for him, there were other guys on the preseason roster who were even worse. That helped secure his spot in Los Angeles for the time being.
Hardy could see playing time if the Lakers need backcourt offense and the players ahead of him are navigating injuries. That will give him his openings to make an impact.
14. Jarred Vanderbilt
Jarred Vanderbilt is still here because the 29 other teams have been unwilling to take his contract off the books for the Lakers. We can be open and honest about that.
Can Vanderbilt still deliver positive contributions in spot minutes here and there? Sure. Is it going to match his $12.4 million cap hit for 2026-27? No.
15. Bronny James
Bronny James had a buzz around him throughout the summer. The Lakers raved about his hard work and positive runs with the team. That much was not evident throughout the preseason.
James retained his spot with the Lakers amid the roster crunch, but he also slipped in the ranks while doing so. If Bronny cannot figure out his offense this season, his stay in Los Angeles is not going to be long-term.
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