It was an extraordinarily busy offseason for Rob Pelinka and the Los Angeles Lakers. Anyone would be forgiven for forgetting every single change that happened throughout the summer. Today's refresher should hopefully help ahead of a rapidly-approaching Media Day on Sep. 28.
No one is going to sit here and run through every single move the Lakers made this summer. For anyone looking to find that expanded list, it does exist here on Lake Show Life. In the meantime, those wishing to just focus on the positives can stick with me for the best from this offseason.
3 — Lakers land Walker Kessler via sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz
This was a divisive move for many, but the Walker Kessler sign-and-trade is poised to age like fine wine for the Lakers. Let us run through the critiques.
Some believe the Lakers gave Kessler too much money on his salary. Today's perceived overpay turns into tomorrow's bargain once Luka Doncic, the best big man whisperer in the NBA, gets done maximizing his new A-list center. Throw that out the window.
Others took issue with the draft pick capital. To that point, the pick swaps should not convey as long as the Lakers are the better team. A foundation of Doncic, Kessler, and Austin Reaves gives them every opportunity to maintain that status quo.
Meanwhile, the two first-round picks are an understandable price of doing business, especially in restricted free agency. Flash back to before the trade deadline and recall the Indiana Pacers paid up a healthy price to land Ivica Zubac.
Kessler should be poised for a career year in Los Angeles during the 2026-27 season. When that much comes to pass, people will see this move for what it was — necessary, calculated, and exactly what the Lakers needed.
2 — Lakers sign Ziaire Williams to a one-year, vet minimum
The Ziaire Williams signing has the potential to go from a low-risk maneuver to a necessary saving grace for the Lakers. That is due to Jonathan Kuminga.
For much of the summer, Kuminga had many softly penciling him in as a starter in Los Angeles. The free-agent forward chose to join the Minnesota Timberwolves instead. No sweat, that is where Williams could come in to save the day.
Ziaire, himself, admitted he sees the path to the starting forward job laid out in front of him. If this low-cost commitment on Williams turns out to be the move that quietly solidified the starting lineup earlier this summer, the Lakers will breathe a health sigh of relief.
Even if that is not the case, the new Lakers forward should be a reliable contributor for the team off the bench. For the veteran minimum, Los Angeles secured a healthy bargain with little downside. That is smart spending.
1 — Lakers move up to 24 and draft Cameron Carr
Cameron Carr was a player who was projected as high as the lottery picks before the 2026 NBA Draft. A strong draft combine was said to be boosting his stock tremendously ahead of the selection process. That was not the case on night one.
Carr kept slipping and with every passing pick, the Lakers got closer and closer to being on the clock with him available. They ensured that would be the case by swapping up one pick with the New York Knicks to select the Baylor Bear. Los Angeles got what many immediately felt was an absolute steal.
The athleticism and shooting ability makes Carr a great fit alongside Doncic on offense. The Lakers rookie just needs to activate his gifts on the defensive end, too. That should give him a realistic path toward making an on-court impact during his first season in Los Angeles.
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