The Los Angeles Lakers have gotten most of the pieces to fall into place this offseason. Many will still believe there is work to be done. For those of that mindset, rest assured, the Lakers are still in a position where this roster does not have to be the finished product.
DeAndre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia have all arrived in Los Angeles to boost the supporting cast around Luka Doncic and LeBron James. It cost them Dorian Finney-Smith, Jordan Goodwin, and Shake Milton. That is a trade-off the Lakers can live with.
If Los Angeles needs one more move, or two, to put them over the top, they still have the assets to execute that maneuver. This was something Jovan Buha thought fans could find comfort in on a recent episode of Buha's Block.
Buha said, "They're still going to have a 2031 or 32 first. They still have the expiring contracts of Rui [Hachimura], Gabe [Vincent], and Maxi [Kleber]. They still have Dalton Knecht. They can make a move this summer. ... They could also make a move ahead of the deadline."
Lakers look to Rob Pelinka for one last trick before championship push
Rob Pelinka said it best at the press conference following the announcement of Doncic's contract extension with the Lakers. The organization is 'in win championship now mode always.'
The Lakers general manager discussed how the franchise has prioritized having options and flexibility this summer. When the right move comes, Pelinka expressed his readiness to take it. The question then becomes what that maneuver is.
Rob Pelinka: "Having optionality is key to building teams. I think we have seen some teams get stuck in the aprons and once you're in them it's hard to get out of them. The optionality is there for us to use now if the right move comes its way. We wanna make smart moves" pic.twitter.com/M1KmNejql6
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) August 2, 2025
There are still a few notable points of contention with this roster that many will be quick to point out. Two areas stick out prominently as desirables, in particular.
Upgrading from Jaxson Hayes at the backup center spot will be something that many in Los Angeles would like to see happen. Hayes is serviceable, but there are certainly better options out there who could be found on the trade market.
The even bigger point of focus that will draw much interest is an additional boost to the defense. Smart was a strong answer to the Lakers' needs on the perimeter. However, his injury history will leave many skeptical about his sustainability.
Adding more defensive punch would allow the Lakers to not wear out the 31-year-old guard. In general, one can never have too much defense, especially in support of Doncic, who thrives with 3-and-D players flanking him.
Title contention is on the agenda for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season. If it takes another trade to secure that desire, the Lakers still have the ammunition to go hunting for it.