So much for Lakers’ big offseason … LA fans left with sinking feeling

The anticipation had been building. 

The flame was lit when the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic in February 2025, a generational player who could put the team atop the NBA again. 

The Lakers’ Luka Doncic (right) is in his prime and has not said he wants to remain with his current franchise forever. AP

It was fanned when Mark Walter’s ownership group took over the franchise six months later, the brain trust that helped transform the Dodgers into three-time World Series champions over the last six years. 

And gasoline was poured on it when LeBron James announced his eight-season tenure with the Lakers had come to an end. 

All eyes were on Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka. What grand plan did he have up his sleeve as the chimes officially rang on “Summer of 2026,” the vaunted period when the Lakers were to be transformed into champions once again? 

A flurry of moves happened. 

The result?

Instead of gasps, there were groans. 

Instead of building a team that could contend against the Spurs or Thunder, he assembled one that’s worse than last season’s squad. 

Pelinka was clearly trying to build a team in the likeness of the 2023-2024 Mavericks, who reached the Finals with Doncic surrounded by ball handlers (Kyrie Irving), rim-running lob threats (Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford) and 3-and-D wings (P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr.). 

Center Walker Kessler is a solid player, but did the Lakers mortgage their future to get him? Getty Images

But this is the janky reboot.  

It’s the sequel that never should’ve been made. 

It’s the new season that lost its magic. 

The Lakers overpaid for Walker Kessler, acquiring him on a four-year, $130 million contract with a player option in the fourth season. As part of the sign-and-trade with the Jazz, they gave up unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. 

Kessler is the defensive-minded, rim-protecting center they wanted. But was he worth mortgaging their future? The Lakers no longer have any tradable first-round picks over the next seven years. 

The next seven years. 

They also acquired Sandro Mamukelashvili, a good offensive floor spacer and playmaker, Quentin Grimes, a two-way talent, and Collin Sexton, an athletic scorer. 

But let’s take a moment to look at who they lost in free agency. 

LeBron James, you know, arguably the greatest player of all time, who even at age 41 was good enough to single-handedly lead the Lakers past the Rockets in the first round of the 2026 playoffs. 

The Lakers and Austin Reaves decided to stick together, but did the franchise tie up too much of its money on a few players? USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Marcus Smart, their most dogged defender. 

And Luke Kennard, the best 3-point shooter in the league. 

The current Lakers roster lacks defense, aside from Kessler. It lacks a wing stopper. It lacks depth. 

The Lakers entered free agency with the most cap space of any team at around $50 million. But they didn’t come close to building a contender. Their current squad wouldn’t even be able to get past last year’s team in a playoff series. And the Lakers squandered all of their draft capital. 

Instead of having a splashy offseason, the Lakers are sinking. 

Sure, they got younger. Austin Reaves is now the oldest player on their roster at age 28. But they also got less talented. They’ve committed $480 million among Doncic, Reaves and Kessler. 

Free agency isn’t over. The Lakers reportedly have interest in Jonathan Kuminga, whose $24.3 million team option was recently declined by the Hawks. They better figure something out to shore up their holes. 

Lakers GM Rob Pelinka was determined to assemble a splashy roster this summer, but the moves he made weren’t impressive. Getty Images

This much is for sure: The moves Pelinka made weren’t impressive. 

The Lakers aren’t going to be able to compete in the very crowded Western Conference. They’ve hamstrung themselves with huge contracts. They have no draft assets. Their defense is porous. 

Make no mistake about it, Doncic has been closely watching. 

He’s in his prime. He’s not going to allow the Lakers to squander it. His patience is going to quickly wear thin if Los Angeles isn’t able to compete. 

While Doncic made it clear he wanted to spend his entire career with the Mavericks, he has given no such assurances to the Lakers. 

This summer was supposed to be Pelinka’s celebration. His coming-out party. His chance to prove to Walter that he can expertly pilot a 17-time champion franchise that views anything short of titles as failures. 

It was his time to show that his mistakes in the draft over the past few years were anomalies. That his greatest accomplishment wasn’t acquiring a gift-wrapped Doncic. That he’s the Lakers’ future. 

Instead, this may be the beginning of his swan song. 

The Lakers stormed into this offseason with a treasure trove of ways to climb atop the league. There was a palpable buzz around them. The whole basketball world was watching. 

But instead of assembling a team that inspires fear, they’ve built one that inspires shrugs. 

So much for summer 2026. 

Lakers fans should prepare for a long winter.