Los Angeles Lakers

Front office and bench

Ownership

Mark Walter (TWG Global), selling to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for $12.5 billion (pending NBA approval); Jeanie Buss remains acting governor and is suing over the sale of her family's stake

Head of Basketball Operations and General Manager

Rob Pelinka since 2017

Assistant General Manager (player personnel)

Eric Amsler since 2026

Assistants

• Nate McMillanAssistant coach
• Scott BrooksAssistant coach
• Greg St. JeanAssistant coach (moves to the front of the bench)
• Lindsey HardingAssistant coach
• Zach GuthrieAssistant coach and head of player development
• Beau LevesqueAssistant coach

The direction

What the franchise says and what its moves show

The Lakers begin the post-LeBron era with the entire project revolving around Luka Dončić. Pelinka says he checked off his three priorities: keeping Reaves, landing a cornerstone center (Kessler) and getting younger with the type of players Redick wants. They have committed future first-round picks to win now with the Dončić-Reaves duo, while the ownership situation remains up in the air because of the sale and the Buss family lawsuit.

Building around

Luka Dončić Austin Reaves Walker Kessler

What they have said

• The summer met its three goals: keeping Reaves, landing a center of the future and adding younger players who fit Redick's vision.

  Rob Pelinka, top basketball executive · ESPN · September 2026

• He argues that a young two-way center like Kessler who fits with their two stars was very hard to find, which is why they paid the price.

  Rob Pelinka · ESPN · September 2026

• He wants a very tight-knit group from day one and will stagger Dončić's and Reaves' minutes so one of them is always on the floor.

  Head coach JJ Redick · ESPN / Silver Screen and Roll · September 2026

What the data points to

• Deadline buyer Likely

  • Projects to 45.5 wins: built to compete now.
• Clean up the books Likely

  • Spends 201.3 M and is in the luxury tax.
  • Austin Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt are paid more than they produce.
  • It is only 0.9 M over the tax: one minor move gets it out.
  • Expiring contracts appeal to it: swapping long money for salary that runs out frees up room for the summer.

Moves

Summer 2026

• LeBron James leaves for the 76ers (two years, $8M), closing his Lakers chapter.
• Max extension for Austin Reaves: four years, about $180-185M.
• Walker Kessler arrives from Utah in a sign-and-trade (four years, about $130M) for the 2031 and 2033 first-round picks and two first-round swaps.
• Deandre Ayton traded to Washington for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks.
• Signings: Quentin Grimes (four years, $60M), Sandro Mamukelashvili (four years, $52M), Collin Sexton (two years) and, on minimum deals, Kevon Looney, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams.
• Draft: Sergio de Larrea (No. 25, from Valencia Basket) and the rights to Cameron Carr (No. 24) in a four-team trade.
• Departures: Rui Hachimura (Clippers), Marcus Smart (Houston), Jaxson Hayes (Utah) and Luke Kennard (Phoenix).
• In August, Mark Walter agrees to sell control to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger; the Buss family sells its 17.8% stake and Jeanie Buss challenges it in court.

Latest

• Oct 17 Waived Waived C Rafael Castro and F Niwa Tait-Jones.
• Oct 17 Waived Waived C Rafael Castro. Waived F Niwa Tait-Jones.
• Oct 14 Waived Waived F Cole Swider.
• Sep 18 Waived Waived F Anton Watson.
• Feb 5 Draft picks Acquired G Luke Kennard from Atlanta in exchange for G Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick.

The roster

16 NBA contracts · 2026-27 salaries

Strengths and weaknesses

Today's roster, facet by facet (league rank)

• Defense 7th
• Rim protection 19th
• Three-point shooting 2nd
• Playmaking 15th
• Scoring 8th
• Rebounding 21st
• Offensive impact 14th

Roster holes

• Weak in reboundingWith today’s rotation it ranks 21st in the league in rebounding.
• Only 1 center in the rotationOne injury leaves it without a backup in the paint.
• 1 contracts too manyHas 16 NBA contracts and only 15 fit in the regular season: someone will be waived or traded.

Contracts and extensions

Expiring this season

• Jake LaRavia 24 years old · paid 6.0 M Salary coming off the books

Bargains (produce far above their salary, for several years)

None.

Pricey but short (paid more than they produce, but ending soon)

None.

Money and picks

Payroll 201.3 M Cap 165.0 M Tax 200.4 M 1st apron 209.0 M 2nd apron 221.7 M

Payroll

201.3 M · in the luxury tax

Distance to each line

tax: 0.9 M over · 1st apron: 7.7 M below · 2nd apron: 20.4 M below

Next summer

206.1 M committed · no cap space

First-rounders it can trade

None · 2 swaps

Radar and possible trades

Players who fit and that it can afford

• Jock Landale ATL14.1 M · expiring contract
• Tre Jones CHI8.0 M · signed through 2027-28, produces above his salary
• Deandre Ayton WAS8.1 M · expiring contract, produces above his salary

A trade that works under the CBA

Trade pieces

Assets

Sandro Mamukelashvili (worth 5.1 M more than his salary)

Contracts that weigh

Austin Reaves (overpaid by 19.8 M), Jarred Vanderbilt (overpaid by 8.7 M)

To match salaries

No expiring contract with a useful salary