Magic Johnson Hypes Lakers' Trades, Contract Signings After LeBron Left for 76ers in NBA Free Agency

Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson is pleased with how the team retooled the roster around Luka Dončić this summer.

The Lakers bid adieu to one of the greatest players in NBA history after LeBron James departed to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. That may not be a bad thing in Johnson's view as he tought L.A. "had to get younger, more athletic, and faster, and they did just that."

The Hall of Famer offered his quick analysis on the additions of Walker Kessler, Matisse Thybulle, Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes:

The Lakers fulfilled their primary objective by landing a center who complements Dončić's game, and they paid a premium to do so.

Kessler signed a four-year, $129.5 million contract, and Los Angeles gave up unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 along with pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.

As much as the 7'2" big brings to the table, Los Angeles exhausted its best draft capital on a player who missed 101 games over the previous two seasons. There's no real way for president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka to pivot on the fly if Kessler isn't the guy.

Grimes, Sexton, Thybulle and Sandro Mamukelashvili all help to strengthen the depth. Grimes in particular could be a savvy signing if he rediscovers the form he enjoyed with the Sixers in the second half of 2024-25.

Pelinka didn't have a ton of options when he needed to dedicate a big chunk of his available salary cap space to a new contract for Austin Reaves. The best centers readily available were restricted free agents or already under contract, too. Addressing that concern was always going to take a lot of resources.

All in all, this offseason probably isn't a home run for the Lakers, but the team should be improved.