Los Angeles Lakers' Biggest Questions at Training Camp

Luka Dončić is the clear leader of the Los Angeles Lakers as the franchise heads into its first season in the post-LeBron James era.

The trio of Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler and Dončić will compete in a loaded Western Conference with high expectations and hopes for a deep postseason run.

Can L.A. compete with the likes of the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder? Will the squad defend well enough to thrive in the postseason? Who will round out the starting five?

The Lakers enter the 2026-27 campaign with questions that can only be answered over time, setting up what should be a watchable, unpredictable season.

Who Else Will Start?

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Late last week, coach JJ Redick was clear on three of the team's starters with Dončić, Reaves and Kessler, while the remaining two would be decided throughout training camp.

Tongue-in-cheek, Redick noted the pair rounding out the starters "will not be two white guys."

Regardless of the remark, the reality is the Lakers do not have two clear next-best players. Redick's lack of obvious choices reflects the roster's top-heavy construction.

That doesn't mean others will emerge as the perfect fits. Quentin Grimes, 6'5", is listed by the NBA as a guard, but he's the initial favorite to be the fourth starter. That's a tall three-guard lineup with Kessler (7'2"), Dončić (6'8"), and Reaves (6'5"). Grimes would take on tougher defensive assignments, tertiary playmaking, and complementary scoring/shooting.

That leaves the question mark at power forward. Candidates include Sandro Mamukelashvili, Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, Kevon Looney and Matisse Thybulle. Each has different strengths and weaknesses.

Mamukelashvili, one of the Lakers' top offseason acquisitions, adds offense, but not defense. Vanderbilt, LaRavia, Looney and Thybulle are more productive defensively, but less so on the other end of the floor, and some have durability issues.

A tremendous camp from either Williams or Thiero could be the answer for Redick.

Waive or Trade Down to 15 Players?

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Dalton Knecht

The Lakers have 16 guaranteed standard contracts on the roster and need to get down to 15 by opening night. The franchise projects to be over the luxury tax by almost $500,000 and $8.1 million below its first-apron hard cap. Waiving a player like Dalton Knecht would solve the roster dilemma.

But if getting under the tax is a priority, the Lakers could trade that extra player, like Knecht, for cash and/or a second-round pick. With no player coming back, that would give the Lakers a $4.2 million trade exception and time to evaluate the roster before making a more significant move.

Top basketball executive Rob Pelinka recently said the team can consider a 2-for-1 trade. While he didn't name candidates, the standard-contract players Pelinka and Redick didn't mention in last week's press conference were Jaden Hardy, Vanderbilt, LaRavia and Knecht. That could have been an oversight, or it may indicate their importance to the Lakers' primary decision-makers.

Los Angeles has one clean first-round pick swap and three second-rounders to offer as incentives if a starting-caliber power forward becomes available in the next few weeks. More likely, the Lakers will wait to see what they have for a more dramatic move, but the NBA has seen more late-summer trades over the past few weeks than usual.

Can Lakers Defend?

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Walker Kessler

While Kessler missed most of last year with a shoulder injury, he was one of the league's best rim-protecting centers during the 2024-25 season with the Utah Jazz. At the same time, the Jazz were among the league's worst defensive teams.

The point is, the Lakers won't magically become a dominant defensive squad by plugging Kessler in at center. The perimeter defenders have to do their job as well. Redick expressed confidence that his team already has what it needs to do so, but press conferences are not under oath and involve a certain level of salesmanship.

For example, at a similar pre-training-camp press conference two years ago, Redick sidestepped a question about whether the team needed a traditional center. L.A. acquired Deandre Ayton the following summer and added Kessler this past July.

The Lakers' defensive potential looks iffy, which may not be a major issue in the regular season but could be a bigger liability in the playoffs. Still, the front office may wait until trade season (December 15 through the February trade deadline) to address proven needs, rather than act on a preconceived notion of what they lack.

Do the Lakers Lack a Backup Center?

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Sandro Mamukelashvili

Should Mamukelashvili win the starting spot at power forward, the only center coming off the bench would be Looney, who is listed by the NBA as a 6'9" forward.

In his best years with the Golden State Warriors, Looney averaged below 24 minutes per game. If Kessler needs to sit out for an extended period, Looney is ill-equipped to start.

Mamukelashvili is a talented offensive player, but he's not considered a strong rim protector. He may not start, serving as Kessler's primary backup with Redick going with offense in reserve. Looney is a smart, experienced player and a viable option when the Lakers need an undersized, switchable defender.

Ultimately, L.A. is one center short and needs someone who can play a role similar to Kessler's as a rim protector, screen setter and lob threat.

How Do the Lakers Stack Up?

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Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić

The Lakers' top-three players should fit well together. Dončić and Reaves bring substantial offensive firepower. Kessler fills a vital need at center. Then, Collin Sexton, Grimes and Mamukelashvili round out the team's primary attackers offensively.

The team has a lengthy list of role players who could contribute, including Bronny James, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle, Adou Thiero, Cameron Carr and Kevon Looney. Redick faces a difficult task in establishing a viable rotation.

Still, the Lakers are top-heavy. Like all NBA teams, health is vital. L.A. has a thinner margin than other franchises with deeper rosters. Catching the Spurs and Thunder in the standings doesn't seem realistic. The Lakers are in that next group, fighting off the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, and any other Western Conference squads that coalesce.

As constructed, the Lakers should be a fun watch, winning close to 50 games, but their postseason viability is questionable unless the defense is significantly better than projected.

Discounting Dončić, one of the league's most talented offensive players, would be a mistake. In the first year without LeBron James, the Lakers are still reconfiguring around their star.

The front office may need at least one more trade deadline and another offseason to push into elite status, but Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs could remain a major obstacle for the foreseeable future.

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