The Lakers spent the offseason ripping up a lot of the old blueprint, but the preseason has already given them something sturdier to lean on: a new identity built around Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Coach JJ Redick.
That is no small shift for a roster that had to absorb massive change. LeBron James left in free agency, and Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Deandre Ayton, and Jaxson Hayes were among the names sent out the door as Redick and the front office rebuilt almost from the ground up. The mission was clear - put the ball in Doncic’s hands, surround him with more shot creation, and add enough defensive support to survive when he’s carrying the load.
The early returns in the NBA Preseason have looked encouraging.
The Lakers split their first four preseason games, but the numbers around their top pieces are giving believers plenty to work with. Doncic has averaged 22 points per game, which stands as the third-most in Lakers franchise history since the 2010 NBA Preseason. Only Anthony Davis’ 2020 mark of 22.5 points and Doncic’s 2025 preseason average of 28 points finished higher.
Luka Dončić's game-high 23 PTS propelled the @Lakers to the preseason win! https://t.co/Ihq67CPBab
- NBA (@NBA) October 9, 2026
Reaves has been every bit as sharp in the table-setting role. He’s averaging 7.5 assists across two games, which puts him second in Lakers franchise history in the preseason, behind only Rajon Rondo’s 8.8 assists in 2018.
The new pieces are starting to fit as well. Walker Kessler has only appeared in one preseason game, but in 15.9 minutes he posted 11 points on 66.7% shooting, added an assist, and gave the Lakers a strong defensive line with nine rebounds, a steal, and a block. He also looks like the kind of anchor the team wanted when it started this roster reset.
That’s part of why Ben Golliver of ESPN sees this group as more than just a work in progress.
"Luka Doncic and coach JJ Redick have both floated championship aspirations ... While Doncic and guard Austin Reaves have an excellent bond, the Lakers clearly trail behind most of the leading title favorites when it comes to continuity.
But from a talent and fit perspective, the Lakers can claim some resemblance to the 2023-24 Mavericks now that center Walker Kessler is in place. Doncic led that Dallas team to 50 wins and a surprise trip to the Finals,"
For now, the preseason has backed up the idea that the Lakers are building something real. After a summer of sweeping change, the early signs point to a team that can at least be taken seriously in the championship conversation.
In Other News...
Lakers Roster Battle Just Got Tighter Before Opening Night
The Lakers push to trim their roster is moving into the final stretch, and the latest change came with a familiar kind of preseason churn. Los Angeles waived forward Cole Swider and signed guard Jahmir Young as it continues to cut down toward the 15-player limit before the 2026-27 NBA regular season. Young had already been on the organizations radar after being acquired by the Coachella Valley Lakers, and he arrives off a strong season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
For a team still sorting out the back end of the roster, these decisions matter beyond the transaction wire. Los Angeles is expected to make more moves before its preseason finale and regular season opener, so this latest swap is part of a bigger picture rather than a one-off change. The Lakers are still weighing who fits, who sticks and how much room is left for the next player to make a case. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Final Roster Crunch Just Clarified One Preseason Battle
Several NBA teams trimmed their camps on Oct. 14 as the league-wide roster crunch came into sharper focus ahead of the Oct. 19 deadline. For the Lakers, the moves were part of the normal late-preseason sorting that comes every year, but they still carried weight for players trying to survive the final cut to a 15-man regular-season roster.
Los Angeles waived Cole Swider and Jahmir Young, closing another chapter in a camp that has steadily narrowed to the names the Lakers plan to keep evaluating. Both players are likely headed toward G League opportunities or another landing spot, and their exits help clarify one of the last preseason battles as the Lakers settle the edges of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Make Another Late Roster Move Worth Watching
The Lakers added another name to the roster mix ahead of opening night, signing forward Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones to an Exhibit 10 contract as they continue sorting through the final spots on a crowded group. Tait-Jones arrives with some recent momentum, having played for Valmiera Glass VIA in the Estonian-Latvian Basketball League and earned Finals MVP honors there.
Los Angeles is still above the standard player limit, so moves like this carry more roster significance than they might in a quieter stretch of the calendar. The Lakers have already waived players such as Jahmir Young and Cole Swider in recent weeks, and Tait-Jones now becomes another player worth tracking as the team keeps trimming and shaping the roster before the deadline. [Read more 🡒]