Lakers’ 2026 Offseason Could Be a Franchise Reset - If They Play It Smart
For the first time in years, the Los Angeles Lakers are staring down a summer with more than just hope and headlines - they’re looking at real cap space. The 2026 offseason is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for the franchise, with the kind of financial flexibility that could allow Rob Pelinka and the front office to do more than just shuffle the deck. This time, they can actually re-stack the roster.
And with Luka Dončić now the face of the franchise, the stakes - and the possibilities - are massive.
Big Contracts Off the Books, Big Decisions Ahead
If the current roster stays intact through the end of the 2025-26 season, only six Lakers will have guaranteed money on the books for 2026-27. Dončić, unsurprisingly, tops that list with a $49.8 million cap hit. After him, it’s a steep drop to Jarred Vanderbilt at just over $12.4 million.
The rest of the guaranteed deals are rookie-scale or team-friendly: Jake LaRavia ($6 million), Dalton Knecht ($4.2 million), Adou Thiero ($2.15 million), and Bronny James with just $1.26 million of his $2.3 million salary guaranteed. Even assuming the Lakers pick up Bronny’s team option, they’d still sit at around $76.9 million in guaranteed salary.
Now here’s where it gets interesting. With a projected $166 million salary cap and a first apron of $220.8 million, that leaves the Lakers with a rare - and potentially game-changing - amount of room to maneuver. For a team that’s had to rely on minimum contracts and mid-level exceptions the last two offseasons, this is a seismic shift.
Reaves, Ayton, and Smart: The Known Variables
Austin Reaves is expected to decline his player option, and rightfully so - he’s due for a bigger payday. But the Lakers will have the means to bring him back without compromising their flexibility.
The only other player options on the books belong to Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, who combine for $13.4 million. Even if both opt in, Los Angeles will still be in a strong position to reshape the roster around Dončić and Reaves.
A Wide-Open Market, Even Without Superstar Fireworks
Let’s be clear: the 2026 free agent class isn’t overflowing with superstars. Beyond aging icons like Kevin Durant and LeBron James, the marquee names - James Harden, Zach LaVine, Trae Young - don’t exactly fit the Lakers’ current backcourt structure. With Dončić and Reaves already commanding the ball, adding another high-usage guard could muddy the waters more than it helps.
But that’s not where the real value lies this time around.
Instead, the Lakers will be in a position to go after the kind of players that build out a real rotation - the kind of signings that win playoff series. Veterans like Norman Powell, Nick Richards, Mitchell Robinson, P.J.
Washington, Nikola Vučević, and Andrew Wiggins could all be in play. These are players who can start or come off the bench, and more importantly, they won’t require the Lakers to break the bank or sacrifice their core identity.
Then there’s the younger tier - players who haven’t quite hit their ceiling but have shown enough flashes to warrant a second look. Ayo Dosunmu, Tari Eason, Keon Ellis, Quentin Grimes, Bennedict Mathurin, and Mark Williams all fall into that category. These are the types of pieces that could thrive in a new system alongside Dončić’s playmaking and Reaves’ versatility.
And if the Lakers want to swing bigger? There’s always the long-shot dream of restricted free agents or players with team options like Luguentz Dort, Jalen Duren, or Isaiah Hartenstein. Those deals are trickier to pull off, but in 2026, Los Angeles will finally have the cap space to at least be in the conversation.
A Chance to Build, Not Just Patch
That’s the real story here. For the past two offseasons, the Lakers have been forced to operate on the margins - using minimum deals and exceptions not just to fill out the bench, but to plug real holes in the rotation.
That’s a tough way to build around a superstar. It’s a tougher way to win.
But in 2026, that changes. The Lakers will have the rare chance to invest in real depth, to target players who can grow with the team instead of just holding the line. And with their own first-round pick in hand, they’ll have the opportunity to add talent at every level - through the draft, free agency, and potentially even trades.
The Dončić Era Begins with a Clean Slate
This isn’t just about cap space. It’s about direction. With Dončić locked in and Reaves likely to return, the Lakers can finally start building a roster that fits their stars, not just one that fits the budget.
There’s no need to chase short-term fixes or overpay for aging names. The front office has the flexibility to be strategic, to prioritize fit, development, and long-term sustainability. That kind of planning has been a luxury in recent years - now, it’s a necessity.
If the Lakers stay patient, avoid mortgaging the future, and make smart use of their cap room, the 2026 offseason could be the turning point that defines the next era of Lakers basketball. One built not just on star power, but on structure, depth, and flexibility.
And in today’s NBA, that might be the most valuable currency of all.