After a summer of shakeups, the Lakers are stepping into a new chapter with Luka Doncic at the center, and not everyone is impressed with how the front office handled it.
Byron Scott was blunt in his assessment of the team’s work this offseason. The former Lakers guard and coach called Los Angeles’ summer the “most overrated offseason” in the league on his Fast Break Podcast.
That’s a sharp take, especially considering the Lakers did make one of their most notable moves by landing rising star Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz. They also added perimeter help in Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams as part of a broader effort to reshape the roster.
Still, the reaction around the league has been mixed. The Lakers made noise, but not the kind of noise that put them in the same conversation as the teams that drew bigger headlines this offseason.
The franchise has clearly moved into a different phase after eight seasons of the LeBron James era, and the idea now is to build around Doncic for the long haul. That reality pushed the Lakers into a summer of significant change, with several players coming and going.
Scott’s criticism may be harsh, but it also reflects the fact that Los Angeles did not make the kind of splashy additions that instantly changed the title picture in the Western Conference. The Spurs and Thunder are viewed as the class of the West, while the Timberwolves also made moves of their own.
Even so, the Lakers may have quietly addressed some real needs, especially on defense. Kessler gives them size and protection in the middle, while Thybulle and Williams bring more length on the perimeter.
The bigger question is how quickly it all clicks around Doncic and Austin Reaves. If the pieces fit early, the Lakers could surprise people. If not, the opening stretch of the 2026-27 season could come with plenty of questions.
Either way, Los Angeles is shaping up as one of the most intriguing teams to watch when the season begins.
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