The Los Angeles Lakers are playing the long game - and they’re playing it with Luka Dončić in mind. As the trade deadline approaches, don’t expect fireworks in L.A.
Rob Pelinka, the team’s president of basketball operations, is keeping his powder dry, focused instead on the summer of 2026. That’s when the real roster shake-up is expected to begin, with the goal of building a legitimate contender around their new franchise cornerstone.
So, what does that kind of roster look like? According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Lakers might want to take a page out of the 2023-24 Dallas Mavericks’ playbook - the same team that made a run to the NBA Finals with Dončić leading the charge.
The Dallas Blueprint
The Mavericks found success by surrounding Luka with a very specific set of tools: athletic wings who could defend, shooters who could stretch the floor, and bigs who could finish above the rim and protect it on the other end. Think Josh Green and Derrick Jones Jr. for perimeter defense, Tim Hardaway Jr., Kyrie Irving, and Seth Curry for spacing, and a trio of rim-running bigs in Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Dwight Powell.
Windhorst pointed to Lively in particular as the kind of lob threat that fits perfectly with Luka’s game. His ability to finish plays in the paint and anchor the defense gave Dallas a vertical dimension that opened everything up for Dončić.
The message for the Lakers? Go get a big who can do that - and no, Deandre Ayton doesn’t fit the bill.
What the Lakers Need
Pelinka’s task is straightforward, at least on paper: find at least one reliable lob threat and surround Dončić with multi-positional defenders who can knock down open threes. Players like PJ Washington - who did a little bit of everything for Dallas - are the archetype.
He defended multiple positions, spaced the floor, and didn’t need the ball to be effective. That’s the kind of versatility the Lakers will be hunting this summer.
Austin Reaves: Luka’s Future Backcourt Partner?
Windhorst also noted that Austin Reaves is expected to return to the Lakers on a max deal. That move would solidify Reaves as Dončić’s long-term backcourt partner - a role not unlike what Kyrie Irving played alongside Luka in Dallas.
Now, Reaves isn’t Kyrie in terms of generational talent or offensive wizardry, but he’s more than capable of scoring at a primary-option level. That’s crucial.
With Reaves drawing defensive attention, teams won’t be able to load up on Luka the way they might otherwise.
The LeBron Factor
As for LeBron James, Windhorst didn’t entirely close the door on a potential return. But if it happens, it won’t be at anything near his current $52.6 million salary.
The math just doesn’t work. With Dončić and Reaves both commanding max contracts, there’s simply no cap space left to bring back LeBron at a premium and still build a competitive roster around Luka.
It’s a tough reality, but one the Lakers will have to navigate carefully.
The Cap Sheet and the Clean Slate
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, the Lakers’ books are relatively clean. Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Adou Thiero are all under contract for a combined $18.4 million.
Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton hold player options, so their future in L.A. is still up in the air. But beyond that, Pelinka has a blank canvas - and that’s exactly what he wants.
It’s hard to say exactly who the Lakers will target this summer, but the roadmap is clear. Athletic defenders, floor spacers, and rim-running bigs - all built to complement Luka Dončić’s unique skill set. If Pelinka can follow the Dallas model and tailor it to L.A.’s needs, the Lakers could be back in the title hunt sooner than many expect.