The Los Angeles Lakers made their intentions clear this past offseason: this team is being built around Luka Dončić. And if the latest reports are any indication, Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office are sticking to that plan with laser focus.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Lakers are once again front and center as trade season officially kicks off. Their goals haven’t shifted much since the summer - they’re still hunting for upgrades in the 3-and-D department, a need that’s become even more apparent as the season has unfolded.
Names like Keon Ellis and Herbert Jones have surfaced in connection to L.A., though Stein notes that Jones may be out of reach. Still, the Lakers are clearly targeting a specific player profile: young, defensively sound wings who can knock down shots and thrive off the ball. It’s a smart play when you consider who they’re building around.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Stein reports that the Lakers are focused on acquiring players in the same age range as Dončić (26) and Austin Reaves (27).
That’s a telling detail. It suggests this isn’t about making a desperate swing for a title this year by mortgaging the future for a veteran on the back nine of his career.
Instead, it’s about building a sustainable core that can compete now and grow together for the next several seasons.
That philosophy was already on display over the summer, when the Lakers split their midlevel exception between Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia. Rather than chasing a big-name veteran, they opted for younger pieces who could slot into the system and develop alongside Dončić and Reaves. It wasn’t flashy, but it was intentional - and it speaks volumes about how this front office views its timeline.
So what does that mean for the months ahead?
Well, for starters, it reinforces that Dončić and Reaves are the pillars of this current Lakers era. Every move from here on out is about complementing their skill sets and maximizing their prime years.
That likely means more than one 3-and-D addition is on the table. Surrounding Dončić’s playmaking and Reaves’ versatility with long, switchable defenders who can space the floor isn’t just a luxury - it’s the blueprint.
But there’s also a sense that the Lakers aren’t in full sprint mode. At 18-7, they’ve put together a strong start to the season.
They’re in the mix, no doubt. But they’re not acting like this is a now-or-never campaign.
With Dončić and Reaves still in their mid-20s, L.A. doesn’t need to force a blockbuster just to chase short-term results. They can afford to be measured, to make the right deal instead of the biggest one.
That said, don’t expect them to stand pat. The Lakers almost always make noise around the deadline, and this year should be no different. Whether it’s a move for a young wing or a multi-player package to deepen the rotation, something is likely coming before February.
The only real question? How bold will they get - and how much are they willing to give up to build the kind of roster that can contend not just this season, but for years to come?
One thing’s for sure: the Lakers are playing the long game with Dončić and Reaves at the center. And if they keep making the right moves around them, the rest of the league will be watching closely.