The Lakers are headed into a season that looks different from anything they’ve had in nearly a decade. With LeBron James out of the picture for the first time in that span, the focus in Los Angeles has shifted squarely to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
That new era comes with obvious questions, though. The roster has talent, but it also has some clear gaps, and the front office still has work to do before the season starts.
As Sean Deveney of Heavy.com put it, “There are, however, obvious holes. With 16 roster spots, the Lakers would need to get rid of at least one player, though they can carry as many as 20 through training camp in October,"
One of the biggest issues is in the middle. The Lakers have been looking at ways to add another center, and the options remain open.
Dan Woike of The Athletic reported, “The Lakers are still monitoring the market for big men, team sources told The Athletic," Woike reported." They traded for Walker Kessler and signed Kevon Looney to play center, and Mamukelashvili can play the position, too.
The team could address the position either by trade or signing, like with potentially adding Thybulle. The roster is currently at full capacity."
One name floated as a fit is Isaiah Stewart, with Lake Show Life’s Maxwell Ogden making the case that Los Angeles should go after him if the chance presents itself. “It's a bit of a long shot, but it's one Los Angeles should seriously pursue if the opportunity arises to do so.
Minutes at the 4 and 5 spots are going to be tough to come by in Memphis, and Stewart's $15 million salary could make him too expensive to justify retaining beyond this season. After Stewart ranked in the 98th percentile in rim protection and overall screener defense in 2025-26, per Basketball Index, it's impossible to view him as anything other than an elite defender,” Ogden wrote.
Stewart would bring the kind of frontcourt toughness the Lakers still need. His physical style and rim protection would give them another defensive anchor inside, and Doncic’s playmaking could help unlock more on the other end, especially as a pick-and-roll option.
He is on a $60 million contract, and that could make him a more dependable frontcourt answer than Kevon Looney. For a Lakers team that knows it needs more depth up front, Stewart checks a lot of boxes.
In Other News...
Former Nets Wing Just Gave Brooklyn Fans A Tough Reality Check
Ziaire Williams is back on the move, and this time his path leads to Los Angeles on a one-year veteran minimum deal with the Lakers. The former Nets wing arrives with a clear role in mind as a reserve who can stretch the floor and defend on the perimeter, while also reuniting with former high school teammate Bronny James, who remains with the Lakers as he enters his third season.
For Los Angeles, it is a low-cost addition with a familiar modern appeal: a wing who can fit next to bigger names without needing the ball in his hands. For Brooklyn fans, it is another reminder of a player once in their orbit finding a new home elsewhere, even as the Lakers hope Williams can settle into the kind of three-and-D role that has become increasingly valuable over the course of a long season. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Kuminga Pursuit Just Hit A Roster Problem They Can't Ignore
Jonathan Kumingas market appears to be narrowing, and the Lakers have moved into a familiar kind of limbo that comes with chasing a talented young player without a clean path to get him. With Cleveland out of the picture after choosing Peyton Watson, Los Angeles is now one of the teams most closely linked to Kuminga as it tries to keep the door open on a deal that would add another high-upside piece to the roster.
The issue is less about interest than logistics. A sign-and-trade would require cooperation from the Hawks, who would rather be compensated with draft capital than take back players, and the Lakers do not have a lot of either draft assets or open roster spots to work with. So even as the sides move toward a contract, the real question is whether Los Angeles can actually clear the deck enough to make the move happen. [Read more 🡒]
Matisse Thybulle Sounds Ready For What The Lakers Need Most
The Lakers spent part of the offseason looking for more length and discipline on the wing, and Matisse Thybulle gives them a very specific answer to that need. The veteran forward arrived on a one-year minimum deal, bringing the defensive reputation that made him appealing in the first place, along with the kind of experience teams usually want around a changing rotation. He also made it clear he sees this as a fresh start, even choosing No. 26 as a signal that he is turning a page in his career.
For a team that has leaned on star power but still needs dependable work around the edges, Thybulles fit is easy to understand. His challenge is less about proving he can guard and more about staying available and carving out a role after a season that ended with encouraging defensive numbers despite the injury history that has followed him. If he can supply the Lakers with steady wing resistance, he may end up being one of the quieter additions with the clearest path to minutes. [Read more 🡒]