The Lakers reportedly expect to take a slight step back next season while building around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, with their true championship window targeted for 2027-28.
The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly taking a longer-term approach to building around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves rather than prioritizing an immediate championship push.
Speaking on the Lakers Collective podcast, NBA reporter Jovan Buha revealed that multiple people within the organization acknowledged Los Angeles may have taken a slight step backward this offseason.
"I spoke with several Lakers people this weekend, and more often than not, there was an acknowledgment that we might have taken a slight step back this offseason," Buha said.
"You could argue that, on paper, we don't have the same top-end talent. We lost LeBron, we lost good players in Marcus, Rui, and Luke, and we understand why some people are down on the offseason and why some people feel like we've taken a step back."
Lakers focused on long-term vision around Doncic and Reaves
Rather than building the strongest possible roster for the upcoming campaign, the Lakers appear focused on creating a younger core capable of competing over several seasons.
According to Buha, the organization wants Doncic and Reaves, both still in their prime years, to grow alongside the rest of the roster.
"This is about the longer-term vision here, building this core from the ground up around Luka and Austin, having these guys in their mid-to-late 20s all growing together and building out the next three to five years with this core," Buha explained.
"If you were looking at it through the myopic lens of, 'We need to win a championship this season and build the best possible roster for this season,' that's obviously not the case."
Credit Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix
Lakers still believe they can win more than 50 games
Although the Lakers may not view themselves as championship favorites next season, the organization reportedly still believes the current roster can produce a successful campaign.
Buha suggested that Los Angeles could win more than 50 games, secure home-court advantage in the playoffs, and reach at least the second round before making further roster changes next summer.
"If you're looking at it like, 'This season we can still be a 50-plus-win team, we can be a home-court-advantage team, we can make at least the second round and then build off that next summer,' I think that makes a ton of sense," he said.
The Lakers could then evaluate which players fit alongside Doncic and Reaves before pursuing additional trades or signings.
Los Angeles targeting 2027-28 title window
Buha indicated that the Lakers believe they could become a legitimate contender by the 2027-28 season after giving their new core a full year to develop together.
"With a year under our belt and a successful season in terms of 50-plus wins and reaching at least the second round, we can be a true contender on the level of Oklahoma City or San Antonio, or at least be in that conversation," Buha said.
"If you're looking at it as a two-to-three-year build and where they'll be at some point around 2027-28, I think that makes a ton of sense."
For now, the Lakers appear to be balancing present-day competitiveness with their longer-term plan, rather than sacrificing future flexibility for an all-in championship push next season.
Credit Scanpix
Lakers complete major roster overhaul this summer
The Lakers have experienced one of the NBA's busiest offseasons, reshaping almost the entire supporting cast around Doncic and Reaves.
Los Angeles retained Reaves on a new four-year contract before acquiring Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz and adding Jaden Hardy in the deal that sent Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards.
The Lakers also signed Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili to four-year contracts, Collin Sexton to a two-year deal, and three-time NBA champion Kevon Looney to a one-year agreement.
Their latest addition was Ziaire Williams, who reportedly agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract after averaging a career-high 10.2 points with the Brooklyn Nets last season.
Los Angeles also moved up from the No. 25 pick to No. 24 during the NBA Draft to select Cameron Carr.
The arrivals were accompanied by several significant departures, with LeBron James informing the franchise that he would play elsewhere, Rui Hachimura joining the Clippers, Marcus Smart signing with the Rockets, Luke Kennard moving to the Suns, Jaxson Hayes joining the Jazz and Ayton being traded to Washington.
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