Nobody said it would be easy to fill LeBron James' shoes. And, of course, it's not easy. James is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of player. But, the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA star decided to part ways after the 2025-26 season, and now, both parties are trying to move on.
On top of James, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes also bolted.
Now, the Lakers are getting a not-so-great grade for their offseason moves, and that includes the James exit but also the other players involved.
Lakers hit with a C+ grade for offseason moves, including LeBron James exit
In a new tally out on Wednesday from ESPN's Zach Kram, the Lakers get hit with a C+ grade for their offseason moves. Those include the exits but also the additions of Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Kevon Looney, Jaden Hardy, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams.
"The Lakers might have been the busiest team of the summer," he notes. "But did all that activity make them better, or were they merely running in place?"
Of special note, he says that the Lakers only have one player left from last season who was inside the top seven Lakers in playoff minutes, according to NBA research: Austin Reaves. He adds that "the Lakers now have one of the NBA's weakest forward groups, a glaring hole at backup center and almost no remaining draft assets to trade after giving up a haul for Kessler, who has never really played a meaningful NBA game."
It's harsh, but the reality is that there are going to be some pains after the kind of upheaval that the Lakers underwent following the last game of the season. Still, it's nothing they can't overcome, because, well, they're the Lakers.
More NBA news:
Warriors' Draymond Green just got recognition that should silence his critics
Pistons' Cade Cunningham's New Sneaker Gets an Official Release Date
Lakers found a gem nobody expected to be this good