You do not need a long debate or a spreadsheet of advanced metrics to figure out how the Los Angeles Lakers did this offseason. It starts and ends with one thing, which is the fact that Luka Doncic is staying in Los Angeles. And that alone is enough to define the entire summer.
Jovan Buha said it best in The Buha Block: “This concludes a successful offseason for the Lakers. Dare I say an A+ offseason for the Lakers?"
Buha continued, "And the reason I say that is because regardless of how you feel about the moves that the Lakers made, the biggest move that they were going to potentially make this summer was… extending Luka Doncic.”
Extending Luka Doncic made the Lakers' offseason an undeniable A+
Luka Doncic agreed to a three-year, $165 million max extension that keeps him in purple and gold through 2028. That is not some sort of regular contract; it is a clear sign that he believes in the organization, the direction they are heading, and his role at the center of it all.
Even if the Lakers had done nothing else, the extension would have been enough.
Buha stated, “They could have done nothing and just extended Luka, and that to me would be a successful offseason because of how it’s setting them up for the future.”
The thing is they did not stop there. This offseason was defined not just by re-signing a superstar but by building with him. Doncic was not just informed of the Lakers’ plans; he helped shape them.
Marcus Smart and DeAndre Ayton were not random pickups. Doncic had a hand in those decisions, and the front office listened.
Buha noted, “The fact that the moves that they made were enough to extend Luka, and the fact that he had a hand in acquiring and convincing two of those guys to come to L.A. … is a successful offseason.”
Smart brings defense. Ayton brings size. They even brought in Jake LaRavia, who brings shooting. All three of those players, most importantly, provide depth to this squad, something this roster definitely needed more of.
The Lakers are threading a difficult needle at the moment. They are competing now while keeping future flexibility intact. This summer, they managed to do both, and with Doncic leading the way, they have really given themselves a foundation that could hold up for years.
So all in all, there is really only one grade that fits all of that, and that is without a doubt an A+.