Feb 3, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) gestures after scoring in the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Most experts would agree that the Los Angeles Lakers had a pretty solid offseason. While they lost LeBron James and Marcus Smart (along with other notable rotation players), they made up for it with the signings of Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, and Kevon Looney (among others).
After finishing fourth in the West last season, it’s only right for them to be considered among the contenders in the West for 2026-27. According to former NBA sharpshooter Channing Frye, however, that’s overselling it. He says the Lakers are not capable of making a playoff run as currently constructed, claiming teams like the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Thunder, and Rockets as superior.
“Make a playoff run? No, they can make the playoffs. I don’t like the way that the team is built at all,” said Frye. “And maybe something happens, but no, they’re going to lose to a team like Denver, Minnesota, OKC, Houston; I even got Phoenix right there. Utah. I mean, do I even have to say, San Antonio?”
For Frye, a 2016 NBA champion, it’s not Luka Doncic that will hold the Lakers back. Rather, it’s who the Lakers have selected to put beside him for the upcoming season. He’s clearly not sold on their big additions this offseason, and especially in the frontcourt, where Kessler still has so much to prove.
By some accounts, the Lakers were trying to replicate what the Mavericks built in 2024, when Luka led them to the NBA Finals, but Frye says they aren’t even close. Back then, Dallas had much more size and depth in the frontcourt, an area the Lakers remain relatively thin.
“If this was trying to make what they had in Dallas, I think they need to re-look at what they had in Dallas,” Frye added. “Like an athlete at center, a prime athlete at forward, a prime athlete defender at three, a prime athlete shooter at two, and then him. He needs to be surrounded by defensive athletes, guys that can get out and play, make their own plays. This team feels very ploppy, and very half-court sets team.”
Arguably the biggest red flag for the new-look Lakers is defense. Historically, Luka-led teams have struggled on this end, but the Lakers did little to address the issue outside of the Kessler signing. The combination of Doncic and Reaves leaves them especially vulnerable, as they lack the talent on the wing to contain perimeter threats.
“This doesn’t seem like a team that’s going to get out and just run, but maybe that’s not what Luka wants to do anymore,” Frye said. “I felt like the other team definitely wanted to get out, run, be athletic, and then when things got down at halfcourt, they would just go to Luka. Where this team seems like they want to live in the half-court.”
In 2016, Channing Frye saw what it takes to succeed at the highest levels. It took a miracle for a stacked Cavs team to win it all that year, but there was never a doubt they were capable with so much talent, depth, and chemistry across the roster. So when he says the Lakers aren’t ready to compete with the likes of the Spurs and Thunder, it carries a little extra weight knowing that he speaks from experience.
This season, Luka Doncic will be trying to prove him wrong, but only Rob Pelinka can adjust the roster and build a team worthy of his game. Clearly, there are doubts that Walker Kessler and Austin will be enough to hold it down.