LAKERS IDEAL POST-DEADLINE ROSTER ENTERING 2026

WRITTEN + EDITED BY JORDYN BONTRAGER

Believe it or not, tonight’s clash with (arguably the most unforeseen East #1 seed we have ever seen) Detroit will be the official halfway mark of the 2025-2026 campaign for the Lakers in Luka’s first full season with Los Angeles. And while the team’s early szn success (19-7 through the first 26 games) sent positive signals across the league, you better believe that their recent skid (lost 3 of last 4) sent corresponding signals across the actively open trade market.

With a new regime running the entire organization off the court, changes seem to be on the horizon with regards to the present player personnel on the court. Chances are that new majority owner Mark Walter will waste no time in reassuring the fanbase of this franchise’s annual commitment to it’s pursuit of a championship. The billionaire businessman brings an abundance of championship experience, fresh off his third World Series ring as the controlling owner of the LA Dodgers.

Needless to say, we can anticipate Walter actively working alongside Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick as the staff investigates the proper ingredients for a championship formula in both the present and future timelines. There is no telling exactly what these gentlemen have in mind when it comes to potential shake-ups. Perhaps they actually have nothing in mind, electing to simply stay the course and allow the active group to continue growing organically…

…Let’s be honest though, the likelihood of the Lakers standing pat and going with the flow is slim to none. This is the Los Angeles freakin’ Lakers, the only NBA team PERENNIALLY painted on ‘championship or bust’ canvasses via the media. And with the mystery surrounding LeBron’s potential retirement at the conclusion of the season, the stakes are higher than ever for the league’s most crowned club.

There are endless routes that this front office can run to kick off 2026 in it’s championship chase. They could go all in and find a way to win the Giannis sweepstakes. They could make a run at a misplaced rising star such as Michael Porter Jr. There are a plethora of permutations which Pelinka and co can pull the trigger on, some involving bigger names (see above) and some involving a combination of lesser-heralded names (see paragraphs to follow). Whatever way the big wigs take us, it needs to be in a direction more directly trending towards a title.

Here is the potential path that could (should/would) prove fruitful as it pertains to LA’s desired destination.

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TRADE #1

LAKERS GET: Herb Jones ($13.9 MILLI) + Jose Alvarado ($4.5 MILLI)

PELICANS GET: Rui Hachimura + 2031 First-Round Pick

TRADE #2

LAKERS GET: Gary Trent Jr.($3.7 MILLI)

BUCKS GET: Dalton Knecht ($4 MILLI)

TRADE #3

LAKERS GET: Goga Bitadze ($8.3 MILLI)

MAGIC GET: Maxi Kleber ($11 MILLI) + 2032 Second-Round Pick

TRADE #4

LAKERS GET: Georges Niang ($8.2 MILLI) + Svi Mykhailiuk ($3.7 MILLI)

JAZZ GET: Gabe Vincent ($11.5 MILLI)

*THIS WOULD RESULT IN THE TEAM HOUSING 16 PLAYERS + NEEDING TO WAIVE SOMEONE, WHOM WOULD BE NIANG IN THIS CASE*

UPDATED ROSTER

PG = Luka Doncic | 6’8” | 230 LBS | 26 YEARS | PLAYER OPTION FOR 2028-2029

SG = Austin Reaves | 6’5” | 197 LBS | 27 YEARS | PLAYER OPTION AFTER 2025-2026

SF = Herb Jones | 6’7” | 206 LBS | 27 YEARS | PLAYER OPTION FOR 2029-2030

PF = LeBron James | 6’9” | 250 LBS | 41 YEARS | UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT AFTER 2025-2026

C = DeAndre Ayton | 7’0” | 252 LBS | 27 YEARS | PLAYER OPTION FOR 2026-2027

PG = Jose Alvarado | 6’0” | 179 LBS | 27 YEARS | PLAYER OPTION FOR 2026-2027

G = Marcus Smart | 6’3” | 220 LBS | 31 YEARS | PLAYER OPTION FOR 2026-2027

SG = Gary Trent Jr. | 6’5” | 204 LBS | 26 YEARS | PLAYER OPTION FOR 2026-2027

F = Jake LaRavia | 6’7” | 235 LBS | 23 YEARS | UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT AFTER 2026-2027

C = Jaxson Hayes | 7’0” | 220 LBS | 25 YEARS | UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT AFTER 2025-2026

G = Bronny James Jr. | 6’2” | 210 LBS | 21 YEARS | NON-GUARANTEED AFTER 2025-2026

G-F = Svi Mykhailiuk | 6’7” | 205 LBS | 28 YEARS | TEAM OPTION FOR 2027-2028

F = Adou Thiero | 6’8” | 220 LBS | 21 YEARS | TEAM OPTION FOR 2027-2028

F = Jarred Vanderbilt | 6’8” | 215 LBS | 26 YEARS | TEAM OPTION FOR 2027-2028

C = Goga Bitadze | 6’11” | 250 LBS | 26 YEARS | UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT AFTER 2026-2027

G = Nick Smith Jr | 6’2” | 185 LBS | 21 YEARS | 2-WAY x UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT AFTER 2025-2026

SG = Chris Manon | 6’4” | 209 LBS | 24 YEARS | 2-WAY x UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT AFTER 2025-2026

C = Drew Timme | 6’10” | 235 LBS | 25 YEARS | 2-WAY x UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT AFTER 2025-2026

All of the above was assuredly a ton to grasp, so here’s a bit more contextual breakdown of why each of the aforementioned steps could (should/would) lead the Lakers back where they belong.

While early indications seem to signal stiff bargaining with the Pelicans’ shot-callers, Pelinka and his pals up top need to do whatever needs to be done to secure the swingman services of consistently-echoed target Herb Jones. No matter how you evaluate it, his fit with this team going forward seems as seamless as seamless comes. He is the EXACT bridge this starting lineup needs between Doncic-Reaves in the backcourt and James-Ayton up front. Jones was an All-NBA Defensive First Teamer in 2023-2024 (a szn in which he also shot a career-best 41.8% from deep), and claims a real case as the game’s premier stopper on the perimeter. Offensively, his outside efficiency should continue to climb as his rhythm re-stabilizes after missing a majority of last season with shoulder setbacks (his career 82.3% rate from the charity stripe also stands in support of this). Jones will never mistake anyone for a creator, but has furthermore solidified himself as a connective secondary playmaker.

Add in Alvarado’s combination of tenacious tactics at the point of attack defensively + tough spirit as a shot/playmaker offensively, and you have got yourself a pair of gritty, defensive-minded 3&D options to sprinkle into the perimeter depth chart. With a trio of talented guards (Fears x Poole x Murray) more highly prioritized in the Pels’ future plans, Alvarado’s exit seems imminent and the Lakers would be wise to work his name into negotiations. Jones + Alvarado combine to make almost exactly the same as Rui Hachimura this season, and attaching the team’s 2031 FRP alongside Hachimura should be enough to seal the deal on this one.

New Orleans should fully embrace Derik Queen as it’s frontcourt cornerstone of the future, thus meaning Zion Williamson should soon become the starting power forward for a different squad. Hachimura would fill Z’s spot in the starting unit, and could actually fit quite comfortably alongside a playmaking big of Queen’s nature. Think Michael Porter Jr. in Denver.

The second swap is much simpler. Milwaukee is bracing for a seemingly unavoidable post-Giannis rebuild, a bandage which the front office would be wise to rip off SOON. Once Giannis is indeed relocated, the fire sale will commence with regards to the remaining roster. Anyone and everyone will be available for the right cost, and Gary Trent Jr. could come relatively cheap. GTJ is having the least efficient shooting season since his rookie year, but still remains ready to fire (37.8% from triple on 5.8 3PA/game) and stays scrappy on the less glamorous end. Exchanging his established 3&D presence for Dalton Knecht’s volatility would be a home run, and a true change of scenery could (should/would) catapult Knecht’s career trajectory back on track.

The tertiary transaction involves acquiring a bit more beef to battle the bruisers. Jaxson Hayes has been absolutely phenomenal all year, and this is not about finding a better backup big man behind Deandre Ayton. However, going out and getting a guy like Goga Bitadze (per-36 averages this szn: 12.5 PPG x 10.8 RPG x 2.8 APG x 2.8 BPG x 1.5 SPG) would serve as a nice frontcourt insurance policy off the pine. Moritz Wagner should be set to return from an ACL injury soon, and with Wendell Carter Jr. + Jonathan Isaac also in the mix for Center minutes, Bitadze could soon become the odd man out of Orlando’s rotation. Thus, attaching a future SRP to Maxi Kleber’s expiring contract should be enough to make it happen.

Last but not least, a good ole-fashioned 2-for-1: Georges Niang + Svi Mykhailiuk for Gabe Vincent. Svi, who has started in all 30 games in which he has suited up and splashed 40.1% of his 4.7 3PA/game, has actually been very solid for the Jazz this year. But with so much superstar talent lingering towards the top of the 2026 NBA draft boards, guys like Svi gotta go for rebuilding teams like Utah. Mykhailiuk would certainly not be starting for the Lakers, but his underrated 3&D wing presence off the bench could (should/would) be greatly beneficial for the team who originally brought his NBA dreams to life. Niang would fall victim to the numbers game, being cut to shrink the roster size to the league maximum 15.

All things considered, the executive branch has some decisions to make in both the foreseeable and faint future. They will have a larger accumulation of assets at their disposal come this offseason (when they will have full access to trade their FRPs in 2026, 2031 AND 2033), but can they wait that long to make any major maneuvers?

There is no clear-cut evidence that this team can hang with the likes of OKC, so some sort of roster adjustments seem to be in store as the front office looks to even the score. With the NBA trade deadline just over a month away, how do you see things playing out for the purple and gold?