The Los Angeles Lakers have taken an intriguing approach toward roster building this summer. Considering the team’s summer signings, it is evident that Los Angeles succeeded in addressing a lot of key issues on the roster. But it is also worth noting how these additions cater to the Lakers’ superstar Luka Doncic.
It is no secret that the Purple and Gold view Doncic as the face of the franchise. While LeBron James remains a key player for the team, the Slovenian guard is undoubtedly the future of the team. In this regard, building the roster around him appears to be the sensible approach.
With players such as Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart joining the team on multi-year deals, the Lakers have ensured the presence of a solid supporting cast next to their superstar. Los Angeles could continue to cultivate their overall roster strength. In this regard, Lake Show Life’s Maxwell Ogden suggested they could do so by focusing on acquiring Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis in the near future.
Keon Ellis emerges as an interesting prospect for the Lakers to bolster their backcourt rotation and their perimeter defense. The young guard boasts elite defensive upside along with reliable perimeter shooting ability, something that could be immensely valuable to the team moving forward.
Ellis garnered some trade interest from the Lakers, as well as the Golden State Warriors, this offseason. Given that the Warriors were closely involved in conversations with the Kings regarding Jonathan Kuminga, the Kings’ guard was a name that was mentioned in potential trade packages, although Sacramento didn’t seem inclined to part with him.
The 25-year-old showed significant growth over the past season. After receiving a limited role during the 2023-24 season, the guard posted a significant uptick in minutes as he logged 24.4 minutes per game last season.
Having appeared in 80 games for Sacramento in the 2024-25 season, featuring 28 starts, he averaged 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 48.9% from the field and 43.3% from three-point range.
Based on his stats, it is evident that Ellis primarily plays the role of a 3-and-D player. Owing to his experience of playing alongside a ball-dominant guard like De’Aaron Fox, the Lakers could see a lot of benefit in pairing him next to a playmaking savant like Doncic.
When additionally factoring in his ability to put pressure on the ball, force turnovers, and intercept passing lanes, there is enough evidence to suggest that he could be a valuable asset for the team.
Pursuing Ellis may not be as much of a challenge for Los Angeles, either. In line with the Lakers’ plans to keep free cap space for free agency in 2026, the Purple and Gold will be seeing a sizable amount of cap space (approx. $111.5 million) being cleared next summer.
The Kings’ guard is currently in the final year of his contract with Sacramento. Considering reports that there haven’t been conclusive discussions between the franchise and Ellis regarding an extension, the Lakers could capitalize on this situation.
With enough cap space to pursue solid free agents, along with a star-caliber player to pair with Doncic, the Lakers could effectively offer Ellis a multi-year deal and secure his place in the rotation.
Although LA’s roster-building approach has adhered to this outlook, given the team’s championship aspirations, the front office has expressed its willingness to trigger the necessary trades to acquire the right pieces to help improve its title chances.
With this in mind, there remains a possibility of a trade for Ellis during the upcoming season, although a package for him could involve a young player and draft compensation. Given the guard’s current contract value of $2.3 million a year, the Lakers may be able to acquire him in exchange for a player like Dalton Knecht. But considering their limited draft capital, a trade may not be feasible.
The Lakers’ current roster makeup sees them positioned to be a competitive team in the Western Conference. Although head coach JJ Redick has outlined the priorities for this season in alignment with the team’s championship goals, it is debatable whether they have the necessary pieces to make it out of the West.
Making the right trade could help the Lakers cement their status as title contenders. However, identifying the right target for the right package could pose a challenge for the front office.
