The Los Angeles Lakers are in an interesting position heading into the 2025-26 season. After an offseason marked by significant activity, the Lakers could be viewed as a competitive unit. But considering earlier reports of the team’s plans for the future and their outlook on building around Luka Doncic, there appears to be some doubt about the direction they’re heading in.
To address this, two-time NBA champion and Lakers legend Pau Gasol shared his thoughts on the upcoming season.
“We know what we know, right? And what we know is that they have the team that they have this year, and they have to focus on this year,” Gasol said. “And make the best out of it. They have an opportunity, they added great players, they added Deandre Ayton, a big who also probably wants to prove himself, and he’ll be a great target for LeBron and Luka. So, they got to focus on that and let the organization and management worry about the next few years.”
Gasol’s statement provides important insight into the Lakers’ operations. Given the moves they’ve made this offseason, with key additions such as Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, the Lakers effectively addressed two of their most pressing roster issues.
Acquiring a big man like Ayton was a priority, something that Rob Pelinka addressed during the exit interview, too. After the playoff loss against the Timberwolves, it was abundantly clear that the Lakers needed a reliable big man who could run the floor and pair well with the superstar duo of James and Doncic.
Additionally, the Purple and Gold also identified the need for a solid point-of-attack defender. In this regard, adding Smart was a significant upgrade. Along with his defensive skills, Smart also brings leadership and necessary experience to the team. These qualities could be key in helping Los Angeles build consistency over the course of the regular season.
When considering these moves, it is clear evidence of the organization’s effort to form a cohesive and competitive roster. As Gasol notes, this puts them in a position to contend, too. Hence, it only makes sense for the Lakers to make a legitimate run at competing for the title now rather than focusing on the future.
To an extent, there has been a shift in the Lakers’ approach as of late that aligns with this as well. With Luka Doncic firmly expressing his desire to compete for a title, the Purple and Gold also seem to be investing in forming a more competitive roster, especially now that the guard is locked in with the team for the foreseeable future.
While the Lakers are competitive as constructed, they don’t appear to be title contenders just yet. To aid this, reports suggested that the team would focus on trading for a player like Andrew Wiggins to bolster their strength.
Although the trade for Wiggins is unlikely to go through, according to recent updates, it is fair to assume that the organization will consider and pursue further moves to improve the team’s chances.
