The Lakers are shifting their approach as they chase Banner No. 18. According to ESPN, the front office is now open to trading for players whose contracts extend beyond 2026, a move that signals their willingness to sacrifice future flexibility for the sake of winning right now.
“If there are smart ways to pour into our championship aspirations for next year, we will execute on those,” Pelinka said. “And we see having those two players on our team next year as an important moment, and we’ll continue to try to do all we can to deliver this franchise its 18th championship.”
The Lakers had been playing it safe with their team assets. For years, they were hoarding their picks and retaining their younger players as insurance if things ever went wrong. With LeBron James at 40 years old, they needed an easy way out if he decided to walk away and leave them hanging.
Their reluctance to make moves is part of the reason why LeBron’s relationship was beginning to sour with the front office. He wanted to win now, but the team was still waiting for that one opportunity to risk it all.
Now that they have Luka Doncic on the team, they can stop looking to the horizon and focus on building the best team possible right now. The 26-year-old guard is coming off an impressive showing at EuroBasket, and he’s set to take revenge on the Mavericks after averaging 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game on 45.0% shooting.
While they already have plenty of help in the form of LeBron James and Austin Reaves, the Lakers can do even more to stack the deck in their favor. With several tradeable players and picks, they have their eyes set on potential targets like Andrew Wiggins or Quentin Grimes. If they give up Austin Reaves (who is set to decline his player option next season), it could net a seriously loaded package in return.
One more high-profile target could be Utah’s Lauri Markkanen, whose size, versatility, and work ethic would make an excellent pairing next to Luka. As a young star on a well-coached team, Lauri would thrive next to a teammate like Doncic, who draws so much attention from opposing defenses.
Of course, those trades are still hypothetical for now, and the Lakers will have to make do with what they have. Thanks to the star trio and key additions like Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton, this current Lakers group is primed to make a serious run and set up the franchise to become a superpower in the West with one or two more moves.
The important part for Pelinka is making the right moves at the right time and not letting too much time slip by before taking action. Luka has already made a commitment to them, and now it’s Pelinka’s turn to show that he’s all-in on the title pursuit.
For the Lakers, this season is about proving they’re serious about the future and the present. They’ve got LeBron in the twilight of his career, Luka entering his prime, and a roster that looks ready to compete. If Pelinka follows through on his promise and delivers one more impact piece, Los Angeles could finally secure the franchise’s 18th championship banner.
