The Lakers had one clear job this summer: build a roster that actually fits around Luka Doncic instead of chasing random stars or repeating old formulas. The Athletic’s Dan Woike reported that the plan was to create something like a “Dallas 2.0,” similar to the supporting cast that helped the Mavericks reach the 2024 NBA Finals.
Chris Mannix noted that the Lakers felt they could win with a Luka Doncic-Austin Reaves backcourt as long as they added the right frontcourt pieces, which meant a second creator, athletic wings, a rim-running big man and bench players who don’t need constant touches.
Woike also reported that the Lakers had been telling people close to Doncic to wait for the summer of 2026 during last year’s summer meeting. With that pressure in mind, the first wave of moves already shows a roster that finally seems built more for Doncic than for anyone else.
They gave Austin Reaves a four-year, $185 million deal, traded for Walker Kessler on a four-year, $130 million contract, signed Quentin Grimes to a four-year, $60 million deal, added Sandro Mamukelashvili on a four-year, $52 million contract, and brought in Collin Sexton with a two-year, $19 million deal.
They also traded Deandre Ayton to the Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks, which opened the backup center spot behind Kessler.
With the Lakers letting go of important pieces from their recent years, mainly in LeBron James, who will play elsewhere next season, or Rui Hachimura, who is signing with the Clippers for two years, this is how the “Dallas 2.0” is looking for the Lakers right now.
Starting Lineup
Luka Doncic – Luka Doncic
This part was always going to be simple. The Lakers still have the main engine. Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists last season, and everything in this roster template exists because of him.
With the Mavericks, the team was built around his passing angles, post-ups, pick-and-roll reads, and his ability to create easy shots for role players. The Lakers don’t need to recreate Luka because they already have him, so the rest of the pieces have to be judged by how well they support his style.
He needs vertical pressure, corner shooting, defensive help, and at least one secondary ball-handler who can punish defenses when teams trap him. The Lakers have added some of those elements but are still working on others.
Kyrie Irving – Austin Reaves
Austin Reaves is not Kyrie Irving, and that difference matters. Kyrie was a different level of on-ball scorer during the Mavericks’ Finals run. He averaged 25.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 2023-24 and gave Doncic a true second star who could create his own shots late in games.
Reaves is a simpler and less explosive one-on-one player, but he still works as a strong No. 2 guard for this version of the team. Last season, Reaves put up 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists while shooting 49.0% from the field, 36.0% from three, and 87.1% from the line. He can run pick-and-rolls, attack closeouts, shoot off passes from Doncic, and get to the free-throw line. The fit is good even if the ceiling is not at Kyrie’s level.
Grade: solid copy, not the same star power.
Derrick Jones Jr. – Targeting Jonathan Kuminga
This spot is still unfinished. The Mavericks had Derrick Jones Jr. as the athletic wing who defended, ran the floor, cut hard, and gave Doncic a vertical target without needing many touches.
The Lakers have not locked in that player yet, which explains the strong interest in Jonathan Kuminga. With Rui Hachimura going to the neighbors, Kuminga would bring better perimeter defense and athleticism. He can guard bigger wings, run the floor, cut behind help, and play with force, although spacing and money could make the deal complicated if other teams like the Hawks or Cavaliers get involved.
The problem with Kuminga is that he’s not really known as a lockdown defender like Derrick Jones Jr. is, and he’s yet to show an improvement in his outside shooting to be considered a 3-and-D wing. Kuminga can get caught up chucking shots more than the team wants, and his off-ball movement is still lacking.
Grade: good idea, not the best target.
PJ Washington – Sandro Mamukelashvili
This is one of the more different comparisons. Sandro Mamukelashvili is not PJ Washington. Washington brought defensive strength, corner shooting, rebounding, and playoff toughness at the 4 for the Mavericks.
Mamukelashvili offers more shooting, passing, and frontcourt skill, but he is not the same type of defender. After averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists with the Raptors while shooting 52.3% from the field and 38.9% from three, he signed a four-year, $52 million deal.
Next to Doncic and Reaves, he can stretch the floor, attack closeouts, and help keep the paint open for Kessler rolls. The offense fits well, but the question is whether he can hold up defensively next to Kessler against strong West forwards in the playoffs.
Grade: better spacing, worse defensive profile.
Dereck Lively II – Walker Kessler
This is the clearest success so far. The Lakers paid a high price, but Walker Kessler matches the rim-running, shot-blocking center archetype that Dereck Lively II gave the Mavericks.
Kessler signed a four-year, $130 million deal in the sign-and-trade with the Jazz, and the Lakers sent out two unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. He averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 2024-25 while shooting 68.1% from the field for his career.
He screens, rolls, catches lobs, rebounds, and protects the rim, which is exactly the big man Doncic needed. The only real concern is health after he played just five games last season because of a shoulder injury. If he stays healthy, this is the strongest part of the build.
Grade: best archetype match, scary asset cost.
Bench
Daniel Gafford – Targeting Jonas Valanciunas Or Kevon Looney
The Mavericks had more than just Lively at center. They also had Daniel Gafford, which gave Doncic close to 48 minutes of rim-running big man play. After trading Ayton, the Lakers still need a reliable backup behind Kessler.
Reports from Marc Stein and Jake Fischer show interest in Jonas Valanciunas and Kevon Looney, and they are also looking for another wing. Valanciunas would bring scoring, screening, and rebounding, while Looney would add defense, rebounding, and veteran playoff experience. Neither is as athletic as Gafford, but both would make the roster much safer, especially with Kessler’s injury history.
Grade: idea is right, roster still incomplete.
Josh Green – Quentin Grimes
This is one of the stronger matches. Josh Green gave the Mavericks a young 3-and-D guard who could run, defend, and hit open threes. Quentin Grimes can fill a similar role with a bit more scoring. After averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists with the 76ers, he signed a four-year deal to join the Lakers. He spaces the floor, attacks closeouts, guards strong guards, and brings lineup flexibility. He can start at the 3 or slide to the guard spot if they add Kuminga.
Grade: very good match.
Jaden Hardy – Jaden Hardy
This one stayed the same. The Lakers added Hardy in the Ayton trade. He was a bench scorer who could heat up in short stretches with the Mavericks, and that role remains similar here. He may be more valuable as a movable contract than a locked-in rotation player, and he will have to compete with Sexton, Grimes, and others for consistent minutes.
Grade: same player, unclear role.
Maxi Kleber – Jarred Vanderbilt
This comparison works better on defense than on shooting. Maxi Kleber provided frontcourt defense, switchability, and some spacing for the Mavericks. Jarred Vanderbilt brings defense, rebounding and energy, but his limited shooting can hurt spacing around Doncic. Vanderbilt helps next to Kessler or Mamukelashvili when they need extra defense, but the Lakers still need another wing to make threes in the playoffs.
Grade: defense works, spacing doesn’t.
Dante Exum – Collin Sexton
This is not a perfect match, but it is still a useful upgrade. Dante Exum was a low-usage guard who defended, moved the ball, and hit shots. Collin Sexton is more of a scorer. He averaged 15.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists last season, and his two-year, $19 million deal includes a player option. He is not Exum as a defender or connector, but he gives the Lakers someone who can create points when Doncic rests, attack the rim, and push the pace off the bench.
Grade: different archetype, useful player.
Conclusion
The Lakers have done a pretty good job copying the Dallas 2.0 idea, but they have not finished the job yet. The main wins are clear. Doncic remains the engine, Reaves is a strong second creator after his 23.3-point and 5.5-assist season, Kessler gives Doncic the vertical target and rim protector he needed, and Grimes fits well in the 3-and-D role with his defense, shooting, and low-usage style.
The problems are also obvious. The Lakers still lack a true Derrick Jones Jr.-type defensive wing even if they land Kuminga, and that spot is critical against big scorers in the West. Vanderbilt helps on defense, but his shooting creates spacing issues. On the bench, the backup center spot needs to be solved after the Ayton trade. Valanciunas or Looney would not be perfect copies of Gafford, but they would make the roster safer given Kessler’s shoulder history.
So far, the Lakers have copied the structure better than many expected. They kept the secondary creator, added a strong rim protector, brought in shooting and bench scoring, and got younger and more athletic in places. But with two open spots for a real starting wing and a solid backup center, this roster feels more like Dallas 1.5 than a full Dallas 2.0.
Still, the direction is right. For the first time, the pieces look like they were chosen for Doncic’s game instead of forcing him to adjust to everyone else, and that is the biggest win of the offseason.
