The Los Angeles Lakers are about to be one of the most active teams in the NBA this offseason. With Luka Doncic now the long-term cornerstone of the franchise, the front office is expected to be aggressive on the trade market, looking for the right pieces to put around its new superstar.
The Lakers have two future first-round picks available to trade in 2031 and 2033, plus the 25th pick in the upcoming 2026 draft. That is real ammunition. Combine those picks with some movable contracts, and Rob Pelinka has the tools to swing a meaningful deal.
The question is what kind of player they target, and whether the front office is willing to part with picks that stretch into the next decade.
What Luka Needs Around Him
Doncic is one of the best offensive engines in basketball. The Lakers do not need another high-usage scorer. They need players who fit. Shooting. Defense. Wing players who can attack closeouts and let Luka run the offense.
Austin Reaves already does some of that. He has been re-elevated as a priority by the front office, and his fit next to Luka is part of why he is staying. Beyond Reaves, the Lakers need another two-way player who can punish defenses for paying too much attention to their star.
The defense remains a big concern. Luka is not known as a defender, and any team built around him has to surround him with players who can cover his weaknesses on that end. That is the kind of player the Lakers should be targeting in any trade discussion.
The Future Picks Are the Big Question
Trading away 2031 and 2033 first-round picks is a serious commitment. Those picks are five and seven years away. The Lakers would be betting that the Luka era stays strong all the way through, and that they will not need premium draft capital to refresh the roster later.
The Rams just made a similar bet on the football side by trading for Myles Garrett. The Lakers’ situation is different, but the philosophy is the same. Cash in tomorrow for today. If you win, you forget about the picks. If you lose, you regret them forever.
Pelinka has navigated big moves before. The Anthony Davis trade. The decision to push for the Luka deal. Those were aggressive plays that defined the franchise. This offseason is the next one.
The Lakers also have to manage the LeBron James situation in parallel. If LeBron stays, the cap planning is one thing. If he leaves, the entire approach to free agency and trades shifts. The two decisions are intertwined, and the front office cannot fully execute one without knowing the other.
What is clear is that the Lakers are going to be in the middle of every trade rumor for the rest of the summer. Buckle in.
The Luka era is officially here. The Lakers are going to spend the next two months making sure he has everything he needs.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
