Story perspectives

Lakers Target A-List Center, Smart, Kennard for Doncic Era

6/19/2026

Summary

Doncic Drives Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are building their 2026 offseason around Luka Doncic’s push for a championship.
Doncic told president Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick that his top need is an A-list center.
The Lakers have scouted Jalen Duren and Walker Kessler as centers and are targeting Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard.
LeBron James is weighing a 24th-season return.
Austin Reaves will decline his $14.9 million player option, becoming a free agent.

Summary

Lakers Pursue Trade

Lakers are exploring a trade because the free-agent pool is weak.
The team has not made a trade since acquiring Patrick Beverly from Utah Jazz in August 2022.
A sign-and-trade for Walker Kessler would likely cost multiple first-round picks or a core rotational player.
Limited cap space and a thin free-agent market make a high-impact trade essential for a realistic title run.

Summary

Doncic Misses Playoffs

Luka Doncic missed the entire 2025-26 postseason because of a Grade 2 hamstring strain, with his three-year, $160.4 million extension set to begin in 2026-27.
He retains a player option for 2028-29 that he may exercise if the Lakers fail to assemble a genuine title-contending roster, making front-office accountability crucial to his loyalty.
Analysts say the Lakers’ lack of a durable, long-term center could sway Doncic’s decision to stay or leave.

Summary

Lakers Pursue Love

Management may consider signing Kevin Love to persuade LeBron James to accept contract and stay in Los Angeles.
Love posted 6.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 37.3% from three in 35 games for Utah last season.
The Lakers emphasize player development after the collective bargaining agreement limited flexibility.
Adding Love would conflict with the development-first plan and could limit the Lakers’ cap flexibility for 2026-27 as James is unrestricted.

History

Historical Context

In the summer of 1996 the Lakers signed free-agent Shaquille O'Neal to a seven-year, $120 million deal and traded for 17-year-old Kobe Bryant, instantly turning a struggling franchise into a championship contender. The duo propelled Los Angeles to three straight NBA titles from 2000 to 2002, a blueprint executives Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick now cite while scouting centers such as Jalen Duren.

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Doncic Drives Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are building their 2026 offseason around Luka Doncic’s push for a championship.
Doncic told president Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick that his top need is an A-list center.
The Lakers have scouted Jalen Duren and Walker Kessler as centers and are targeting Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard.
LeBron James is weighing a 24th-season return.
Austin Reaves will decline his $14.9 million player option, becoming a free agent.

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