Magic Johnson praised the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster overhaul the day after LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. Johnson said the franchise "had to get younger, more athletic, and faster, and they did just that," emphasizing a shift toward a younger core built around Luka Dončić.
The centerpiece of the overhaul is 7-foot-2 center Walker Kessler, who agreed to a four-year, $129.5 million contract. To acquire Kessler, Los Angeles surrendered unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and gave up pick-swap rights in 2028 and 2030. Kessler entered the offseason after missing 101 games over the previous two seasons, making the premium price a calculated risk for a player with limited recent production.
Complementing the new center are depth pieces that the Lakers hope will solidify the roster. Matisse Thybulle, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, and Sandro Mamukelashvili each add specific skills: Thybulle offers perimeter defense, Sexton provides scoring off the bench, Grimes could recapture the second-half form he displayed with the Sixers in 2024-25, and Mamukelashvili contributes additional front-court depth.
Austin Reaves also received a new contract, and Pelinka had to allocate a substantial portion of the remaining salary-cap space to secure that deal. The front office’s options were limited, as the best centers available were either restricted free agents or already under contract, forcing the Lakers to prioritize a cornerstone center over multiple draft assets.
Overall, the offseason may not be a home run, but the moves position the Lakers to improve. By centering the roster around Dončić and adding younger, more athletic players, the team has taken a clear step away from a veteran-heavy, half-court style toward a faster, more dynamic identity.
Training camp will be the first real test, particularly for Kessler’s health after his recent injury history. If the younger core can develop chemistry quickly, Magic Johnson’s optimism that a faster, younger Lakers can compete without LeBron may prove well-founded.
