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Lakers guard Austin Reaves during a postgame press conference in May 2026

The Los Angeles Lakers have entered a pressure-packed offseason with major questions tethered to their top players. 

From complying with Luka Doncic’s roster demands to retaining Austin Reaves and LeBron James, the Lakers have a lot to figure out with not a ton of time. 

Either the team’s complexion looks vastly different in five months or close to what it was in the 2025-26 season. 

Los Angeles had, what many would consider, a successful season. 

It won 53 regular season games and won a playoff series without Doncic, the team’s leading scorer. The Lakers became the first team in NBA history to win a playoff series without its leading scorer. 

Although the Lakers were swept out of the playoffs by the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, there is momentum coming out a season that was marred by ill-timed injuries to Doncic and Reaves. 

Doncic missed the entire postseason. Reaves returned late in the first round but oftentimes appeared he was playing at less than 100% health. 

L.A. made it interesting against Oklahoma City in spurts and even had a lead with under a minute to play in regulation of Game 4 but was ultimately unable to pull off a victory. 

Here comes an offseason with numerous bullet points on the priority list. 

Austin Reaves’ Future in L.A. Becomes Clearer After Playoff Loss

Reaves, 27, was much in focus this spring. 

As is often the case in Laker land, all fans see is the number and name printed on the jersey. Whatever ailments a player could be dealing with gets thrown out the window. 

As fate would have it, the Lakers were somehow rolling without Reaves in the lineup. They jumped out to a 3-0 series lead over the Houston Rockets in the first round. The Lakers Game 4. Reaves returned in Game 5 in another loss for the Lakers. 

GettyAustin Reaves’ looming contract negotiations could play a major role in the Lakers’ offseason plans surrounding LeBron James and the team’s long-term roster flexibility.

L.A. won Game 6 going away, but that would go on to be its only win with Reaves in the lineup in the playoffs. Without their 27-year-old star, the Lakers were 3-1; with him they were 1-5.

With Reaves returning, many were looking forward to a breakout postseason. The former undrafted guard has evolved into one of the top offensive talents in the NBA; he proved it this season by averaging a career-high 23 points per game while shooting an efficient 49% from the field. 

But Reaves had a rough postseason. He had multiple games where he performed well below the standard he set in the regular season, leaving many to wonder if Reaves played his way out of a big contract.

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, however, the Lakers — who would likely have to offer Reaves at least three times the annual salary he earned this season if they hope to retain him this summer — are prepared to make Reaves a long-term sidekick to Doncic.

“It’s very clear that Austin Reeves is going to be Luka’s long-term co-star unless things completely fall apart and turn the opposite direction,” McMahon said on The Hoop Collective podcast.

Where Does that Leave James?

The Lakers’ situation with James appears to be a much different one compared to Reaves.

James, 41, is set to enter unrestricted free agency for the first time in his 23-year NBA career. This is truly uncharted territory.

Numerous reports have concluded James would need to accept a massive pay cut if he hopes to remain a Laker. But given James’ track record of demanding a max contract or very close to it, it swings the door wide open to a James exit.

The four-time MVP joined the Lakers in 2018 with many aspirations outside of his NBA career. Now firmly rooted in Los Angeles as he contemplates how much longer he wants to play basketball, it is hard for many to believe he would choose to leave the Lakers at this stage of his career.

On Tuesday, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka informed the media the team would love to have James back.

But, clearly, it will have to take much more than that for James to still be in a Lakers uniform by October.