What do the Lakers truly think about LeBron James' departure? Jovan Buha, who has covered the LA team for years, reveals what awaits Luka Dončić
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The Los Angeles Lakers underwent a complete roster overhaul this summer during the NBA free agency period, bringing in entirely new faces expected to support Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves in this new era for the franchise.
However, given the significant losses and departures they faced – most notably LeBron James' exit – journalist Jovan Buha reveals that there's an acknowledgment within the Lakers' camp that the Los Angeles team has slightly regressed compared to last season.
— I spoke with several Lakers personnel this past weekend and asked them how they view this offseason. I wouldn't say it's a universal consensus, but in most cases, there's an admission that the team might have taken a slight step backward for the upcoming season, Buha stated on the "Lakers Collective" podcast.— On paper, one could argue they no longer possess the same sheer top-tier quality after LeBron's departure, along with good players like Marcus, Rui, and Luke. This explains why some people are disappointed with the offseason and feel the team has regressed.— However, this is about a long-term vision: building a core from the ground up around Luka and Austin, where both players, in their mid-to-late twenties, would grow together and develop over the next three to five years.
Are the Lakers planning for long-term competitiveness rather than an immediate title push?
The Lakers were exceptionally active this summer. After retaining Austin Reaves on a maximum four-year, $180 million contract, the Los Angeles club made a series of moves to completely reshape its roster.
A new center for the franchise's future was secured through a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz for Walker Kessler (four years, $130 million). Immediately after, Quentin Grimes (four years, $60 million), Sandro Mamukelashvili (four years, $52 million), and Collin Sexton (two years, $19.2 million) were signed.
The Lakers' front office also made shrewd moves by signing players to minimum contracts to expand their rotation without excessive risk — Ziaire Williams was signed for one year at $3 million, and Kevon Looney for a one-year deal worth $3.88 million.
Despite these excellent moves, the California team had to contend with the departures of LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, and Jaxson Hayes.
From Jovan Buha's perspective, the Lakers' primary goal might be to build a competitive core rather than an express charge for a championship ring. After acquiring Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks in the most shocking trade in NBA history, the Lakers were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs. During last year's postseason, while the Slovenian superstar was sidelined with a severe hamstring injury, Minnesota and the Oklahoma City Thunder brutally swept LA in the conference semifinals.
- If the goal was to win a championship immediately and build the best possible roster for this season, then this offseason might not look ideal. But if the Lakers can still be a 50-plus win team, secure home-court advantage, advance at least to the second round, and continue to add pieces to the puzzle, then this plan makes far more sense, Buha explains, concluding: - By the 2027-28 season, with a year of shared experience and a successful season behind them, the Lakers believe they can become true title contenders alongside teams like Oklahoma City and San Antonio. If we view this as a two or three-year process, this direction makes sense. But if the sole objective was to win this season, then the Lakers are currently balancing between the present and the future.
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