So much for Lakers big offseason LA fans left with sinking feeling

The anticipation had been building. The flame was lit when the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic in February 2025, a generational player who could put the team atop the NBA again. It was fanned when Mark Walter’s ownership group took over the franchise six months later, the brain trust that helped transform the Dodgers into three-time World Series champions over the last six years. And gasoline was poured on it when LeBron James announced his eight-season tenure with the Lakers had come to an end. All eyes were on Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka.What grand plan did he have up his sleeve as the chimes officially rang on “Summer of 2026,” the vaunted period when the Lakers were to be transformed into champions once again? A flurry of moves happened. The result? California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story Instead of gasps, there were groans. Instead of building a team that could contend against the Spurs or Thunder, he assembled one that’s worse than last season’s squad. Pelinka was clearly trying to build a team in the likeness of the 2023-2024 Mavericks, who reached the Finals with Doncic surrounded by ball handlers (Kyrie Irving), rim-running lob threats (Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford) and 3-and-D wings (P.J.Washington and Derrick Jones Jr.). But this is the janky reboot.

 It’s the sequel that never should’ve been made. It’s the new season that lost its magic. The Lakers overpaid for Walker Kessler, acquiring him on a four-year, $130 million contract with a player option in the fourth season.As part of the sign-and-trade with the Jazz, they gave up unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. Kessler is the defensive-minded, rim-protecting center they wanted.

But was he w...