The five biggest questions the Lakers need to answ...

A MONTH AFTER the Los Angeles Lakers' season ended with a disappointing second-round sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the New York Knicks were crowned NBA champions with their five-game Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs last week. The depth of talent in the Knicks' starting five and the abundance of youth and athleticism the Spurs possess showed the type of roster construction that is required to truly contend in the league. The Lakers certainly are no exception. Identifying those holes is the easy part. The ability to fill them, however, is not only what will determine whether the franchise has done its part in maximizing its roster around Luka Doncic, the elite scoring guard who will enter his second full season with the Lakers this fall, but will inform LeBron James' decision to return, too. Those are the stakes for the Lakers these next few weeks. The Lakers have three tradeable first-round picks (the No. 25 selection in the 2026 draft, plus in 2031 and 2033) and, potentially, nearly $50 million in cap space to use in free agency -- or to trade for player(s) into that space. But that money could dry up quickly, especially if the team has designs on returning a similar roster to the one that won 50 games for the second straight season and was one of the hottest teams in the league after the All-Star break before Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) suffered injuries in early April. With as many as nine players from their 15-man roster entering unrestricted free agency, here are the five biggest questions facing the Lakers as they try to shape their future this offseason. Doncic is spending the summer in Slovenia with his daughters, Gabriela and Olivia, but sources close to him told ESPN he is in "constant communication" with Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick. Coming off a season in which he led the league in scoring at 33.5 points per game and finished fourth in MVP voting before a Grade 2 left hamstring strain sidelined him for L.A.'s postseason run, Doncic is finally healthy as he begins his offseason training. He was cleared for basketball activities on May 28 -- about 2½ weeks after their series against the Thunder finished, sources close to Doncic told ESPN. "He's in full go mode," one source said. While the 27-year-old Doncic is preparing for another season squarely in his prime, he has made one roster preference clear to Pelinka and Redick, sources said. It's the same one he made in the days after he first arrived in Los Angeles 16 months ago. "Luka's first and foremost desire is an A-list center," the source said. The reasoning goes beyond the obvious need to compete in the Western Conference with stars such as the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama and the Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, two players who finished above Doncic in the MVP vote this season. A rim-running, lob-catching big man opens so much for Doncic's already potent offensive game, and someone who can defend at the position too is necessary to contend with the best teams in either conference. Which raises the question: What are the Lakers' plans with their centers from last season -- starter Deandre Ayton and backup Jaxson Hayes? Ayton has a player option for $8.1 million for next season that he must exercise by June 29, or he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Hayes, who has been with the Lakers the past three seasons and obtained a Slovenian passport to be able to compete on the national team with Doncic, is also an unrestricted free agent and in line for a raise after playing for slightly above the veteran's minimum salary. And then there are the Lakers' two biggest potential free agents, James and Reaves. Doncic endorsed keeping that core together during his season-ending exit interview news conference. "We had a great team, we had great chemistry, and obviously playing with AR and Bron, it's an unbelievable experience," Doncic said. "They are two great players, and it was really fun to share the court with them." A source close to Doncic told ESPN that Doncic has kept in touch with James and Reaves since the season ended but hasn't pitched either player on returning to L.A. Most of their conversations, the source said, revolve around golf, as Doncic took up the sport in February and has bonded with his fellow links-obsessed teammates over it. The team has kept Doncic informed as the draft and free agency approaches; there is an expectation from the six-time All-Star for the Lakers to present a near-immediate path to championship contention. "Luka wants to be a championship team yesterday," a source close to Doncic said. "Ever since the trade, they've always told us: 'summer of '26. We'll show you in the summer of '26.' So, we are so excited that the summer of '26 is here." James is also overseas, finishing up a family vacation before joining members of the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 championship team for a reunion through England, S

The five biggest questions the Lakers need to answ...

Key takeaways

More in sports