All articles tagged with #lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers hired former Virginia coach Tony Bennett as a draft advisor to GM Rob Pelinka; Bennett will not run the draft room but will bring his experience spotting players with toughness, energy, and IQ to help the Lakers rebuild their young core.
LeBron James is in a February shooting slump, hitting just 21.1% from three on 4.8 attempts per game (about 28% of his shots) and posting a team-low 109.0 offensive rating with a -2.1 net rating, yet the Lakers are 5-3 with him active; some observers suggest LeBron should seek more scoring opportunities elsewhere or adjust his shot selection to avoid derailing the season, especially as his 2025-26 three-point percentage sits at 30.3% on 4.6 attempts, well below last season’s 37.6% and his catch-and-shoot efficiency (42.0% in 2024-25). With 26 games left and a likely summer roster reshaping, balancing LeBron’s offense could determine the Lakers’ playoff chances after back-to-back early exits with Doncic’s era.
LA’s tight loss to Orlando drew mixed grades: LeBron James opened hot but faded, Deandre Ayton posted a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double, Austin Reaves struggled to find his rhythm before a late surge, and Luka Dončić provided playmaking with inefficient shooting, underscoring an uneven Lakers night despite clutch-game optimism.
The Lakers were routed by Boston at home, receiving blunt, failing grades across the roster with LeBron and other stars underwhelming; Austin Reaves offered a modest bright spot, but the overall effort was criticized as a disappointing display and a reminder of the gap the Celtics showed on this night.
In their first game after the All-Star break, the Lakers held off the Clippers 125-122 as Austin Reaves dropped 29 for L.A. and Luka Dončić poured in 38 for the Clippers. LeBron James contributed 13 points and 11 assists, Leonard sparked L.A.'s endgame with late bursts, and the decisive sequence came in the final seconds when Nicolas Batum’s late 3 attempt clanged off the rim, sealing the win for the Lakers.
In a star-drought affair, the Lakers held off a depleted Warriors squad with LeBron James struggling early but the Lakers getting a strong contribution from Austin Reaves on restricted minutes, plus efficient scoring from Rui Hachimura and solid shows from Vanderbilt and Kennard as they earned a win and mixed player grades across the roster.
Austin Reaves exploded for 35 points to spark the Lakers’ rally and seal a win over the Sixers, as Los Angeles overcame a sluggish start and a rough night from LeBron James and with Luka Dončić exiting early due to injury; multiple teammates contributed in a chaotic finish, with Reaves delivering clutch plays late to lift the Lakers.
Luka Dončić has been ruled out for the Lakers’ game against the Warriors due to a left hamstring strain, with an MRI to assess severity. Team optimism remains that the issue isn’t major, and an All-Star break could aid recovery, though his absence adds to the Lakers’ rotation challenges in a tight Western Conference race.
At the 2026 trade deadline, the Lakers swapped Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard to boost 3-point shooting, costing their last second-round pick while preserving their lone first-rounder for potential summer moves; with an open roster spot they’ll target a buyout candidate as they push for the playoffs.
After a deadline day that yielded no rotation upgrades, the Sixers signed several 10-day contracts but still fielded a shallow rotation and fell 119-115 to the Lakers, snapping a five-game win streak. Embiid dominated offensively and Maxey facilitated, but a late drought and a lack of reliable depth doomed Philadelphia as Edwards and Watford couldn’t sustain minutes. The loss underscores lingering roster concerns as they head into a tougher stretch.
After Milwaukee declined to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo at the deadline, the Lakers are planning an aggressive offseason pursuit of the two-time MVP, with competition from the Knicks and Heat; Giannis has reportedly preferred destinations but the Lakers’ bid could still change the dynamic as teams jockey for leverage.
Luka Dončić exited the Lakers–Sixers game late in the first half with left hamstring soreness, did not return after halftime, and was ruled out as imaging will determine the severity; Rui Hachimura started the second half in his place, with no timetable given and the All-Star break potentially offering a recovery window.
The Indiana Pacers are targeting Ivica Zubac and Daniel Gafford as starting-center options, but the Clippers are asking for a steep price to move Zubac (potentially two unprotected first-round picks plus a young player). Gafford’s three-year deal complicates any deal, though it’s unclear how motivated the Mavericks are to move him. Meanwhile, the Bucks have signaled willingness to absorb unwanted contracts in exchange for draft assets after keeping Giannis, the Lakers are exploring margin moves while preserving cap space, and the Sixers are shopping Eric Gordon’s expiring deal with several teams involved.
The Lakers traded Gabe Vincent to the Atlanta Hawks for sharpshooter Luke Kennard and a 2032 second-round pick. Kennard is shooting a league-best 49.7% from three this season off the bench and is expected to space the floor for LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves. The move is viewed as a marginal upgrade, with LA planning no more deals today and eyeing a bigger summer splash using about $60 million in cap space and multiple first-round picks (2026, 2031, 2032).
A live NBA trade-deadline tracker shows the Lakers limited by a lack of second-round picks but still weighing Dalton Knecht’s value, with Luke Kennard headed to L.A. to boost shooting; the Clippers reportedly shopping Ivica Zubac for a big return; Giannis Antetokounmpo chatter persists with Heat and Wolves in the mix, though momentum seems uncertain. Ayo Dosunmu was traded to Minnesota for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller and four second-round picks, suggesting Giannis’s market is cooling. Raptors appear unlikely to make a major move, while veteran discussions around Mike Conley and Kristaps Porzingis add to the drama as teams navigate assets and cap space.