Three questions that will define the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2026-27 season

The Los Angeles Lakers will enter the 2026-27 season with unknown expectations following LeBron James’ departure.

After 18 months of balancing Luka Doncic alongside LeBron James, the Lakers have now fully handed the keys to the Slovenian for the foreseeable future.

Austin Reaves is set to step into the No. 2 role, while the rest of the roster looks almost unrecognizable after a summer rebuild.

NBA Analysis Network poses three questions that will define the LA Lakers’ season.

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Can Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves average over 60 points between them?

The Lakers no longer have a big three after James’ move to the Philadelphia 76ers, leaving Doncic and Reaves to carry the offensive workload.

Doncic averaged 33.5 points last season, while Reaves scored 23.3 per game, but both may need to produce even more to contend.

Without a genuine third scoring option, the Lakers may need their All-Star duo to average more than 60 points combined.

That could mean Doncic pushing above a career-high 35 points per game, a mark that should put him firmly in the MVP conversation.

Can the Lakers become an average defensive team?

The Lakers were a below-average defensive team last season, ranking 20th in the NBA with a 115.5 defensive rating.

They have since lost their best perimeter defender in Marcus Smart, while LeBron was also a positive defender at times.

Quentin Grimes, who will likely start at small forward, is a quality defender who could help compensate for Smart’s departure.

However, Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Cameron Carr and Kevon Looney are all average at best on the defensive end.

The Lakers have upgraded significantly at center, with Walker Kessler replacing Deandre Ayton. But will that be enough?

Not every contender needs to have an elite defense, but it is hard to believe a team can make a deep postseason run without being at least decent on that end of the floor.

Can Walker Kessler take a major leap after the Lakers’ blockbuster trade?

Given the Lakers lacked the cap space to make a major splash in free agency, they had to pay a premium to land Kessler in a sign-and-trade.

They sent two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to the Utah Jazz, while giving Kessler a four-year, $130 million contract.

The move was necessary to address a major hole at center and give Doncic a reliable option inside, but the price means Kessler will face huge expectations.

After playing just five games last season because of a shoulder injury, he is now under pressure to anchor the Lakers’ defense.

Kessler will also need to provide a lob threat, dominate the glass and set screens for Doncic and Reaves.

A target of 30-plus minutes, 17 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks per game would represent the kind of leap the Lakers need from him.