The Lakers spent September 19 trimming and adding at the roster's edges, waiving Anton Watson a day after signing him and replacing him with Meechie Johnson and Chase Ross on Exhibit 10 deals. None of it moves the record off 0-0, but it does move the number that matters most: a payroll of $201.3 million, already past the league's $200.4 million threshold for taxpayers.
The Bottom Line
The Lakers carry a payroll of $201.3 million, sitting above the $200.4 million threshold the league sets for taxpayers this year. That number was already steep before the two September 19 signings landed, built on the $49.8 million Dončić alone counts against it and the $30.2 million tied to Kessler. Exhibit 10 deals barely move a payroll that size, since neither carries a guarantee, but the bill does not care about guarantees. It is the backdrop every roster decision runs through now.
Last Season's Marks
Last season closed at 53-29, a net rating of plus-1.5 that ranked 14th leaguewide, offense tenth, defense a distant 19th. Dončić drove it, averaging 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds across 64 games, numbers that made the trade for him look worth the price almost immediately. None of that carries into 2026-27, where the record still reads 0-0 and every mark resets. Last season explains why the roster looks the way it does; it does not predict what comes next.
Two In, One Out
September 19 brought three transactions in one stretch: Meechie Johnson and Chase Ross signed Exhibit 10 contracts, and Anton Watson, added a day earlier, was no longer on the roster. Both newcomers are undrafted players auditioning for one of the final camp spots, deals that can end before opening night at no cost to the team. Three moves in that short a window is roster churn, not a shift in direction. The 19 names ahead of them are still the ones running camp.
Is Luka Dončić still on the Lakers roster for 2026-27?
Yes. Dončić remains on the roster with the record at 0-0, so none of his 2026-27 numbers exist yet; last season he averaged 33.5 points a game.
How far over the luxury tax are the Lakers?
The team's $201.3 million payroll sits $0.9 million above the $200.4 million threshold, a gap the two Exhibit 10 deals signed September 19 do not affect since those contracts carry no guarantee.
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Around the beat · Fri, Sep 18Sandro Mamukelashvili and the Modern Big Debate
Player focus · Fri, Sep 18Austin Reaves and the Weight of a $41.2 Million Vote of Confidence
Morning · Fri, Sep 18Anton Watson Joins a Camp Already Crowded and Already Over the Line
Cap watch · Thu, Sep 17Building Around a $49.8M Superstar Comes at a Price