Training camp opens with the Lakers at 0-0, a payroll over the tax line, and a roster that leans on one star more than it has in years. The question hanging over Crypto.com Arena is whether that bet pays off before the picks owed to Dallas, Memphis and Brooklyn come due.
The Case For Him
Last season, in 64 appearances, Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists, shooting 36.6 percent from three. Reaves added 23.3 points and 5.5 assists of his own, proof the offense can run through two ball-handlers at once. Redick, entering his second season as head coach, built an attack that ranked 10th in the league last season. Every other question about this roster starts from what Doncic can do with the ball.
The Price of the Bet
That commitment costs $201.3 million against a $165.0 million cap, over the $200.4 million luxury tax line — his $49.8 million salary tops the sheet, with Reaves at $41.2 million and Kessler at $30.2 million behind it. The draft capital tells the same story: an opening-round pick protected to Memphis in 2027, a second conditional to Brooklyn, pick swaps in 2028 and 2030, and picks owed outright to Dallas, Memphis and Brooklyn through 2030. Every one of those was spent to build a roster around one number 77.
The Verdict
Last season's team, with LeBron James still on it, finished 53-29, with an offense that ranked 10th and a defense that ranked 19th, for a net rating of 1.5, good for 14th in the league. James left this offseason for the 76ers, and this season's ceiling now depends on names further down the sheet: Grimes, LaRavia, Sexton, Williams, Mamukelashvili, and a healthy Kessler holding the frontcourt together. Doncic has the numbers to carry an offense on his own. Whether the tax-line roster behind him has the defense to match is the answer training camp still owes.
How much is the Lakers' payroll for 2026-27, and where does it sit against the tax line?
$201.3 million, which sits above the $200.4 million luxury tax line.
How many clean opening-round picks do the Lakers control through 2030?
Very few. The 2027 pick is protected to Memphis, the 2028 and 2030 firsts are swaps, and the 2029 first is owed outright to Dallas.
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