3 reasons why LA Lakers are more dangerous than general consensus around Luka Doncic and Co.

The Luka Doncic era at the LA Lakers has officially begun after the guard signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension on Saturday. With the deal sealed, the Lakers will continue to build around Doncic, adding talents in free agency to complement him.

With the additions of DeAndre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia to a roster already featuring LeBron James and Austin Reaves, the Lakers look strong this season. However, they’re not the only Western Conference team to assemble a competitive lineup.

Their city rivals, the Clippers, have stacked their roster with experience, adding Brook Lopez, Chris Paul and Bradley Beal alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.

The Houston Rockets have strengthened with Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela. Meanwhile, the OKC Thunder kept their championship core intact, while the Nuggets continue building around Nikola Jokic.

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The competitive atmosphere in the West has overshadowed the Lakers’ rebuild, with skepticism surrounding Luka Doncic and company still lingering. Yet, despite the growing threats in the conference, the LA Lakers remain a danger. Here are three reasons they should be feared despite the prevailing doubt.

Three reasons why the LA Lakers are more dangerous despite the general consensus

#3 Smart, Ayton and LaRavia provide balance and Finals experience

The LA Lakers took a calculated approach in free agency, landing Deandre Ayton after his waiver from the Trail Blazers and securing low‑risk deals for Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia.

Last season, only LeBron James and Luka Dončić on the roster had NBA Finals experience, but the arrival of Ayton and Smart add valuable championship pedigree to the mix.

Furthermore, the three additions bring balance to the roster. LaRavia offers a reliable wing option alongside Rui Hachimura, while Marcus Smart delivers defensive stability in the backcourt. Deandre Ayton adds a perfect rim‑running presence, ideally suited to capitalize on Dončić and LeBron’s elite playmaking.

#2 Organizational Flexibility and Championship Options

The reshuffling of the roster has provided the Lakers with space to work with in the Market. Due to Ayton and LaRavia joining from free agency, the Lakers were able to provide contracts that suited their structure and allowed them to add talent mid-season if needed.

According to Spotrac.com, the Lakers have a $1.1 million 1st apron space and $13 million second-apron space. With roughly $14 million available, they retain the flexibility to make mid-season moves, giving them valuable options during their push for a championship.

#1 Luka Doncic as the centerpiece

For the first time since entering the NBA in 2003, LeBron James will take a secondary role on a team. The re‑signing of Luka Dončić signaled the Lakers’ intent to make him the franchise centerpiece, and with good reason. Before his injury‑hit 2024‑25 campaign, the Slovenian star had led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals and has the tools to do it again this season.

Averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals over 28 games, Dončić now has a roster tailored to his strengths. His leadership and elite playmaking in clutch moments, paired with LeBron’s presence, could propel the LA Lakers to their second title of the decade.

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About the author

Arian Kashyap

Arian Kashyap is a basketball journalist at Sportskeeda with over two years of experience at Essentially Sports and Spice Bite and a Bachelor's in Physical Education and Sports Sciences.

Arian's favorite team is the Miami Heat and it’s mainly down to Dwyane Wade being his favorite player of all time. Arian loved how explosive Wade was as a player and he had all the attributes, whether that be shooting, defending or passing. Arian really liked how he won titles both with and without a dynasty behind him.

Arian has also worked with Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools and was the manager for a Delhi-based women’s team called Garwhal Untied. Garwhal won the Delhi league and were runners-up during his tenure.

Arian has judged essay writing competitions for the Commonwealth Students Welfare Group of India in 2023 and was a part of the U-14 team for the Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools academy that qualified for the AIFF Round in 2023.

When not working or watching sports, Arian likes riding his motorcycle and reading.

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