Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Lakers certainly aren’t running last year’s team back.
LeBron James has told the Lakers goodbye, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard have all left, and Deandre Ayton was reportedly traded for Jaden Hardy and draft capital.
This massive exodus wasn’t a surprise.
The Lakers set themselves up with a ton of cap space and open roster spots to surround Luka Dončić with everything he needs to succeed.
The first order of business was to find Luka an A-list center. They got that done by reportedly trading for Walker Kessler. LA also added a backup guard in Collin Sexton, another big in Sandro Mamukelashvili and a backcourt player in Quentin Grimes.
With so many new additions, there are a ton of Lakers to get acquainted with. For our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we are asking fans which new player they are most excited to watch.
Kessler is probably the easy choice.
He is a max player and the center this franchise has been searching for throughout the 2020s. With Kessler being sold as the missing piece Luka needs, all eyes will be on him to deliver.
Sexton is a bucket-getter. As the backup scoring guard, he should be an offensive injection for the Lakers. Similar to Kessler, this will be the first time he’s on a team with big expectations, and he will certainly deliver some highlights that get fans excited.
Grimes is also an offensive player and can score in bunches. With the Lakers, the hope is that he can return to his 2024-25 form, where he shot over 38% from deep. If he can do that, he’ll become a fan favorite just like Hachimura was.
Will Mamu be a starter for the Lakers? Is he going to have a bigger role here than he had with the Raptors? Will his personality shine in Los Angeles? Mamu is certainly an intriguing player, and not knowing about his role and impact could make him the most exciting addition.
Let us know who you are most excited about by participating in the poll and discussing it in the comment section.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
