Name, position, height, weight, school/country, age
CAMERON CARR, G, 6-5, 182, Baylor, 21
Carr, who the Lakers drafted in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft with the No. 24 pick (via a trade with the New York Knicks), showed a high-end offensive skillset during Summer League play that should earn him rotational minutes. Carr missed the end of the preseason with a contusion. At Baylor last season, the lanky wing with a 7-foot-1 wingspan averaged 18.9 points per game on 49.4% shooting from the field. Baylor coach Scott Drew told the Southern California News Group that he believes Carr can shine playing alongside Luka Doncic.
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LUKA DONCIC, G, 6-8, 242, Slovenia, 27
Doncic is coming off one of the greatest scoring seasons in franchise history after signing a three-year contract extension last offseason, averaging 33.5 points per game en route to leading the league in scoring. However, a late-season Grade 2 hamstring strain ended the Slovenian star’s season and dramatically impacted the Lakers’ potential postseason success. Doncic has said he is fully healthy, and alongside guard Austin Reaves, is leading the team into a new era without LeBron James in the equation. This is Doncic’s team, assembled around him (he even hosted his teammates in Slovenia during the offseason) and now the front office will hope the right pieces are surrounding the six-time All-NBA first-teamer in their quest to get him his first NBA title.
QUENTIN GRIMES, G, 6-4, 214, Houston, 26
One of the Lakers’ big bets this offseason was signing Grimes to a four-year, $60 million contract as they retooled the roster around Doncic. While Coach JJ Redick hasn’t announced his starting five quite yet, Grimes should be vying for a spot in the lineup with his double-digit scoring averages (14 ppg) the past two seasons. Entering his sixth season in the NBA, the Lakers will ask Grimes to, at times, be a point-of-attack defender – and help produce on offense while they stagger minutes for Doncic and Reaves.
JADEN HARDY, G, 6-4, 210, NBA G League Ignite, 24
Coming to the Lakers alongside a pair of second-round picks in the deal that sent center Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards, Hardy will likely fill the back of the bench for the Lakers. A former Doncic teammate with the Dallas Mavericks, Hardy will likely see the court as an additional backup ball handler and a scoring option should depth issues arise. A career 38.6% shooter from 3-point range, he averaged 9.2 ppg last season.
BRONNY JAMES JR., G, 6-2, 223, USC, 22
During the offseason, James’ rookie contract with the Lakers became fully guaranteed as his father left the franchise to join the Philadelphia 76ers. The son of the all-time NBA great is a testament to the development abilities of the Lakers’ coaching staff under Redick, helping mold the former second-round selection into a playable rotation piece late last season. James played in the postseason for the Lakers and showed 3-and-D abilities that could be further developed, though he remains an undersized guard. James is a back-of-bench option after an underwhelming preseason period.
*ARTHUR KALUMA, G/F, 6-7, 240, Texas, 24
A stellar showing during Summer League play earned Kaluma a two-way contract spot after he spent last year with the South Bay Lakers (now the Coachella Valley Lakers). Kaluma averaged 18.6 ppg during the summer games he played at the California Classic and in Las Vegas, and he could become an option for the NBA roster if he can showcase consistency against a higher grade of player.
WALKER KESSLER, C, 7-1, 270, Auburn, 25
The Lakers placed all their eggs, a king’s ransom of sorts, in the basket of Kessler during the offseason. They acquired the franchise center to play alongside Doncic, sending two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to the Utah Jazz to make the blockbuster addition happen. A torn labrum kept Kessler off the court for all but the first five games last season, but the star big man said he’s fully healthy – and that health has not been a conversation with the front office nor Redick. Kessler should be a double-double machine for the Lakers, having averaged 11.1 points and 12.2 rebounds per game during the 2024-25 season for the Jazz. He has also averaged 2.4 blocked shots per game during his four-season career and Redick said he plans to use Kessler as the anchor of the defense.
JAKE LaRAVIA, G/F, 6-7, 235, Wake Forest, 24
Despite playing all 82 regular-season games in his first season with the Lakers, LaRavia spent the offseason reflecting on a poor conclusion to his year after becoming a healthy scratch during the playoffs. With improved shot mechanics, entirely reworking his form, and increased confidence from 3-point range, LaRavia should factor into rotations again with his high-intensity defense and rebounding effort. LaRavia is in the last year of a two-year contract with the Lakers.
KEVON LOONEY, C, 6-9, 250, UCLA, 30
Looney joins the team as the oldest player on the roster, and as of now, will be the primary backup center to Kessler. Known for his pick-and-roll prowess, Looney made a name for himself as a center on three Golden State Warriors NBA championship teams. Last season, however, he hardly played for the New Orleans Pelicans after starting the season injured. Looney said he’s fully healthy, making reference to potentially being held out of games last season despite being healthy.
SANDRO MAMUKELASHVILI, F/C, 6-10, 247, Seton Hall, 27
An “offensive connector.” That’s how Redick referred to the stretch-five big man just a few days into training camp after the Lakers signed the Georgian-American to a three-year contract during free agency. Mamukelashvili (pronounced mah-moo-keh-lah-shivh-lee) showcased his clever passing ability and comfortable 3-point stroke during the preseason. He does have some defensive limitations, with the Toronto Raptors electing to decrease his minutes in the playoffs despite averaging 11.2 ppg last season. Expect Mamukelashvili to primarily come off the bench, and help lead scoring with the second unit in a sixth-man role.
Read more Lakers season preview: Can Walker Kessler unlock an NBA championship run?
*CHRIS MAÑON, G, 6-4, 206, Vanderbilt, 24
Entering his second season as a two-way contract player for the Lakers, Mañon needs to improve his offensive skillset to earn a place in an NBA rotation. His defensive intensity could already be the best on the Lakers, but in order to carve out a role player spot in the league, development will be key going forward.
*AK OKEREKE, G/F, 6-7, 238, Vanderbilt, 23
Okereke averaged 9.3 ppg for Vanderbilt last year after previously spending three seasons at Cornell, where he began his collegiate career as a walk-on. The Lakers’ other two-way contract players likely have the inside track to playing time and Okereke should see increased action in the G League for Coachella Valley.
AUSTIN REAVES, G, 6-5, 216, Oklahoma, 28
Suddenly, Reaves is the longest-tenured Lakers player after James’ departure. Undrafted out of college, he was rewarded with a four-year, $180 million max contract extension this summer after a career-best season that saw him average 23.3 ppg on 49% shooting from the field. Reaves appears poised to be named an All-Star for the first time in his now-six year NBA career. Reaves and Doncic have built a strong connection on and off the court, and their bond should pay dividends for the Lakers going forward.
COLLIN SEXTON, G, 6-1, 200, Georgia, 27
Another free agent who joined the team on a multi-year contract during the offseason, Sexton is betting on himself with a two-year contract (player option for next season). Sexton sat out the entire preseason with an undisclosed lower leg injury, putting his availability for opening night into question. He has been asked, primarily, to lead offenses in Utah and Cleveland during his eight-season career. The Lakers are his fifth team, and Sexton (career 18.3 ppg) has expressed interest in coming off the bench to help lead the offense when Doncic and/or Reaves are off the floor.
ADOU THIERO, G/F, 6-7, 230, Arkansas, 22
No Lakers player has been talked about more by teammates and coaches than Thiero, whose offseason strides might have earned him an increased role this season. After starting last season injured before working his way into sporadic playing time and a postseason role, Thiero appears primed to showcase his high-flying lob threat as one of the athletic wings Redick calls upon often off the bench. Thiero still plays a little too fast for his own good at times, but the Lakers hope he can build improved situational awareness as his in-game reps increase.
MATISSE THYBULLE, G/F, 6-5, 204, Washington, 29
Coming to the Lakers on a veteran’s minimum contract after a stint with the Portland Trail Blazers, Thybulle could be a Day One starter for the Lakers – and remain in that role if he stays healthy. Thybulle is seen as one of the league’s best defenders – earning All-NBA Defensive second-team honors twice – but needs to remain on the court to have that impact on a roster that on paper screams offense more than defense. The Lakers also hope Thybulle can shoot at or above his 34.9% career clip from 3-point range.
JARRED VANDERBILT, F, 6-8, 221, Kentucky, 27
Vanderbilt is in the third year of a four-year, $48 million contract, which at the time he signed the extension looked like a good value for both parties. Now, it appears that two things are true: Redick doesn’t plan for Vanderbilt to be a vital part of his rotation, and Vanderbilt’s contract isn’t movable.
ZIAIRE WILLIAMS, G/F, 6-9, 214, Stanford, 25
Despite being on a veteran’s minimum contract, Williams could be considered a steal by midseason – and the disruptive wing could be the X-factor the Lakers need on defense. Williams, who has upped his weight to play more physically, average a career-high 10.2 ppg for the Brooklyn Nets last season before electing to return to Southern California (Williams is from Lancaster). Alongside Thybulle and Thiero, Redick has referred to Williams as a point-of-attack defender option and a player who can muck up opposing offenses with deflections and pestering play.
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* = two-way contract player