Are the Los Angeles Lakers Title Contenders Heading Into 2025-26 Regular Season?

Title contenders are what every team in the NBA strives to be. With a team led by Luka Doncic and LeBron James, winning championships should be the only thing on their minds. But do they actually have enough to win it all this upcoming season after they flamed out in just five games to the Timberwolves in the first round last year? They did make some moves in the offseason to try to help them accomplish that.

New Additions That Could Help Them Become Title Contenders

The Lakers started their offseason by signing Forward Jake LaRavia to a two-year deal. He had finished the season well for the Kings and looks to bring depth to the forward position. They also addressed their starting center position by signing Deandre Ayton to a two-year deal. This was their biggest addition. It adds a competent big man to play alongside Doncic and James. The Lakers also went out and got some perimeter defense in Marcus Smart after signing him to another two-year contract.

Smart may not be what he once was on the Celtics, but he still provides great leadership and hustle to a team that is going to need all of that if they want to win it all next year. The roster looks pretty good on paper, but you could also say the same about many other teams that flame out during the season.

Will These Moves Lead To Success?

Everyone knows just how elite the Western Conference is going to be next year. It will be a blood bath. It is hard to predict what seed they could finish as there are a bunch of teams that not only have gotten better in the offseason but have been widely known as being better than this Lakers squad. It will come down to the health aspect. If the Lakers’ main guys can stay healthy throughout the season and when it matters the most in the playoffs, they could be title contenders.

The Lakers seemed to have made the right moves this offseason to bolster their roster. Doncic looks to be in the best shape of his career, James is still looking as sharp as ever in what will be his age-41 season, and Austin Reaves is looking for a big payday after his current contract comes to an end. Expect this Lakers squad to be on the cusp of winning it all and prove that they are the title contenders that everyone knows they can be when everything is clicking for them.