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The Los Angeles Lakers begin the post LeBron James era on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
It’ll be the first time in eight years that James won’t be suiting up at Crypto.com Arena to open the season (not counting the sciatica injury that delayed his 2025 debut). This is now unquestionably Luka Dončić’s team. The roster has been re-shaped around him to show for it.
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But are they better off?
President of basketball operations Rob Pelinka wasted no time in overhauling the team with the roughly $52 million in cap space created by James’ departure in free agency for the Philadelphia 76ers. The first priority was locking in Austin Reaves long-term. They got him on a four-year, $184.8 million contract. The next box to check was acquiring a franchise center; they traded for Walker Kessler.
The third item on the offseason agenda was to sign players who could dribble, pass and shoot. Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Ziaire Williams and Jaden Hardy check all those boxes.
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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players
1. Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams, Imagn Images)
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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players
1. Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams, Imagn Images)
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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players
2. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
(Jesse Johnson, Imagn Images)
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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players
3. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
(Wendell Cruz, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players
4. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
(Marc Lebryk, Imagn Images)
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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat
(Sam Navarro, Imagn Images)
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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players
6. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)
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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players
7. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
(Ronald Martinez, Getty Images)
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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players
8. Anthony Edwards,…
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Publish date : 2026-10-21 05:26:00
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