Lakers trading plan: new players take over, James abdicates?

In the summer of 2025, the Lakers officially launched the lineup upgrade plan. Under the premise that James may leave the Lakers' future championship plan, Doncic has become the new core of the Lakers' future organizational offensive, and the Lakers' management is also strengthening the shortcomings of the past lineup.

Doncic still maintained a stable offensive power in the 2024-25 season, averaging 28.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 9.3 assists per game, shooting percentage of 49.2%, and three-point shooting percentage of 37.5%. The field control ability and high-ball quotient can still effectively stabilize the offensive rhythm. Under this core, the Lakers management established Doncic as the absolute offensive core and maximized offensive value through defensive configuration. Although there are shortcomings in the core points, from a long-term perspective, there is no problem with this layout route.

Judging from the strengthening route this season, the Lakers' main line is still in the defense of the penalty area and high-post cover. Combined with the choice of combat strength, No. 1 pick, Ayton, has been criticized, but still has rebound value and frame protection ability, and is an ideal partner in the high pick-and-roll; the 3D forward Laravia has both defensive value in multiple positions, and is a high-quality choice to make up for the wing defense and outside space; as for Jaxon Hayes, who stays in the team, although he is young and flawed, he has mobility and lateral movement advantages. For short-term wing defense value, the flexibility of the defensive end is still quite outstanding. In addition to strengthening, the Lakers' main line is a high-end pick-and-roll system with Doncic as the core. Ayton can serve as a pick-and-roll shooting option after cover, creating efficient scoring opportunities in the interior; in addition, the team allocated weak side shooters resources for him as space restraint, which played a role in opening up the defensive formation. As for James, he should be more transformed into a role of high-level support points and rhythm control in the new season, reducing the burden on veterans, and at the same time exerting his own transmission experience value.

Then from the perspective of salary management, as of 2025, the Lakers' main salary is still very clear, Doncic is 43 million, James is 52.6 million, and Ayton is 19 million, and the other players are about 25 million, and the team's total salary is about 139 million. If James chooses to buy out or retire, he will also release more than 50 million in space.

Under such salary conditions, the Lakers' goals are also very clear, reducing the burden of luxury tax, increasing trading operation space in the free market, and building a new lineup team with Doncic as the absolute dominant one.

Especially considering the possibility of James leaving the team in the future, the Lakers need to prepare a new leadership team in advance for the future, and at the same time strengthen the shooting force for the current situation. The coaching team needs to coordinate new tactical dominance to maintain the balance of ball rights and core efficiency.

From the shift change ideas of James and Doncic, we can basically clarify the blueprint for the Lakers' team building in the next three years:

2025-26 season, fully introduce Doncic's new dominant tactical system, make up for space and flanking defensive resources;

2026-27 season, expand the lineup depth and evaluate the future potential of the second star;

2027-28 season, officially enter the championship period, clarify the long-term championship lineup.

As the Lakers complete the core transfer, Doncic has officially become the team's main line core. Whether the second top star can be introduced in the future will become the key to influencing the Lakers' future championship. Combining player salary and team building routes, the Lakers have a high-quality second core choice, even Antetokounmpo, Jokic, etc. Referring to their contract structure, they are the focus of the Lakers paying attention to the layout in advance.

Antetokounmpo signed a three-year contract renewal with the Bucks in October 2023, with a total value of 186 million yuan. The contract started in the 2025-26 season and additional player options were added to the 2027-28 season. If Antetokounmpo chooses to jump out of the contract by then, he will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027.

This is a foreseeable opportunity for the Lakers. If they can reasonably control the salary structure in that year, they will have the space to pursue Antetokounmpo. As for Jokic, he signed a five-year super contract of about 276 million yuan with the Nuggets in 2022, with a guarantee period of 2027-28 season, and also includes player options. According to current news, Jokic tends to wait until 2026 to consider renewal. If there is no early renewal and ultimately choose to jump out of the player option, Jokic may also become a free agent in the summer of 2027.

Alman Antetokounmpo and Jokic are still playing for their parent team, the expiration contracts left by their contract structure provide the Lakers with the possibility of a free market. The 2026-2027 season is a key salary elasticity period. The team should avoid binding unnecessary high-paying long contracts, retain draft picks and young assets, and create value for possible sign-on and then exchange transactions.

If the Lakers can successfully attract any of the above franchises, they will have a chance to build another golden lineup with championship strength under Doncic's original team.

The Lakers' future is standing at a crossroads. James' departure may bring a short-term shock moment, but it is also an opportunity to reshape the dynasty. Regardless of how James chooses in the end, his stay and departure marks the beginning of a new era in the Lakers.

The Lakers' next change ideas are very clear, mainly to upgrade around "core transfer and lineup optimization", combined with salary management and tactical reconstruction, to create a young, dynamic and future explosive lineup. If the outside firepower and defensive mobility can be effectively supplemented and the salary space can be used to operate flexibly, the Lakers will not only not enter the reconstruction, but will have the opportunity to evolve into a new combat power system that is more suitable for modern basketball.

The gradual fading of LeBron also symbolizes the end of an era for the Lakers, but it also opens a new chapter for the Lakers with Doncic as its absolute core. This new Lakers with Doncic as the core have the basic potential to return to the top competition ranks of the West in the next three years.

This is not only the beginning of the new era of Zijin, but also a professional operation and operation, systematic team upgrade, and long-term development plan. These problems and opportunities have emerged again, and are another test for the Lakers.