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[Los Angeles Lakers]

2026 NBA All-Star Saturday: Dunk Contest, 3-Point Contest, Shooting Stars Participants

NBA All-Star Weekend is nearly upon us and this year’s event will feature some changes from prior years. Most notable is the change in the All-Star Game format with the league introducing a USA vs. the World dynamic featuring three teams, two with USA-born players and the third with international players.

The three teams will face off in a round-robin tournament with each squad playing each other once in a 12-minute game. After those three games take place, the two teams with the best record will face off in one final contest to crown the All-Star Game champions. The All-Star Game takes place on Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. PT and will air on NBC and Peacock.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic was the leading vote-getter amongst all players and will lead the World team, while LeBron James was named to his 22nd consecutive All-Star Game appearance and is part of the USA Stripes roster.

Prior to the All-Star Game itself, All-Star Weekend kicks off on Friday with the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, taking place at the Kia Forum at 4 p.m. PT. That will be followed by the Castrol Rising Stars, which begins at 6 p.m. PT at the Intuit Dome where the majority of All-Star festivities will take place and will stream on Peacock.

NBA All-Star Saturday Night will air on Peacock and NBC and begins at 2 p.m. PT at the Intuit Dome. This will feature the State Farm 3-point Contest, the AT&T Slam Dunk and the return of the Kia Shooting Stars contest, which replaces the Skills competition.

State Farm 3-point Contest​

The State Farm 3-point contest has a star-studded field featuring numerous current and former All-Stars. Last year’s winner, Tyler Herro will not be defending his crown, but two former champions are participating led by the surprising inclusion of former two-time champ Damian Lillard who won’t play this season due to a torn Achilles, but will still take part in this contest.

Donovan Mitchell will also be participating and would become the first player in NBA history to win the Slam Dunk and 3-point championships if he were to come out on top.

Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks
Norman Powell, Miami Heat

Kia Shooting Stars​

The Kia Shooting stars makes its return for the first time since 2015 when Chris Bosh, Swin Cash and Dominique Wilkins won their third consecutive title. This year’s version will feature current NBA players and legends, but not WNBA players as had been the case in previous editions.

Team All-Star: Chet Holmgren, Scottie Barnes, Richard Hamilton
Team Cameron: Kon Knueppel, Jalen Johnson, Corey Maggette
Team Harper: Dylan Harper, Ron Harper Jr., Ron Harper Sr.
Team Knicks: Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, Allan Houston

AT&T Slam Dunk​

The 2026 AT&T Slam Dunk will crown a new champion as three-time winner Mac McClung will not be defending his title this year. This year’s field is a group of young players looking to make a name for themselves and also features the only participant from a Los Angeles team on All-Star Saturday night.

Carter Bryant, San Antonio Spurs
Jaxson Hayes, Los Angeles Lakers
Keshad Johnson, Miami Heat
Jase Richardson, Orlando Magic

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/2026-nba-a...-3-point-contest-shooting-stars-participants/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Luka Doncic Expected To Play In 2026 NBA All-Star Game

The Los Angeles Lakers entered the All-Star break on a winning note as they took down the Dallas Mavericks 124-104. Luka Doncic didn’t suit up against his former team as he missed his fourth consecutive game due to a hamstring injury.

Doncic was seen working out before the contest, which would indicate that he is close to returning for the Lakers. Head coach JJ Redick even said that Luka should be good to go once the team returns from the All-Star break, but it was unclear what that would mean for the All-Star Game itself.

Doncic was the leading vote-getter amongst all players and with the game being held in L.A. there will certainly be a large contingent of fans who would love to see him in action. And despite his recent injury, Doncic is expected to play in a limited capacity, per NBA insider Marc Stein:

The Lakers’ Luka Dončić is indeed on course to play for a short stint in Sunday’s All-Star Game after a strong pregame workout Thursday, league sources tell @TheSteinLine. pic.twitter.com/nUvNyyN8Gf

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 13, 2026

As Stein reported, it can be expected that while Doncic will suit up and play in the All-Star Game, his time on the court will be limited. A soft tissue injury like a hamstring strain Luka is dealing with is something that must be handled carefully and the Lakers have been extremely cautious in bringing him back. So there is no way Doncic or the team will risk his availability for the home stretch of the regular season by having him play too much in the All-Star Game.

Luka making an appearance and getting a few minutes on the court for the World team should be more than enough and then he can continue to ramp himself up and be ready to go when the Lakers are back on the court and ready to make their push towards the playoffs.

This year will be the first time the All-Star Game will have a USA vs. the World format with the game itself taking place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.

2026 NBA All-Star Game rosters​

USA Stars

Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

USA Stripes

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
Brandon Ingram, Toronto Raptors
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (Injured)

Team World

Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Norman Powell, Miami Heat
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (Injured)
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (Injured)

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-luka-doncic-expected-to-play-in-2026-nba-all-star-game/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Video: Nike Honors Kobe Bryant In New Commercial Ahead Of NBA All-Star Weekend

The Los Angeles Clippers might be hosting NBA All-Star Weekend with most of the events taking place at the Intuit Dome, but the city of Los Angeles will always be a town dedicated to the Los Angeles Lakers. And nobody represents that more than the iconic Kobe Bryant.

Even though it has now been more than six years since his tragic passing, the legend of Kobe continues to live strong throughout L.A. with many murals dedicated to him around the city, not to mention the multiple statues in front of Crypto.com Arena. And All-Star Weekend has always been something special to Bryant as well, and with it now upon us, Nike has channeled the Lakers legend for their latest ad.

With All-Star Weekend set to get underway, Nike released a new commercial honoring Bryant, via House of Heat:

“Welcome to the City of Champions”

@nikebasketball honors Kobe in the brand’s latest campaign pic.twitter.com/U55WrczKmt

— House of Heat° (@houseofheat) February 13, 2026

The ad is a short but powerful one featuring the top of SoFi Stadium being illuminated with the famous picture of Kobe holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy after the Lakers won the 2001 NBA Championship. That is followed by a famous Bryant quote: “You get out of L.A. what you put into it” which then turns into the Mamba logo all while fans chant “Kobe” in the background.

Nike releasing this at this time makes sense as Kobe is synonymous with the All-Star Game. As the league struggles to figure out how to make the game more competitive and get players to care about it more, Kobe was someone who always pushed for players to compete hard during the contest. The league even named the All-Star Game MVP award after him and his 18 All-Star Game appearances trail only fellow Laker legends LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

This year’s contest will feature a USA vs. the World format for the first time with James and Luka Doncic representing the Lakers. But no matter what the format is, if the players are pushing each other and truly competing, Kobe will be smiling.

Lakers release “Iconic Los Angeles” short film ahead of All-Star Weekend​

The Lakers themselves have also put together something ahead of NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, releasing a short film entitled “Iconic Los Angeles” highlighting the connection between the franchise and the city of L.A.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-vid...new-commercial-ahead-of-nba-all-star-weekend/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Highlights: Jaxson Hayes Fails To Advance To Find Round In NBA Slam Dunk Contest

NBA All-Star Weekend took place at Intuit Dome in Inglewood this year, making it special for the Los Angeles Lakers players involved even though it was the L.A. Clippers technically hosting the events.

The Lakers had two players make the All-Star team this year in Luka Doncic and LeBron James, and Jaxson Hayes was also on hand to compete in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Hayes has thrown down some nasty dunks in his three seasons with the Lakers, and now he got the opportunity to do it on the biggest stage in the Dunk Contest for the first time.

He was competing against Carter Bryant of the San Antonio Spurs, Jase Richardson of the Orlando Magic and Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat, while the judges were Brent Barry, Dwight Howard, Nate Robinson and Dominique Wilkins.

Hayes went last in the first round and appeared to attempt to dunk while jumping from the free throw line. He wound up being a step in front though, so he only got a 44.6 score from the judges, which ranked fourth.

Jaxson Hayes’ intro and first dunk, which he received a 44.6 for: pic.twitter.com/oBmEW571Gi

— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) February 15, 2026

Since he ranked fourth after the first round of dunks, Hayes kicked off the second round with a familiar through-the-legs dunk on a pass from himself:

Jaxson Hayes went through the legs on his second attempt and was given a score of 47.2. pic.twitter.com/RpWQ0zXHmf

— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) February 15, 2026

Hayes recently did a similar Eastbay dunk in a game and missed on the first attempt in this one, which took a little of the flare away even though he still received a solid score.

Ultimately, Hayes was not in the top two, so he was eliminated before the final round. Hayes had a 91.8 combined score in the first two rounds, ahead of Jase Richardson (88.8) but behind Bryant (94.8) and Johnson (92.8).

Both Bryant and Johnson put on a show with their first dunks in the final round, but Bryant screwed up his second, allowing Johnson to take home the title.

Jaxson Hayes always dreamed of competing in Slam Dunk Contest​

Before competing in the event for the first time, Jaxson Hayes discussed what it meant to him to be in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

“It would be really special if it was in Cleveland or Indiana, that’s close to my family,” the Lakers center admitted. “But for me, I’ve always dreamed on being in the Dunk Contest, it’s just something you do as a kid. Obviously making it to the NBA and being an All-Star, stuff like that (is what you dream of), but for me, I was always big into the Dunk Contest, if you guys can’t tell by the way I play. So yeah, just excited. When I got that call, I was definitely down.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-hig...vance-to-find-round-in-nba-slam-dunk-contest/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Victor Wembanyama Hoping To Pick Brain Of LeBron James

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been the face of the NBA for the last two decades and despite being 41 years of age, he is showing no signs of slowing down.

James was named an NBA All-Star for a record 22nd time despite missing the first 14 games of the season due to injury, reaching unprecedented levels of longevity in this league.

The younger generation is doing what they can to take the torch for James, and perhaps the person to do it will be San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama.

The French star is in just his third NBA season but is already viewed as one of the best players in the league. He was named an All-Star for the second time this season and during his media appearance, he spoke about how much he can learn from someone like LeBron and discussed his desire to pick him brain at some point.

“I actually think LeBron has some — he’s very intelligent in these areas. Him obviously being the face of the league. Having very few mistakes, PR mistakes. I think that definitely takes some intelligence,” Wembanyama said. “No, I think there are many things to take from him. I’ve never had the chance to spend time with him, to have full discussion, but I would love to. I don’t know how many millions of basketball players are on earth, and all of them can learn something from LeBron.”

Wembanyama was then asked if he will cry whenever James decides to retire from the NBA.

“No (smiling). You asked me to be honest. I’m not going to shed a tear, but it is going to be very weird, for sure,” the Spurs star added.

James himself recently discussed how much longer he can continue playing physically, although the mental aspect is a completely different story. LeBron is in the final year of his Lakers contract, so the 41-year-old will have some decisions to make regarding his future once the offseason rolls around.

LeBron James jokes Victor Wembanyama may send him into retirement​

When they met up for a live taping of “The Shop,” LeBron James actually joked that Victor Wembanyama will be the one that sends him into retirement.

Even though Wembanyama is only in his third season, he is already striking fear into his opponents as the sky is the limit for what he can accomplish in this league on both sides of the ball.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-victor-wembanyama-hoping-to-pick-brain-of-lebron-james/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

2026 NBA All-Star Game: Luka Doncic Plays Limited Minutes, LeBron James & Kawhi Leonard Star For Stripes Team

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game took place at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Saturday afternoon with Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic involved in the event.

The NBA decided to switch the format of this year’s All-Star Game, splitting the players into three teams, two USA and one World, to compete in a tournament. Doncic, of course, was on the World Team, while James was on the USA Stripes Team. Both of the Lakers’ stars have dealt with recent injuries, however, so they played limited minutes in the game.

Doncic’s World Team faced off with the USA Stars Team in the first quarter and the Lakers star played five minutes with two points and two assists before being subbed out. That was his only action for the day, and he came out of it injury-free.

The first game wound up going to overtime with both teams tied at 32. The first team to score five points in the overtime period would win, and ultimately the Stars Team completed the comeback victory on a triple by Scottie Barnes.

James’ Stripes Team took on the USA Stars in the second game and he got things started with an assist to Kevin Durant from a triple and then a 3-pointer of his own. In five minutes to begin the game, James had five points, one rebound and one assist.

The energy and competitiveness was much better throughout compared to recent years. The second game came down to the wire, and De’Aaron Fox hit a triple at the buzzer to give the victory to the Stripes Team. James helped set up the final bucket after hitting his second 3-pointer, finishing with eight points.

James and Doncic’s teams squared off in the third quarter, although the latter was already done for the night.

In that game, Kawhi Leonard absolutely took over with 31 points for the Stripes team. He hit the game-winner, and James finished two points, two rebounds and four assists. LeBron’s bucket was a big one as he had a putback dunk to give his team the lead in the final minute.

The final matchup was the two USA teams once again.

Considering the Stripes Team had just played two games in a row, the Stars Team was well-rested and came out hot to take an early lead.

James did his part with five straight points to try to get his team back in it, but the Stars continued to pour it on for the easy victory.

Even though the Stripes and Stars played two games and split them, the Stars won the final one to take home the victory. Anthony Edwards was named MVP and awarded the Kobe Bryant trophy.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will now get some much-needed time off for the All-Star break before returning to the court on Friday against the L.A. Clippers at Crypto.com Arena.

Going into the break, the Lakers are tied for fifth in the Western Conference at 33-21 and are looking to make a run with their roster finally getting healthy.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/2026-nba-a...on-james-kawhi-leonard-star-for-stripes-team/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Ivica Zubac Reveals Magic Johnson Prevented Kareem Abdul-Jabbar From Mentoring Him

A trade that haunts the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans to this day was the 2019 deal sending Ivica Zubac to the L.A. Clippers for Mike Muscala. Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka were the two key decision-makers at the time, and it did not take long to realize how disastrous a move it was.

During that time, the Lakers were in the midst of a rebuild and Zubac was only 21-years-old. He showed signs of being a quality center demonstrated the capability of a double-double big.

The Lakers have endless resources and plenty of successful centers who have walked through this organization. Zubac had all the tools to replicate the success he has had with Clippers with the team that drafted him, but they gave up on him prematurely.

Now reflecting on his time with the Lakers, the Zubac revealed a damning story of Johnson preventing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from mentoring and working out with him, via X&O’s CHAT:

“After a few workouts, he told me he wanted to mentor me and work for the Lakers. After that, he had a meeting with Magic, and I don’t know what happened there, but he never got a job with the Lakers. He wanted some kind of role with the team just to work with me and the big guys, but unfortunately that never happened.”

On the surface, Johnson refusing to hire Abdul-Jabbar to work with Zubac and the other centers on the team makes little sense. Perhaps what prevented this move from happening was giving the Hall of Famer a job description and compensation for his time, but that shouldn’t have happened.

Johnson was president of basketball operations for a handful of years before eventually stepping down. He did some good things during his tenure like getting LeBron James to sign, but how he handled Zubac sticks out as one of his biggest mistakes.

Now with Mark Walter as the majority owner, a mistake like this should never happen again. Money should not be a deciding factor on whether or not to keep a player, which has haunted the Lakers for the past handful of years.

Ivica Zubac fondly recalls working out with Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar​

During Ivica Zubac’s departure from the Lakers, having an opportunity to work alongside one of the greatest centers ever in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Although things did not materialize into a long-form working relationship, Zubac still looks back fondly of putting in time with Abdul-Jabbar.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...ented-kareem-abdul-jabbar-from-mentoring-him/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Luka Doncic: Hamstring ‘Felt Good’ In NBA All-Star Game Appearance

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic led all players in fan voting for the NBA All-Star Game, but his participation in the contest itself was up in the air. Doncic missed the Lakers’ last four games before the All-Star break due to a hamstring injury and while he had been progressing, it was unclear whether he would suit up.

It was ultimately revealed that Luka would indeed play in the All-Star Game, his first as a member of the Lakers, but would only take the court for limited minutes. That was the case as Doncic played just five minutes in the World Team’s first game against the USA Stars squad, finishing with two points and two assists.

Far more important than his performance was the health of that hamstring and in speaking after the game, Luka said that he felt good on the court while adding that he wanted to at least make an appearance for the fans who voted for him.

“It was good,” Doncic said. “Obviously, I wanted to go out there. The fans voted me to be in this game so I wanted to be there and be part of it a little bit. But (my hamstring) felt good.”

With the game being in Los Angeles, there were certain to be a large contingent of Lakers and Doncic fans in the building, even if it technically was in the home arena of the L.A. Clippers. But Luka was able to get out there for a little bit and give the fans a brief show.

All this would seem to point towards Doncic being back in uniform for the Lakers when they return to the court to face the Clippers on Friday night, though he kept his answer vague on the topic.

“We’ll see,” the Lakers star responded when asked if he plans on playing.

With a few more days off now though, it is fair to expect him to suit up after taking the court for this All-Star Game, not to mention knowing just how competitive Luka is.

Thankfully for Doncic and the Lakers, this hamstring issue was a minor one and now the team looks likely to begin this final stretch of the regular season with their three stars all healthy.

Luka Doncic believes Lakers have a team that can win a championship​

The question going forward for Luka Doncic and the Lakers now is whether they can compete with the NBA’s elite and contend for a championship and the Slovenian star believes this team is capable of that.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/luka-doncic-hamstring-felt-good-in-nba-all-star-game-appearance/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

How Much Cap Space Will Lakers Have In Summer Of 2026?

The Los Angeles Lakers stayed relatively quiet at the trade deadline this year. They made only one trade, swapping Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard with the Atlanta Hawks, and giving them a 2032 second-round pick in the process. The biggest reason for this inaction is that the Lakers are — fairly openly — prioritizing clean books and cap space in the summer of 2026.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka was hesitant to take on long-term money last offseason, and that didn’t change at the trade deadline. Kennard is on an expiring $11 million contract — similar to Vincent — which allowed Pelinka to agree to the deal without concern.

That leaves the Lakers with a projection of around $48.5 million in cap space for the summer of 2026, which is among the most in the league, according to Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron:

2026 cap space projections (post-trade deadline)

Bulls: $45-60 million (depends on Ivey)
Lakers: $48.5 million
Nets: $40 million
Clippers: $40 million (No Mathurin)
Hawks: $25 million (No Kuminga)

Few cap space teams and fewer attainable talent on the market pic.twitter.com/M81wbuUaIE

— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) February 5, 2026

The $48.5 million number, Gozlan lists above, includes Reaves’ $20.9 million cap hold. All signs are pointing to Reaves signing a long-term deal with L.A. this summer at a higher number than that, but that won’t affect their cap space. The Lakers have Reaves’ bird rights, meaning as long as they keep his cap hold on their books, they can sign him to upwards of a max deal while being above the salary cap.

This number also includes player options for Deandre Ayton — $8,104,000 — and Marcus Smart — $5,390,700 — which could both be off the books if they decline and L.A. chooses not to re-sign them. The Lakers would not be able to sign them to deals greater than 120% of their current salaries without using cap space.

Bronny James is on a partially-guaranteed $2,296,271 salary, meaning they could add some space by waiving him before his guarantee date of June 29, and save around $1 million.

Included in this projection are also the guaranteed salaries of Luka Doncic, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia, Adou Thiero and the Lakers’ 2026 first-round draft pick.

Of course, there are always trades the Lakers could make in June that increase this figure. But as things stand, the Lakers will have just under one max salary slot to make moves with this summer.

Top Lakers Free Agent Targets​

Below are a list of the best free agents available in the offseason that the Lakers could pursue. LeBron James, an unrestricted free agent this summer, is not included in the list. But bringing him back, likely at a discount, is a possibility. The list is organized in order of the players’ 2025-26 salary.

Guards

Fred VanVleet (PO)
Norman Powell (UFA)
Lu Dort (TO)
Matisse Thybulle (UFA)
Quentin Grimes (UFA)
Ayo Dosunmu (UFA)
Jose Alvarado (UFA)

Forwards

Andrew Wiggins (PO)
Tobias Harris (UFA)
Draymond Green (PO)
Jonathan Kuminga (TO)
John Collins (UFA)
Tari Eason (RFA)
Peyton Watson (RFA)

Centers

Isaiah Hartenstein (TO)
Mitchell Robinson (UFA)
Moe Wagner (UFA)
Day’Ron Sharpe (TO)
Nick Richards (UFA)
Walker Kessler (RFA)
Sandro Mamukelashvili (PO)

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/how-much-cap-space-will-lakers-have-in-summer-of-2026/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Andrew Wiggins, Tari Eason & Peyton Watson Among Potential Free Agent Targets

Other than acquiring Luke Kennard, the Los Angeles Lakers largely stood pat the trade deadline despite having clear needs on the roster.

The Lakers, as currently constructed, are a poor defensive team that struggles against younger, more athletic teams. Although Luka Doncic is having a career year and LeBron James and Austin Reaves are turning in All-Star-caliber seasons, Los Angeles is still a step behind the other contending teams around the NBA.

The lack of activity at the trade deadline supports the reporting that the Lakers will look to make their splash in the summer when they’re armed with more tradable draft capital and cap space.

In terms of free agency, there are several 3-and-D wings that could be had and a few of them were named as potential targets, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

An unrestricted free agent who has been discussed internally, sources told ESPN, is Andrew Wiggins, but he has a player option with Miami he could exercise. Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes and Dean Wade are other players who fit that profile.

The Lakers have also privately discussed restricted free agents Tari Eason and Peyton Watson, sources told ESPN, and could land the latter if Denver, which already has $215 million in salary committed to returning players for next season, doesn’t match the offer sheet.

Some of these are names we’ve seen before. Andrew Wiggins was arguably the most popular name linked to the Lakers this past offseason, and he remains an intriguing option. A perimeter defender who can knock down an open 3-pointer and comes with championship experience would be a valuable addition to Los Angeles.

It’s not a foregone conclusion that Wiggins will even be a free agent this summer, however as he has a $30.2 million player option in 2026-27 that he could very well pick up.

The Lakers may also want to target the younger players available in order to match up better with Doncic’s timeline. With that in mind, Tari Eason and Peyton Watson would be excellent targets because of their skillsets and upside. Watson, in particular, seems attainable given his expected price tag and Southern Californian roots.

Attracting a star player to come to L.A. has always been the playbook for the front office, but with Doncic already locked down they need to surround him with complementary pieces. The modern NBA is built around speed, length and athleticism so the purple and gold should be as aggressive as possible for players with those attributes come the summer.

Lakers believe they would be on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s shortlist of trade destinations​

With more first round picks to trade, Los Angeles can make a run at nearly any player in the league. The big prize of the summer is Giannis Antetokounmpo, who appears ready to be moved and the Lakers believe they would be on his shortlist of trade destinations should he actually ask out.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rum...on-watson-among-potential-free-agent-targets/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Jaxson Hayes Unlikely To Compete In NBA Slam Dunk Contest Again

The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles has passed and the Los Angeles Lakers were represented well as players like Jaxson Hayes took part in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest while Luka Doncic and LeBron James played in the All-Star Game.

Hayes received an invitation for the Dunk Contest and seemed to be preparing for the event as he threw down several impressive dunks in the week prior. However, Hayes didn’t advance to the final round after putting up a subpar performance in the opening rounds.

It was a bit disappointing to see Hayes eliminated so early, especially after he acknowledged that he had always dreamed of participating in the event.

While Hayes still has a decent shot of being asked to do the Dunk Contest again, he acknowledged that the answer would most likely be no after seeing the toll it took on his knees.

“This is my seventh year in the NBA, I’m gonna be in my eighth year next year. You see these young guys got way more legs. I went up for my first dunk, I felt it right in my knees. I don’t think so,” Hayes said. “It was fun to do and to say I did it, but I don’t know. I’m not gonna fully shut out the dunk contest, but most likely no. I’d rather much be in Hawaii right now.”

With how long and arduous the regular season is and the increased risk of injury, it makes sense why Hayes would look to avoid participating again. The event itself has seen a dip in popularity due to the lack of big-name stars participating, so that’s another obstacle the league needs to consider moving forward.

Staying healthy has been a huge problem for the Lakers during the 2025-26 season, so it would be disastrous if someone like Hayes got hurt outside of a game. It’s disappointing that Hayes couldn’t bring home the win, but L.A. has more important things to worry about.

Jaxson Hayes nearing completion of Slovenian citizenship​

Jaxson Hayes may not consider participating in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest again, but it looks like he’s on track to play for the Slovenian national team as he is reportedly nearing completion of gaining citizenship.

Hayes has been open about his desire to play on the national stage alongside his Lakers teammate Luka Doncic. Doncic’s Slovenia squads lack the NBA talent other countries boast, so Hayes would be a huge reinforcement.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...ly-to-compete-in-nba-slam-dunk-contest-again/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Austin Reaves Credits Rajon Rondo As First Veteran Mentor

An extremely important thing for a young player’s development when they enter the league is having a veteran teammate who can really show them the way both on and off the court. Not only during practices and games, but also proper ways to work out, diet and money management, amongst other things. And Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves was fortunate enough to have one of the best and brightest minds in NBA history on the team when he joined.

Of course, most thoughts would go immediately towards LeBron James and there is no doubt that he has had an immense impact on Reaves’ career. But the first veteran to really take Reaves under his wing as a rookie was Rajon Rondo.

After winning a title with the Lakers in 2020, Rondo returned to the team in 2022 as a veteran voice in the locker room. And in an interview with Franklyn Calle of SLAM Magazine, Reaves credited Rondo with really helping him with his film study as a rookie:

“Rondo was probably the first one. Frank [Vogel] pulled me to the side and was like, Anything you have a question for, if you don’t feel comfortable talking to the staff or whatever, talk to him. Because everybody knows his IQ for the game. He studies the game unlike anybody else. So, I sat by him on the plane. We would have a game one night, and the next morning Rondo would ask me, Hey, what happened at 5:45 in the first quarter? And if I didn’t know, it wasn’t good. He definitely taught me to watch film and do all the little things. So, he was probably the first one. And then obviously Bron was someone else that was super helpful—every year, but really that first year. Anything that he could help me with, he was willing to do.”

There are few players who would be a better candidate to study film and really get into the details of games than Rondo. He truly saw things that most other players didn’t and for him to impart his knowledge and wisdom on to a young Reaves has paid massive dividends.

Many often bemoan the older players on the end of the bench who rarely play, but they serve an important purpose and what Rondo did for a young Reaves as a rookie on the Lakers is still paying off today.

Austin Reaves felt great physically going into All-Star break​

What would’ve been Austin Reaves’ first All-Star season for the Lakers has been hampered due to injury. But Reaves made it known that he felt great physically going into the All-Star break after dealing with a calf injury.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-austin-reaves-credits-rajon-rondo-as-first-veteran-mentor/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James ‘Very Intrigued’ By Anthony Davis Trade To Wizards

Anthony Davis made a massive impact in his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping the team win a championship in 2020 and solidifying himself as one of the NBA’s best big men. It wasn’t easy for the Lakers to deal him away, but the opportunity to acquire Luka Doncic was one the franchise obviously couldn’t pass up.

Unfortunately for Davis, his time with the Dallas Mavericks didn’t last long and was filled with injuries not only to him, but also to superstar teammate Kyrie Irving. Additionally, his presence in Dallas also cast a shadow over the franchise in the eyes of fans who were still angry about the Doncic trade and the front office eventually chose to move on from Davis, trading him to the Washington Wizards at this year’s trade deadline.

His addition alongside Trae Young, whom Washington also acquired via trade this year makes the Wizards one of the more interesting Eastern Conference squads for next season as both stars will likely sit out the rest of this season. But LeBron James is very interested to see how Davis and Young meld with the young players in Washington next season, via the “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash:

“Very interesting. I’m very intrigued and I’m very interested to see what happens and how this all comes about obviously next year, it’s kind ok towards next year… Yeah, I think AD’s out, that’s what the talks of and I think it’s already been said maybe that Trae is not gonna play this year as well. But I’m interested to see what they do and how it all comes together. With AD obviously we know the talent level is out of this world. And Trae with his ability to play pick-and-roll game, his ability to shoot the ball, his lob threat. I love the young kid from France that they have on their team too, [Alex] Sarr. We just played them two weeks ago great touch, great feel for the game. Love the kid [Kyshawn] George as well, young kid pretty good player. And then also the rookie kid they got from Texas, Tre Johnson. They have some pieces and I think for the first time in a few years we can say that Washington has grabbed some pieces. So it’s gonna be interesting to see what happens and how they come together with a training camp, maybe with a offseason maybe guys get together we’ll see what happens with that. See how motivated Trae and AD is to prove Dallas and L.A. and Atlanta, we know what we’re capable of. But you know every year is different. You gotta look into the future, but those are two All-Stars.”

The combination of established veteran All-Stars and very promising young talent is certainly one to keep an eye on. Both Davis and Young have made deep postseason runs and players like Sarr, George, Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly and Bub Carrington all bring something different to the table and could be enhanced playing next to Young and Davis.

Whether Davis can get back to that peak form that he showed early in his time with the Lakers remains to be seen, but LeBron and many others will be keeping a close eye on how he looks with the Wizards next season.

Lakers’ LeBron James discusses what being named All-Star for a 22nd time means to him​

LeBron James is coming off his record 22nd NBA All-Star appearance and he spoke about what being named to the team meant for him, calling it humbling and a blessing.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-very-intrigued-by-anthony-davis-trade-to-wizards/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Updates: Luka Doncic Expected To Play Vs. Clippers, Austin Reaves Off Minutes Restriction

After missing the Los Angeles Lakers’ last four games due to a hamstring strain, superstar guard Luka Doncic is expected to suit up on Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers, as head coach JJ Redick confirmed after practice on Thursday.

Additionally, Redick also revealed that guard Austin Reaves will be off his minutes restriction.

“Austin won’t have a minutes restriction, and as of 35-45 seconds ago, it looks like we’ll have everyone available tomorrow,” Redick said on Thursday.

The Doncic news shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise as it had previously been reported that he should be good to go after the All-Star break. His brief appearance in the All-Star Game itself only furthered that thinking and he said he felt good after playing five minutes on Sunday.

The Lakers were able to hold strong without their best player, going 2-2 in those games with only a blowout loss to the San Antonio Spurs in which Reaves, LeBron James, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart all sat out as well, being a sore point.

Doncic is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career in his first full year with the Lakers as he leads the NBA at 32.8 points per game and ranks third in assists at 8.6. Doncic, James and Reaves have all played at an All-Star level this season, but have rarely been able to share the court together. Thankfully, that looks set to change coming out of the All-Star break.

Reaves returned from his calf injury a few weeks ago but had been on a minutes restriction of around 25 minutes, coming off the bench the last five games. Now that the restriction has been lifted, however, he will likely be back in the starting lineup.

This is the healthiest the Lakers have been all season long and now head coach JJ Redick will be able to get a good feel on what this team is capable of and be able to find the right lineups and rotations to get the best out of this group.

Whether the Lakers are true championship contenders has been a question hanging over this team all season long. They have maintained one of the better records in the Western Conference despite so many injury issues, but their performances in many of their losses has been concerning. But with Doncic and Reaves healthy and ready to go, the Lakers are set to show the rest of the league that they can compete with anybody and that starts Friday night.

Lakers’ Rui Hachimura opens up on feeling of trade deadline passing​

Something else that should help the Lakers lock in is the passing of the trade deadline as players no longer have to worry about whether they will still be on the team. Rui Hachimura recently spoke on dealing with the rumors as a member of the Lakers and feels this team is now ready for anything that comes at them.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-inj...ippers-austin-reaves-off-minutes-restriction/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: JJ Redick Breaks Down Zone Defense Usage

Despite all the injuries the Los Angeles Lakers have endured during the 2025-26 season, head coach JJ Redick has managed to keep the team afloat. Redick himself struggled to assess the first half of the season due to players being in and out, but did acknowledge they have been making some progress.

The Lakers enter the second half of the season with a 33-21 record, good for fifth place in the Western Conference.

Redick has had to lean on his star trio to get Los Angeles’ offense going, but defensively the team is still a work in progress.

Recently, Redick and the Lakers have incorporated more zone defense looks against teams and he broke down why he thinks it’s been working.

“I think it starts with setting up our defense and just eating up some clock,” Redick said. “We looked this morning, we did a bunch of stuff with our analytics group. It’s not like teams are vastly underperforming from the midrange or from three. I think some of the underperformance from three has to do with just breaking up a little bit of the flow of the game if that’s what you mean by throwing them for a loop. I think just the rhythm and running your sets that you’re running…some teams run their sets, some teams run their zone offense.

“It just depends on the team, but it’s been a good tool for us and we recognize that we’re gonna have to plan man at points, we’re gonna have to play 15 at points and switch one through five, we’re gonna have to play some zone at points, and we’re gonna have to put two on the ball at some point versus certain players. Like we did against Jamal Murray when we played Denver the last time. I think with this group it’s not gonna be one thing. We’ve gotta continue to be adaptable and search for the right answer in the middle of the game.”

Redick also acknowledged that this year’s zone defense seems to be their version of man defense last year.

“Last year our man was zone and this year our zone is man, so it’s not incredibly complicated,” he said.

As Redick noted, the Lakers will have to switch up their coverages depending on matchups but for now, there’s no reason to move away from a zone defense that is at least slowing down opponents.

JJ Redick not taking LeBron James for granted​

LeBron James is turning in another fine season in Year 23, an unprecedented feat that a former player like JJ Redick can appreciate. James continues to be an outlier in NBA lore which is why Redick isn’t talking him for granted.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-jj-redick-breaks-down-zone-defense-usage/