Los Angeles Lakers 2025-2026 guide: Roster, Depth Chart & Key Players

From being an unbalanced team with no true center to landing one of the biggest prizes of free agency, let’s see what to expect from the Los Angeles Lakers in this year’s Fantasy NBA

Lakers-Logo

As in recent seasons, the Los Angeles Lakers enter the year with four locked-in starters, this time with a better mix of roles and skill sets. For once, they’ll have a legitimate presence in the paint and several intriguing Dunkest options to consider.

At the end of the article, you can consult all the guides to the 30 NBA teams by accessing the Guide Index.

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Key Players

This could be Luka Doncic’s (G, 23.0 cr) Revenge Season, as all eyes in the league will be on him. But it’s one of his new teammates – drafted two picks ahead of him back in the day – who has a real chance to reshape the narrative around his career.

Deandre Ayton (C, 12.0 cr) is undoubtedly the most talented center Doncic has ever played with. We all know Luka’s chemistry with big men and how they tend to thrive because of it. There are still some character-related question marks – as often happens in L.A. – but this duo could quickly become one of the league’s most productive. Get your popcorn ready.

Possible Surprises

The roster comes with several uncertainties: Vanderbilt, Knecht, Thiero, and the Vincent/Smart pairing all carry question marks. Among the lesser-known names, Jake LaRavia (F, 5.0 cr) stands out as a versatile option who could carve out playing time. He’s projected to start as the first backup to Hachimura and second to LeBron, making him a low-cost gamble with upside potential.

Players to Avoid

Even at a modest price, Rui Hachimura (F, 7.5 cr) might not be the best fantasy investment. His place in the starting lineup could actually hurt his value, given the number of offensive players around him. For a player so dependent on scoring, 13 points per game in 31 minutes – despite better shooting splits than usual – doesn’t inspire much confidence. Unless a transition into a sixth-man role happens, he’s best avoided.

Likely Starting Lineup

PG: Luka Doncic (Guard, 23.0 Credits)

SG: Austin Reaves (Guard, 12.0 Credits)

SF: LeBron James (Forward, 18.5 Credits)

PF:  Rui Hachimura (Forward, 7.5 Credits)

C: Deandre Ayton (Center, 12.0 Credits)

Power Ranking

The Lakers appear to be a couple of trades away from true contender status, reducing their dependence on luck and health. Much will depend on how quickly the new additions mesh and what roles the returning players can carve out. As things stand, Los Angeles projects to finish between third and fifth in the Western Conference.

Got more questions?

Dunkest Fantasy Basketball Player List NBA 2025/26

To make life easier for all draft mode enthusiasts, we’ve made the Dunkest NBA 2025/26 player list available for download in Excel format, so you can start planning your auction in the coming days.

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