2026-2027 Season Predictions

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by Julio, Jul 2, 2026 at 2:48 AM.

  1. Wino

    Wino - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2017
    Messages:
    4,003
    Likes Received:
    8,974
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    La Jolla
    Offline
    High End: Competing for a ring in finals.

    Low End: All the guys are dating the Kardashians and the pictures are from Cancun.
     
    Julio likes this.
  2. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    20,383
    Likes Received:
    84,136
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Anaheim
    Offline
    As of now this is a team that wins somewhere in the 40’s unless Carr and Adou are instant contributors. Too hard to say before the roster is done though, there’s a big difference between Grimes and Mamu being starters vs potentially bench players, if they’re bench guys we have great depth, if they’re starting I fear for poor Luka. I also don’t love going into the season with no 3rd string center, I’m not counting Mamu as that, would love an actual 3rd big like Nick Richards for insurance. But, we have bigger needs at the moment really, starting 3/4, so it probably doesn’t happen. Just hate to see us fall to only one big man in case of an injury. Final predictions will be easier to make when we add the last couple players though.
     
  3. KuzmoBall17

    KuzmoBall17 - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    Messages:
    4,887
    Likes Received:
    8,741
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Online
    Free chat GPT version prediction

    Lakers 2026–27 season prediction (updated)
    What they actually look like now
    The team is no longer “LeBron + Luka.” It’s now clearly:

    Luka Dončić – franchise centerpiece
    Austin Reaves – secondary creator
    Deandre Ayton / Walker Kessler-type center rotation (depending on depth chart version)
    Young wings + role players (Knecht, Vanderbilt, etc.)
    This is a rebuild-on-the-fly contender, not a superteam.

    Realistic expectations
    Regular season
    44–50 wins
    4–8 seed range in the West
    They’ll win games because:

    Luka guarantees elite offense
    Reaves is a strong co-creator
    Center defense improved (on paper)
    But they’ll lose games because:

    Wing defense is still inconsistent
    Depth is thin after big roster reshuffle
    Chemistry early in the season could be messy
    Playoffs
    Most likely outcomes:

    Most likely: 1st–2nd round exit
    Best case: Western Conference Finals run (if Luka goes nuclear + health breaks right)
    Worst case: play-in team if injuries or defense collapse
    The real truth about this Lakers era
    This team is basically:

    “We built everything around Luka and hope it clicks fast.”

    That’s a high-ceiling, medium-floor roster, not a guaranteed contender yet.

    Bottom line
    Without LeBron, the Lakers are:

    Still dangerous because of Luka
    Not yet deep or balanced enough to be clear title favorites
    Very dependent on mid-season development and trades
    If you want, I can break down:

    whether Luka alone can carry a title run in this West
    or how the Lakers match up vs OKC / Spurs / Nuggets right now
    or what one trade would instantly make them contenders again
     
    lakerjones likes this.
  4. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    40,686
    Likes Received:
    68,789
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    So Cal
    Offline
    AI just aggregates what it reads on particular forums pertaining to the questions asked. :D ;)
     
    abeer3 and Helljumper like this.
  5. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2014
    Messages:
    12,562
    Likes Received:
    36,594
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I think we will actually have a solid year and finish somewhere in the top 4 in the West. Playoffs will end about the same though absent mire moves
     
  6. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

    Top Poster Of Month

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Messages:
    4,991
    Likes Received:
    14,795
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I don’t have a gauge on this team. The dispersion is quite wide in my opinion, but let’s assume decent health with 65+ games for our big 3 each.

    I see scenarios where we have an overwhelming amount of offense from Luka (27 pts), Reaves (23), Kessler (15), Grimes (15), Sexton (17) and Ayton (13) and we just win a ton of games like 50+.

    On the other hand, I’m not seeing our defensive strength at the moment at POA and the wing and I feel like teams could just put it on us and we win 40-45 as a play in team.

    So I’m going to say somewhere between 4th to 7th seed and 45-52 games.
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2026 at 5:40 PM
    abeer3 likes this.
  7. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    34,477
    Likes Received:
    94,680
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    i'll just repeat that FA isn't over, and the roster isn't complete. i could have different ideas in a couple days or months.
     
    gcclaker, DeeZee and LTLakerFan like this.
  8. VincePT

    VincePT - Lakers 6th Man -

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2020
    Messages:
    1,486
    Likes Received:
    2,901
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    San Diego
    Offline
    Play-in most likely with the current roster.
     
  9. wallangong

    wallangong - Lakers 6th Man -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    1,957
    Likes Received:
    6,063
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Online
    Give me Kuminga and 1 of Thybuille, Bruce Brown Jr, or Ziaire Williams and I’m very interested in this team. Even just Thybuille+Williams and I think that team could surprise a lot of people.
     
    abeer3 and svtzr like this.
  10. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    21,308
    Likes Received:
    83,574
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Yeah, currently that's about where i see us. 6th seed ceiling, low to mid 40s in terms of wins.

    A Kuminga and Thybulle ain't gonna change that much. Could help push it to middle 40s and push a higher floor.

    Off season isn't done and teams are still wheeling and dealing, so we'll see where we are when the dust settles.

    Then how the schedule breaks will also impact this a good bit. But today, that's where i see it.
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2026 at 9:03 AM
  11. Juronimo

    Juronimo - Lakers Starter -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    2,833
    Likes Received:
    7,871
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    plays with one's and zero's
    Location:
    the sky's the limit
    Online
    This is a playin team at best as currently constructed. I'm concerned with our lack of defense and athleticism, which has continued to be an issue for us for several seasons now.
     
  12. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    40,686
    Likes Received:
    68,789
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    So Cal
    Offline
    Where’s @karacha when we need him? Started incredibly strong out of nowhere …. then poof gone again. One day spirit man wonder?

    :Laugh:
     
  13. karacha

    karacha Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    9,646
    Likes Received:
    31,332
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Online
    Traveling, mostly. Hard to find time to post. Also, waiting for that final chess piece to move, and it is going to be a wing player. Then, it will all make sense. People may disagree with Rob’s moves, but that dude always has a plan of some sort.
     
    TIME, LTLakerFan and abeer3 like this.
  14. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    40,686
    Likes Received:
    68,789
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    So Cal
    Offline
    Priorities Man! The Tunnel of Doom is real here. :D
     
    karacha likes this.

Share This Page