The Los Angeles Lakers have two of the top three picks from the 2018 NBA Draft after signing Deandre Ayton, who was the first pick in 2018. Luka Doncic, acquired by the Lakers last season from the Dallas Mavericks,

LeBron James has been with the Lakers for seven years. He recently exercised his player option for the 2025-26 season, but could be open to exploring options outside Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Lakers no longer orbit around LeBron James. That baton was passed as soon as L.A. finalized the trade that sent out James' handpicked sidekick, Anthony Davis, to acquire Luka Dončić, a 26-year-old megastar more than capable of piloting the Purple and Gold well past the LeBron era.