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Having decided to wait until midseason before making additional roster moves, what is the Lakers’ current roster’s ceiling and floor assuming they upgrade their starting small forward and backup center by the deadline?

By definition, a team’s ceiling happens when everything that could go right actually goes right. In the NBA, that means key players not only were fully healthy through the playoffs but many also enjoyed career best seasons.
By definition, a team’s floor happens when everything that could go wrong actually goes wrong. In the NBA, that means critical players were not only injured during the season but many also endured career worst seasons.

What makes projecting a ceiling and floor for next season’s Lakers squad so difficult is the team has made a decision to wait until midseason to address their glaring needs for a starting small forward and quality backup center.
Waiting until the trade deadline puts additional ‘pressure on the Lakers to trade for the ‘right players.’ If the Lakers traded during the offseason, they would still have a chance to correct any mistakes before the trade deadline.

Further complicating the situation, Jokic or Giannis could be available next summer if they do not sign extensions and the Lakers right now don’t even have matching salaries to legally trade for a superstar making $60 million.
That means the Lakers must convert most of their $40 million in expiring contracts to players with 2-year deals before the deadline so they can match salaries and trade for Jokic or Giannis if they’re available in summer 2026.

To reach their ceiling for the season and win the NBA Championship, the Lakers need to trade for two elite defenders like Andrew Wiggins and Robert Williams the sooner the better even if it costs a first round pick.

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LAKERS’ CURRENT CEILING IS ‘NBA CHAMPIONSHIP’

If the Lakers trade for a legitimate elite POA starting small forward and a quality rim protecting defensive backup center before the trade deadline, their ceiling for 2025–26 season would be the 2026 NBA Championship.

The Lakers desperately need an elite starting small forward like Andrew Wiggins, Dillon Brooks, or Nickeil Alexander-Walker and a quality backup center like Robert Williams III, Mitchell Robinson, or Jonathan Isaac.
While the Lakers would like to trade for Wiggins and Williams without giving up picks, they can still offer a first round pick swap for the former and second round pick for the later and still have 3 picks next summer.

Adding a pair of elite defensive players like Andrew Wiggins and Robert Williams would elevate the Lakers to legitimate championship contenders and make them among the favorites to win their 18th NBA championship.
Surrounding offense-first Big Three of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves with elite defenders like Marcus Smart, De’Andre Ayton, Andrew Wiggins, and Robert Williams dramatically upgrades the Lakers’ defense.

The Lakers would still need the help of the basketball gods to keep superstars Luka Doncic and LeBron James and key role players like Marcus Smart, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Gabe Vincent fully healthy and injury free.
They would also need career best redemption seasons from returnees Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, and Jaxson Hayes and new additions Adou Thiero, Jake LaRavia, De’Andre Ayton, and Marcus Smart.

If the Lakers can pull off a blockbuster midseason trade for an elite starting small forward and a quality rim protecting backup center, they can reach their ceiling for the 2025–26 season by winning the NBA Championship.

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LAKERS’ CURRENT FLOOR IS ‘PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT’

If the Lakers fail to trade for a legitimate elite point-of-attack starting small forward and quality rim protecting defensive backup center before the deadline, their floor for the season would then be the Play-In Tournament.

To become a legitimate championship contender, the Lakers need a massive injection of positional size and length and defensive skill and physicality at the starting small forward and backup center positions.
Moving forward with Rui Hachimura as the defensive starting small forward and Jaxson Hayes as the defensive backup center just does not make sense. Lakers must upgrade both positions to avoid the Play-In.

Nor is it guaranteed that De’Andre Ayton will be a better defender than Jaxson Hayes was as last year’s starter. Other than defensive rebounding, Hayes’ blocks and steals per minute played were better than Ayton’s.
If the only change the Lakers are planning for their starting lineup is replacing Jaxson Hayes with De’Andre Ayton, they may find the offense improved but the starting lineup defense may still be 28th in the league.

The Lakers are obviously trying to avoid giving up their one tradable first round pick to upgrade their current roster so they can offer three first round picks on draft day next summer in a mega trade for a superstar.
The problem is there are at least 8 teams in the West who can dominate the current Lakers’ roster with their size and physicality: the Thunder, Nuggets, Rockets, Mavericks, Timberwolves, Blazers, Clippers, and Warriors.

If they fail to pull off a blockbuster trade for an elite starting small forward and quality backup center to dramatically upgrade their front court defense, the Lakers’ floor for the season will be the Play-In Tournament.