The Los Angeles Lakers have had an extremely busy opening 24 hours of free agency.
After learning that LeBron James would be leaving, the Lakers moved quickly to add pieces around their franchise centerpiece, Luka Dončić.
There are still moves to be made, and a former Laker sees a big issue with the current team.
Markeef Morris Calls Lakers’ Pickups ‘Soft’
Former Laker forward Markeef Morris, who won a title with the Lakers in 2020, likes what the team is doing but sees a big missing piece.
The Lakers started July by pulling off a blockbuster trade for Utah Jazz big man Walker Kessler. The Jazz will receive unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the deal includes a full trade kicker and is worth $130 million over four years, with a player option for the final season.
They also reached an agreement with free-agent forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili on a four-year, $52 million contract.
They also agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal with free-agent guard Quentin Grimes and a two-year, $19 million deal with guard Collin Sexton.
The Lakers did lose Marcus Smart to the Houston Rockets, but they’re banking on Sexton to help make up for it.
Former Laker forward Markeef Morris likes the Lakers’ moves but sees a big void with James gone, on the court and in leadership.
I like the Laker pickups but that team gonna be soft as hell! Better get some leadership over there asap! Luka need a few dogs in that West!
— Keef Morris (@Keefmorris) July 1, 2026
“I like the Laker pickups but that team gonna be soft as hell!” Morris wrote. “Better get some leadership over there asap! Luka need a few dogs in that West!”
Although the Lakers are counting on Dončić to become the kind of leader teams want from a franchise player, they do seem to lack the veteran leadership James provided.
There are still a few veterans the Lakers could target, but they don’t have much room left, according to Yossi Gozlan of the Third Apron.
“The Lakers can take back up to $9.1 million in salaries for a combination of their role players under contract like Deandre Ayton, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia, & Dalton Knecht,” Golzan wrote. “This is their best path to getting a wing, but it’ll be tougher now without draft picks to trade.”
The Lakers achieved their top goal. They entered the offseason looking for a center to play alongside Dončić. Although they did reportedly meet with Pistons’ all-star big man Jalen Duren, they quickly moved on to Kessler.
They have also added a few nice complementary pieces, but it remains to be seen whether they can put together a roster that can contend in the West.
