The Los Angeles Lakers' season was full of ups and downs. The Lakers were stable enough to hold a record of 33-21 before making a late-season surge and finishing the season 53-29. 

On April 2, things changed drastically for them. Star player Luka Doncic, who was a candidate for the MVP award, went down with a grade 2 hamstring injury, sidelining him for the rest of the regular season and playoffs. 

That same night, Austin Reaves went down with an oblique injury. His injury caused him to miss some time before coming back in Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets. 

Los Angeles was swept 4-0 by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round, and it became clear that the roster still had some holes and was not fit to contend for a championship. 

According to Lakers beat reporter Ben Royer, Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka will make it clear that he and the front office will work with Luka Doncic to build the best possible team around him. 

The front court will need to be a point of emphasis for Luka and the Lakers this offseason. During the 2025-2026 season, Los Angeles was 27th in the NBA in total rebounds per game. 

In the 2026 playoffs, the Lakers had the fourth-lowest total rebounds per game among all teams in the NBA. It was one of the areas that hurt them in the regular season and was exposed in the playoffs. 

For the Lakers to be a formidable contender in the future, their presence in the paint must improve. Since trading away Anthony Davis, the rebound totals have decreased. 

Luckily for Los Angeles, they are faced with a number of options in this year's free agency. Centers such as Nikola Vucevic, Mitchell Robinson, and Jusuf Nurkic will be unrestricted free agents this Summer. 

All three players are 7 feet tall or taller and can provide stability in the paint. Nikola Vucevic brings a different dynamic than Robinson and Nurkic as he has the ability to be a knockdown three-point shooter. 

Robinson and Nurkic are both known for their physical play styles and rebounding. Mitchell Robinson was fifth in the NBA in offensive rebounds, a skill that has kept him with the Knicks for an extended period of time. 

If Los Angeles can find a player who can excel in controlling the interior, it will only open up the game for their perimeter threats in Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic.