The Los Angeles Lakers are just days removed from their season-ending Game 5 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolvesin the first round of the playoffs. Since then, speculation has ramped up around the team's next steps—particularly with this marking JJ Redick’s first full offseason as head coach and Luka Doncic’s first offseason in a Lakers uniform.

Luka Doncic 's arrival in La La Land changed the fortunes of the Lakers, fueling LeBron James to channel back his MVP mode while Austin Reaves emerged as the best third option in the league. Making his coaching debut, there were brief talks about JJ Redick being a COTY candidate.

Luka Doncic has been under criticism for his fitness with the Dallas Mavericks, and that may have carried over to the Los Angeles Lakers.