The Los Angeles Lakers have made a number of moves to improve their roster going into the 2026 season. They have signed veteran guard Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, and Sandro Mamukelashvili to long-term contracts.
Collin Sexton:
The Lakers have signed Sexton to a two-year $19 million deal to provide them with some instant offense off the bench as the backup point guard.
Sexton averaged 15.4 points and 3.3 assists last season while shooting efficiently from both the field and beyond the arc. His relentless attacking style makes him an aggressive downhill guard, which will benefit the Lakers, who lacked consistent scoring when Luka Dončić was off the court. He can create his own shot when working with the second unit and give the Lakers a different offensive look when sharing the court with Dončić.
Quentin Grimes:
The Lakers have signed Grimes to a four-year $60 million deal to provide them with some much-needed perimeter defending and an offensive boost.
Grimes was a consistent weapon off the bench for Nick Nurse last season in Philadelphia, averaging 13.4 points across 75 games. He thrived as a sixth man and provided perimeter defense. With the Lakers, we will be able to guard opposing point guards and wings and knock down open three-pointers. He will be able to focus on cutting, defending, and spacing the floor, alleviating some pressure from Dončić.
Sandro Mamukelashvili:
The Lakers have signed Mamukelashvili to a four-year $52 million deal to give them a modern stretch big that they were lacking last season.
Mamukelashvili is a 6-foot-9 sharpshooter who averaged 11.2 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 38.9% from three-point range. He is a perfect fit to play alongside Walker Kessler, who protects the rim and controls the paint defensively. With Mamukelashvili stretching opposing defenses offensively, Redick can play multiple frontcourt combinations depending on the matchup, going big or playing five-out basketball.
Implications For The Lakers:
The Lakers have made the right moves to give themselves more depth after they were forced to rely on their stars for the majority of last season. That caused them to suffer when their stars missed time due to injury last season. Now, whenever their stars go down, they have a roster that is able to step up and keep them afloat in a competitive Western Conference.
Grimes strengthens the perimeter on both sides of the ball. Sexton energizes the backcourt and gives them a different dynamic. Mamukelashvili modernizes the frontcourt and gives Reddick options. All three players complement Dončić rather than duplicate his skill set, giving Los Angeles a more balanced and sustainable roster.
The Lakers have made all the right moves this offseason. By adding these three players in the span of an hour, they have turned themselves into one of the most dangerous teams in the Western Conference. They are now closer to winning the Western Conference than they were in past seasons.
Leave a Reply