Los Angeles Lakers: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Insider Reveals Why Marcus Smart Left Lakers After One Season

Marcus Smart’s time with the Los Angeles Lakers lasted just one season, and Lakers insider Jovan Buha has now given some insight on why the veteran guard decided to move on.

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The Quiz of the Day

NBA raises salary cap projections for 2027-28 season by $2 million

As is seemingly a yearly tradition at this point, the NBA’s salary cap for next season will rise. This time, though, it’ll do so at an even higher number than anticipated, according to a report from Fred Katz of The Athletic.

Ziaire Williams News / Silver Screen & Roll / September 14

Is Ziaire Williams set for a breakout season with the Lakers?

Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason.

Los Angeles Lakers News / Silver Screen & Roll / September 14

5 Lakers poised to exceed expectations this season

After the Lakers’ front office doled out hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts, many fans were left wondering how many of these players could realistically outperform their contracts.

Amen Thompson News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Most points in a game by NBA team' quiz

How many of the players to score the most points in one game for each NBA team in the 2025-26 season can you name in five minutes?

The '2025-26 NBA double-double leaders' quiz

The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz

The 'Most 30-point NBA games at 35+' quiz

Los Angeles Lakers News / Lakers Nation / September 14

Nick Van Exel: Kobe Bryant feared no one, including Michael Jordan

When the Los Angeles Lakers traded to acquire Kobe Bryant on draft night in 1996, there was a considerable amount of risk, as Bryant was coming out of high school and Shaquille O’Neal was on the roster looking to win championships.

NBA News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest NBA Finals performances of all-time

The regular season is important, but NBA legends are made in the playoffs. More specifically, it's the Finals where the all-time greats have built their otherworldly reputations.

Los Angeles Lakers News / Fadeaway World / September 14

NBA Trade Idea Lands Lakers A Paint Anchor For Dalton Knecht And Jarred Vanderbilt

So, after last week’s crushing news that Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams will miss the next five months due to left shoulder surgery, I think this could be a huge warning sign for a Western Conference hopeful like the Los Angeles Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers News / EssentiallySports / September 14

Lakers Roster Comparison: Are They Better in 2027 Than 2026 at Every Position?

After building the 2026 roster around Luka Doncic and LeBron James, Los Angeles took a much different approach for 2027. LeBron is gone. That makes for an interesting comparison.

NBA News / Lakers Nation / September 14

Trevor Ariza: LeBron James’ Time With Lakers Should Be Celebrated

Now that LeBron James’ time with the Los Angeles Lakers has officially come to an end, many are looking back on it and there have been differing opinions.

Los Angeles Lakers News / Fadeaway World / September 14

Anonymous Lakers Executive Sets Low Bar For Defense: Top-20 Finish Could Earn JJ Redick Coach Of The Year

The Los Angeles Lakers have completely overhauled their roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves this offseason, but an anonymous team executive isn’t really convinced that JJ Redick has enough defensive talent to work with.

Los Angeles Lakers News / Stadium Rant / September 14

Charles Barkley’s Bold Lakers Prediction Is A Massive Stretch

Charles Barkley believes the new-look Los Angeles Lakers could be as good as—or better than—the 2024 Dallas Mavericks team that reached the NBA Finals.

Los Angeles Lakers News / Viral Sports News / September 13

Lakers’ Starting Five Faces New Shakeup Suggestion

The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into training camp with a wide-open forward rotation after losing two starters this summer, and one team insider believes Sandro Mamukelashvili should be first in line for a starting job.

NBA News / Yardbarker

The 25 best NBA players to never play in college

Typically, the path to the NBA for most players is to spend at least a season in college to get high-level basketball and important development under their belts.

Los Angeles Lakers News / EssentiallySports / September 13

Ex-Mavs Guard Fires Back at Charles Barkley Over Luka Doncic and Lakers Remark

Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers are heading into a new season with plenty of questions. LeBron James is gone, the roster around Doncic has been reshaped, and no one quite knows what this version of the Lakers will look like.

Marcus Smart News / Lakers Nation / September 13

Marcus Smart Was ‘Ready To Forward’ In Different Situation

It felt like a no-brainer for the Los Angeles Lakers to retain Marcus Smart this offseason, especially after his first-round postseason performance. LeBron James and Smart were two critical reasons as to why L.A.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'Most yards through two NFL seasons' quiz

The 'Women's U.S. Open champions' quiz

The '4,500-yard, 15-INT NFL seasons' quiz

The 'Most 10-TD catch NFL seasons' quiz

J.J. Redick News / Lakers Nation / September 13

JJ Redick Recalls Requesting Memorabilia From Ray Allen & Stephen Curry

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has proven that his track record as an NBA player is translating to his time on the sidelines. In what is a surprise to many, the Lakers looked the part of a playoff team under Redick in his first two seasons at the helm.

Luka Doncic News / EssentiallySports / September 13

'I’ve Been the True Leader': Luka Doncic Makes Bold Claim Amid Confusion Over His Weight

The Los Angeles Lakers have entered a defining new era. Their front office changed, their roster shifted, and the franchise now rests on Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Los Angeles Lakers News / Fadeaway World / September 14

Lakers Insider Urges Team To Start Sandro Mamukelashvili At Power Forward Next Season

The Los Angeles Lakers still have at least one big starting lineup decision to make before the start of the 2026-27 NBA season, and Lakers insider Ryan Ward thinks Sandro Mamukelashvili should get the first chance at the power forward position.

Norman Powell News / Lakers Nation / September 13

Bulls’ Norman Powell Calls Lakers Most Overrated Team In NBA

Expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers this upcoming season have been mixed because no one truly knows how all these new pieces will come together. However, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are a formidable backcourt to build around, and they added some quality pieces as well.

Los Angeles Lakers News / Lakers Nation / September 13

Magic Johnson Believes Dr. Jerry Buss Deserves Next Lakers Statue

When thinking about the success of the Los Angeles Lakers, the immediate association is with the Buss family, specifically Dr. Jerry Buss. He bought the Lakers in 1979 and turned the team into a powerhouse, which began with the Showtime era.

Ziaire Williams News / Lakers Nation / September 13

Ziaire Williams Discusses What He Has Worked On This Offseason

Exactly how the Los Angeles Lakers’ rotation will look this season with so many new faces on the roster is unclear. But one intriguing player who could play a big role, and perhaps even be a starter on this team is forward Ziaire Williams.

Walker Kessler News / Yardbarker / September 12

Lakers are one injury away from having worst defense in the NBA

The Los Angeles Lakers paid a massive price in order to get their hands on Walker Kessler this offseason.

Lakers’ Walker Kessler says lost season helped him ‘fall in love’ with game again

Lakers are looking to trade two players before the start of the season

The 'All-Rookie 1st-Team since 2016-17' quiz

Walker Kessler News / Hoops Wire / September 12

Lakers’ Walker Kessler says lost season helped him ‘fall in love’ with game again

Walker Kessler missed basketball. Now he says he sees it a little differently. The Lakers center appeared in only five games for the Jazz last season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

Los Angeles Lakers News / Larry Brown Sports / September 11

Lakers are looking to trade two players before the start of the season

The Los Angeles Lakers already parted ways with the majority of their roster from last season, and now even more cuts could be coming. The Lakers are looking to trade two players on their roster before opening night, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reported this week.

Los Angeles Lakers News / Hoops Wire / September 11

Lakers hire longtime Heat executive Eric Amsler as assistant GM

The Lakers have added another experienced voice beneath longtime head of basketball operations Rob Pelinka. Whether that eventually means anything for Pelinka is a question for another day.

Los Angeles Lakers News / Athlon Sports / September 11

Former Lakers Trade Target Suffers Devastating Injury Before NBA Season

The Los Angeles Lakers spent years searching for a long-term answer at center, particularly after the departure of Anthony Davis left the roster without a proven interior anchor.

NBA News / Yardbarker / September 9