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Brian Windhorst breaks down LA Lakers’ future problem for Luka Doncic, Pau Gasol responds

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Luca Rosano | Last updated Sep 18, 2025 12:30 PM ET

This will be a very interesting season for the Los Angeles Lakers.

There are a ton of distractions starting with LeBron James and whether or not this will be his last year with the purple and gold.

Also, Austin Reaves’ contract situation continues to loom large as this could potentially be his final season with the team.

On a positive note, this will be Luka Doncic’s first full season with the Lakers after getting into fantastic shape during the offseason and having an impressive showing at EuroBasket with Slovenia.

Doncic isn’t going anywhere after he signed a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension in August.

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Brian Windhorst says this is ‘a one-off season’ for Los Angeles Lakers, ‘don’t know what team they’re trying to make around Luka yet’

Luka Doncic and the Lakers aren’t expected to win the championship this season. There have been a lot question marks about this current Lakers roster.

Specifically, about the team’s identity around Doncic. The Lakers have done what they can so far to put the right pieces around Doncic, but there still seems to be more work to do.

Brian Windhorst was on NBA Today and voiced his pessimism towards the Lakers’ vision.

“The outlook for the Lakers is kind of hard, because this is kind of a one-off season.

“Eight of their players can be a free agent after this year, including LeBron, which has never been the case.

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“He’s never been at the end of a contract like this in his whole 23-year career,” he added

“If they stay healthy, they should be right there again this year, but I have no idea what the team that they’re going to build around Luka over the next three years, that’s what his contract extension was for.

“I don’t know what team that they’re trying to make, a legacy team around Luka yet, and maybe they don’t either.”

Pau Gasol says Los Angeles Lakers ‘have an opportunity, they have great players’

Focusing on the season ahead, the Lakers should still be competitive in the West.

Especially if Doncic has an MVP-type season and their new additions DeAndre Ayton and Marcus Smart produce.

While Windhorst has his concerns about the Lakers’ outlook, former Lakers star Pau Gasol is hopeful of the team’s current situation.

“What we know is that they have the team that they have this year, and they have got to focus on this year and make the best.

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“They have an opportunity. They have great players. They added Deandre Ayton, a big that also probably wants to prove himself, and it will be a great target for LeBron and Luka.

“So they got to focus on that, and then let the organization and management worry about the next few years.”

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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