Lakers legend Gasol shares his views on the Lakers next season and their expectations for their performance

According to US sports media F/W contributor Sidante Gupta, the Lakers are in an interesting position as they enter the 2025-26 season. After an offseason full of activity, the Lakers can be seen as a competitive team. But given earlier reports on the team’s future plans and their prospects for building around Doncic, there seems to be some doubts about where they are heading.

To solve this problem, two-time NBA champion and Lakers legend Gasol shared his views on the upcoming season. “We know what we know, right? What we know is that they have the teams they have this year and they have to focus on this year,” Gasol said. "And make the most of it. They have the opportunity, they add great players, they add Ayton, a big man who may also want to prove himself, and he will be a great partner for LeBron and Luca. So, they have to focus on that and keep the organization and management worried about the next few years."

Gasol's statement provides important revelation for the Lakers' operations. Given the moves they have taken this offseason, and the addition of key players like DeAndre Ayton and Marcus Smart, the Lakers have effectively addressed two of their most pressing roster issues. Getting a big guy like Ayton is a priority, and Rob Pelinka also talked about this in a resignation interview. After losing to the Timberwolves in the playoffs, it was clear that the Lakers needed a reliable big man who could run on the field and match perfectly with the superstar pair James and Doncic.

In addition, the Purple Gold Legion also determined the need for solid attack point defenders. In this regard, joining Smart is a major upgrade. In addition to defensive skills, Smart also brings leadership and necessary experience to the team. These qualities may be the key to helping Los Angeles build stability in the regular season. In considering these initiatives, it is a clear testament to the organization’s efforts to form a cohesive and competitive lineup. As Gasol pointed out, this also puts them in a competitive position. Therefore, it makes sense for the Lakers to compete for the championship now, rather than focus on the future.

To some extent, the Lakers' approach has also changed recently, which is consistent with this. As Luca Doncic firmly expressed his desire to compete for the championship, the Purple and Gold Corps also seems to be investing in forming a more competitive roster, especially now that the defender is locked in the team for the foreseeable future. While the Lakers are competitive in the build, they don’t seem to be a champion contender yet. To help this, there are reports that the team will focus on trading players like Andrew Wiggins to build up their strength.

Although Wiggins' deal is unlikely to pass, based on recent updates, it is fair to assume that the organization will consider and take further steps to improve the team's chances. Of course, the Wiggins joining that fans expect can be achieved, which will make the Lakers' existing strength a step further; even if they can't get this defensive vanguard to aim at the wing forwards such as Grimes, it is a good choice to strengthen. What do you think?