The Los Angeles Lakers have entered the NBA free agency period with mixed results, losing forward Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets while acquiring 23-year-old Jake LaRavia. While many fans are expressing pessimism regarding the team's current standing, the Lakers appear to be focused on maintaining flexibility for future acquisitions.

According to Dan Woike, the team is positioning itself for a potential bid on a second superstar, aiming to pair a player like Luka Doncic with another elite talent in the coming years. The strategy includes keeping significant salary cap space open, allowing them to capitalize on possible opportunities in the 2026 and 2027 free agency periods.