Despite mounting questions about the Los Angeles Lakers overpaying and Rob Pelinka potentially sabotaging future growth, LA’s new franchise cornerstone reportedly has a clear opinion. This comes after the front office committed over $261 million to signing Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, and Collin Sexton.

According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, Luka Doncic is “excited” about LA’s aggressive offseason moves, an endorsement that honestly matters more than any analyst’s spreadsheet right now…

What Pelinka has done is address what Doncic had privately communicated he needed: a defensive anchor and lob-catching bigs. However, Lakers Nation and analysts are split on whether the Purple and Gold have overpaid.

Doncic is spending the summer before training camp in Europe. According to Woike, the Lakers’ front office has maintained “regular communication” with him during the negotiations with other players, despite a significant time gap.

The Slovenian, who is entering the first year of his $160 million extension, had made his priorities clear. On the other hand, Pelinka and the Lakers now run the genuine risk of losing Doncic if he is not eventually surrounded by a contending team, as he has a player option for the 2028-29 season.

Pelinka’s calculated gamble this offseason completely reshapes the roster following LeBron James‘ shocking departure. While the core pieces are locked in, reports confirm that the GM’s offseason work is far from over… They still need an impactful wing to anchor their perimeter, and Jonathan Kuminga is reportedly a frontrunner for that spot. But it’s unclear whether the Lakers can pay him what he’s worth.

While the latest maneuvers effectively make this Doncic’s team now, what exactly did Pelinka do that rubbed the fanbase the wrong way?

The Lakers had $51 million in cap space when LeBron James decided to become an unrestricted free agent. However, the fact that Pelinka completely overhauled the depth chart without worrying about the financial implications has left fans with a bitter taste. Many questioned why Pelinka didn’t go this nuclear when James and AD demanded similar depth. In fact, the now Washington Wizards big man even taunted the LA GM publicly with laughing emojis.

In a rapid-fire flurry of transactions, LA finalized a blockbuster sign-and-trade for the 7’2 Kessler for a massive four-year, $130 million contract. Pelinka then supplemented the frontcourt anchor by committing long-term deals to Quentin Grimes (four years, $60 million), Sandro Mamukelashvili (four years, $52 million), and Collin Sexton (two years, $19 million), pushing new guarantees past the $261 million threshold, including the remaining players on the roster. 

Although there’s no ink to paper yet, it is already looking like a steep investment. To outmaneuver Utah, LA traded away unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, alongside first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. This trade effectively hard-caps the Lakers and leaves them without any first-round draft assets to utilize in future trades. Many are even questioning if the Lakers overpaid by re-signing Austin Reaves to a four-year, $185 million max contract extension. 

However, there’s a pool of insiders who view it as a necessary premium to maximize Doncic’s championship window. Kessler has consistently ranked among the top 5 in the NBA in blocks. A shoulder injury in 2025 ended his season early, but he will establish a stout interior safety net that the Lakers desperately lacked. Mamu is also a reliable backup big man who kept the Raptors momentum whenever he was on the floor.

Now the Lakers are targeting former Golden State Warriors star Jonathan Kuminga. He has just entered unrestricted free agency after the Atlanta Hawks declined his $24.3 million option. The front office is also watching the trade market to see if there is a worthy offer for Rui Hachimura’s salary.

LA will get its first peek at the new-look roster Friday at the California Classic, where rookie Cameron Carr and last season’s pick Adou Thiero headline the Summer League. The foundation is set. The final piece is still in play, and Pelinka is clearly not done justifying Doncic’s excitement.