Younger, Bigger, Built for Luka: Pelinka Grades the Lakers' First Summer After LeBron

Rob Pelinka went into the summer with three goals and says he came out with all of them. The Lakers kept Austin Reaves, found a real center and got younger around Luka Doncic, and they did it in the first offseason since LeBron James left for Philadelphia.

The two big bets

Reaves got four years and $184.7 million. Then the Lakers went after 7-foot-2 Walker Kessler, landing him from Utah in a sign-and-trade and paying him $130 million over four years. It cost two unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps, which means the Lakers won't fully control their own first-rounder again until 2032.

Kessler played five games last year before shoulder surgery. Pelinka still called him a perfect fit next to Doncic and Reaves, and said that when you have a superstar like Luka, you move when the chance comes.

The Lakers' arena, then Staples Center, in 2011.

A roster turned over

Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton signed on, while Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes left. The age swing is dramatic: last year's team was the fifth-oldest in the league, and now backup center Kevon Looney is the only player 30 or older. Doncic is 27, Reaves 28, and the newcomers are all 27 or younger.

JJ Redick wants players who can dribble, pass and shoot, and he said two starting spots are still open. To build some chemistry before camp, the team ran a minicamp in Las Vegas and took a trip to Doncic's home country, Slovenia. Redick's view is simple: the best teams are the most connected ones.

The bar is set by last season, when the Lakers won 53 games and lost in the West semifinals.