The 2026 NBA offseason is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in recent memory, with star talent flooding the free-agent market and ambitious franchises ready to pounce. Fresh off a second-round playoff sweep, the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be among the most active teams, determined to build a more complete roster around newly acquired superstar Luka Doncic.
According to LakersNation’s Trevor Lane, the Lakers’ pursuit could target a pair of standout talents currently with the Oklahoma City Thunder: defensive specialist Lu Dort and center Isaiah Hartenstein.
Defensive Reinforcement for Luka
Lane highlighted Dort as a particularly intriguing fit should he reach the open market.
“I think there is a real world where that happens and Lu Dort is available out there on the market,” Lane said on the “LakersNation” YouTube channel. “And if he is, defensively he’s the kind of player that can make some sense for the Lakers.”
Dort, 27, is exercising his player option for next season worth $18.2 million. However, as the Thunder navigate luxury-tax implications and manage a deep young core, difficult roster decisions could open the door for the two-way wing to test free agency.
If OKC retains Dort, attention would shift squarely to Isaiah Hartenstein. The big man also holds a player option for the 2026-27 season, and the Thunder hold the right to decline it—potentially creating significant cap space while making the veteran center an unrestricted free agent.
“If that doesn’t happen and he is truly available as a free agent, absolutely sign him — he’d be a really good target for the Lakers,” Lane added.
OKC’s crowded frontcourt and impending apron restrictions may force the organization to decline Hartenstein’s option for the long-term health of the roster. For the Lakers, either player would represent a significant upgrade in defensive toughness and interior presence.
Lessons from the Playoffs
The Lakers witnessed the cost of insufficient depth during their postseason run. After Doncic suffered a hamstring injury in early April, the team’s ceiling appeared noticeably lower. They were forced to lean heavily on 41-year-old LeBron James, and while they managed to eliminate the Houston Rockets in the first round, they were outmatched in the Western Conference semifinals against Oklahoma City.
Defensive inconsistencies plagued Los Angeles throughout the season. Adding players of Dort’s perimeter tenacity or Hartenstein’s rim-protecting and rebounding ability would provide the complementary pieces Luka Doncic needs to elevate the roster from contender to championship favorite.
Lakers fans have long called for a reliable top-tier center. Last summer’s addition of DeAndre Ayton delivered mixed results, underscoring the need for a better fit alongside Doncic’s playmaking and scoring brilliance.
Broader Offseason Outlook
The Thunder’s preferences will ultimately dictate which — if any — of the two defensive anchors become available. Yet the opportunity exists for the Lakers to execute a significant hijack of OKC talent in a single summer.
Internally, Los Angeles faces its own critical decisions. LeBron James headlines a group of impending free agents that also includes Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves, who holds a player option. The front office must balance outgoing contracts with targeted additions to avoid creating new imbalances.
With Luka Doncic as the undisputed focal point, the mandate is clear: surround him with defenders and versatile role players who can elevate his game while compensating for areas the roster currently lacks. One decisive summer could transform the Lakers from a playoff participant into a legitimate title threat.
The chess pieces are moving. For a Lakers team that saw its flaws exposed under the playoff spotlight, landing one or both of OKC’s defensive standouts could be the masterstroke that defines the next era in Los Angeles.