165 million maximum salary, congratulations to the Lakers! James has formed a super team again, how can other teams play?

Editor|Old Kankanqiu

NBA offseason is coming to an end, and the 2025-26 season has been put on the agenda. After the league teams completed the transaction reinforcement, fans are full of expectations for the new season's matchup. Especially in the West, there are many giant teams - the Thunder spent 822 million US dollars to retain all the championship lineup, the Rockets' hard power to introduce Durant instantly soared, the Nuggets have the league's first player Jokic and strengthening operations, the Clippers have won Bill and Paul and become the oldest team in the league (also rich in experience), etc., which are indeed worth looking forward to.

At the same time, although the Los Angeles Lakers have been criticized, this summer has completed a series of magical operations within their ability. Not only did they renew their contract with a maximum salary of $165 million in three years, they also successfully signed No. 1 center Ayton, defensive champion Smart and sharpshooter Jack Laravia to form an enviable luxury lineup. According to the well-known American media CBS Sports, a practical analysis of the Lakers' operations this summer: The maximum salary renewal contract signed by Doncic and the Lakers will not only allow the Lakers to consolidate the team's core in the next few years, but also open up endless possibilities for building a championship lineup.

It is obvious that with the three-year, $165 million maximum salary renewal contract reached by the Lakers and Doncic (the contract adopts a "2+1" structure, which allows Doncic to become a free agent in 2028. By then, he has become the 10th-year veteran of the league and has the opportunity to sign a five-year, $417 million super contract), it has officially locked in the team's future cornerstone. From George McCann to Kobe Bryant, to LeBron James, the Slovenian talent has officially taken over the Lakers' legendary baton and become the team's new facade.

In fact, in the middle of last season, Doncic was once questioned and was unexpectedly abandoned by the Dallas Mavericks and sent to the Lakers, shocking the entire league. At that time, the Mavericks' management publicly declared that they did not believe that Doncic could bring success to the team, and questioned his self-discipline (seriously exceeding the standard).

So, this offseason, Doncic began to fast and practice hard to lose weight, and welcomed the new season with a better physical condition. In the recent European Cup of Men's Basketball Team, Doncic has obviously lost weight and is in a hot state. He even scored 26 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and 3 steals, leading Slovenia to his first victory, and his dominance has reached another level.

Similarly, during his time with the Lakers last season, Doncic played in a total of 28 regular season games, averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game; in 5 games in the playoffs, he averaged 30.2 points, 7 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1 steal per game. Now that he has successfully lost weight, Doncic is expected to show stronger dominance in the new season.

At the same time, the Lakers management has also completed reinforcement in the free market based on the shortcomings of the team's lineup last year, which is eye-catching. General Manager Pelinka signed 2018 No. 1 center Ayton from the buyout market for $16.6 million in two years, signed former league best defensive player Smart with a basic salary, and signed former Kings sharpshooter Jack Laravia with a middle-class contract. The team's lineup instantly improved to a higher level.

Ayton's joining is enough to make up for one of the Lakers' biggest weaknesses - weak inside strength. In the 2024-25 season, although the Lakers won Doncic and strengthened their offensive firepower, their weaknesses in the interior are still very obvious. Their elimination by the Timberwolves is mainly based on this reason; Smart is a former DPOY (best defensive player), and his arrival has also made up for the Lakers' outside defense to a certain extent. Although his offensive form has declined in recent seasons, his defensive end is still excellent, which can prevent the Lakers from being penetrated by their opponents in the backcourt.

After the off-season adjustment, the Lakers' starting lineup has been confirmed in the new season: Doncic, Reeves, Smart/Hamamura Shizuki, James and Ayton. This lineup has a very cost-effective performance. James' annual salary of $52.6 million is still the highest in the team, but there are only two maximum-paid players in the team (James and Doncic). Coupled with the high-value contracts signed by Ayton and Smart and Reeves, the total annual salary of the five starting players is only US$122 million (Alexander's average salary has exceeded US$70 million).

Despite this, the Lakers are still underestimated. In the latest ESPN prediction of the Western Conference championship team rankings, the defending champion Thunder still ranks first, with the Rockets ranked second only to the Thunder, followed by the Nuggets and Timberwolves. The Lakers did not enter the top four and ranked behind the Clippers and Warriors, ranking only seventh. You know, although James will turn 41 in the new season, like Doncic, he is a top ten superstar player in the league. In addition to the third giant Reeves, the Lakers' lineup can be said to be very luxurious.

Before the reinforcement last season, the Lakers also won 50 wins in the regular season, ranking third in the Western Conference. After strengthening this summer, the team's strength has risen to a higher level. Just like NBA insider Yowan Buha is optimistic about the Los Angeles Lakers, many commentators believe they will become the favorite team to win the championship in the 2025-26 season.