NBA Insider Reveals What Would Make 2026-27 Season A Success For Lakers
· Yahoo Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers enter the 2026-27 season surrounded by plenty of doubts, but Lakers insider Jovan Buha believes the team’s realistic ceiling is considerably higher than many expect.
Speaking on his Buha’s Block podcast, Buha explained what he would consider a successful season for the new-look Lakers: at least 50 victories, home-court advantage in the first round, and a competitive second-round series against one of the Western Conference’s elite teams.
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“I would consider a successful season as 50-plus wins, top-four seed in the West, and, to the question, a competitive showing in the second round against OKC or San Antonio. I would say that’s at least a six-game series. A second-round loss that feels competitive, feels like the Lakers had a chance against either one of those teams, to me, would be a success.”
“Now, the Lakers being, like, a six seed, winning 47 games, losing in the first round, that to me would obviously be a disappointment.”
“I think that’s more in line with the consensus opinion. I think a lot of people view this team as a five seed or a six seed, or maybe even a play-in team. And I disagree with that assessment of the roster.”
“This group, to me, has the upside to be a home-court advantage team in the West, to win 50 games for the third straight season, and to have a competitive showing in the second round. So I would say that is a realistic upside/success for this season.”
That’s a considerably more optimistic expectation than some projections surrounding the Lakers.
Buha believes simply reaching the playoffs isn’t enough. If the Lakers finish around the middle of the Western Conference and exit immediately, he would consider the season unsuccessful.
The Lakers won 53 games last season and finished fourth in the Western Conference, but their postseason was derailed after injuries hit their star backcourt. Buha has previously identified health as perhaps the biggest factor facing Los Angeles after Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves‘ injuries significantly affected their playoff hopes.
There have also been questions about whether the Lakers actually improved after losing LeBron James and several other contributors.
Buha, however, recently argued that the current roster is better at multiple positions. He identified point guard and center as clear upgrades following the additions of Collin Sexton and Walker Kessler, while believing the Lakers have clearly declined at power forward without LeBron and Rui Hachimura.
Kessler could be particularly important after the Lakers surrendered two first-round picks and two first-round swaps to acquire him before signing the center to a four-year, $130 million contract.
Still, Buha acknowledges that his expectations are higher than the general perception surrounding the team.
That doesn’t mean Buha is setting championship-or-bust expectations. His benchmark is more measured: establish themselves as a legitimate top-four Western Conference team and prove they can compete with teams such as the Thunder or Spurs in a playoff series.
For a roster that underwent significant changes this summer, reaching those benchmarks would show the Lakers remain a serious threat in the West even after moving into the post-LeBron era.