What happened: The Los Angeles Lakers are pointing toward their upcoming summer basketball slate. The franchise is signaling that its offseason developmental window is next on the calendar as the 2026-27 cycle gets underway.

Why it matters: Summer runs are where the Lakers evaluate young players, recent draftees, and roster hopefuls competing for training-camp invites. For a team retooling ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, the summer slate is an early look at depth pieces and rotation candidates.

What to watch: Watch for the Lakers' summer roster and schedule, which will show which young players and camp invitees get the first extended minutes.