Luka: rehab done, return after Sept. 20
Martin Pavčnik of Slovenia’s Sportklub (Sept. 9; English pickups Sept. 10–11) reports Luka Dončić has entered the final phase of his Ljubljana offseason work with longtime trainer Anže Maček. Per that reporting, Dončić has completed rehabilitation from the Grade 2 hamstring strain that ended his 2025–26 season in April, is back in gym and on-court drills (not yet full-contact scrimmages), and is unofficially around 105 kg (~231 lbs). He is expected to stay in Europe until about Sept. 20, then move to Los Angeles ahead of media day Sept. 28 and training camp Sept. 29.
Flagged as Sportklub / local reporting amplified by Eurohoops, Heavy, ClutchPoints, and Fadeaway World—not a Lakers team release. No new team medical statement overnight.
Sportklub (Pavčnik) · Eurohoops · Heavy · ClutchPoints
Roster chatter: backup big still a hole
No new confirmed trade overnight. Heavy (Sept. 11) recirculates Lake Show Life / Athletic chatter that Chicago’s Jalen Smith (expiring deal) could be a “gettable” backup-center target—possible packages floated include Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, and a second-rounder. That is speculative fan/insider talk, not a reported agreement. Jake Fischer’s earlier Knecht / Jarred Vanderbilt wing-upgrade shopping remains the other open roster thread after Jonathan Kuminga signed with Minnesota (NBA log Sept. 3).
L.A. still sits over the 15-man standard-contract limit heading into camp.
Heavy (Smith) · Lakers Nation (Fischer)
Ownership: BOG in four days
No brand-new ownership or court filing overnight. Charles Gasparino’s sourcing (recapped Sports Business Journal Sept. 8) still has Thrive Capital’s Josh Kushner as the expected lone controlling shareholder / NBA governor on Mark Walter’s majority sale (~$12.5B valuation), with Bob Iger as minority owner, alternate governor, and day-to-day ops face. Reported expectation—not a closed deal. Kushner still must clear limited Heat equity before Lakers approval.
Jeanie Buss’s LA Superior Court petition to block her siblings’ sale of the family’s ~17.8% stake remains set for Dec. 8. League sources previously told NBC Sports that fight is not expected to stop the separate majority path if the Board of Governors green-lights it.
Yesterday’s reporting (Shams / NY Post): Heat VP Eric Amsler is joining as a second AGM under Rob Pelinka for pro/draft scouting—first major FO hire since the sale announcement paused hiring.
Sports Business Journal · NY Post (Dec. 8) · TSN (Amsler)
Watch next
- Sept. 15–16 NBA Board of Governors in New York (majority-sale approval process).
- ~Sept. 20 Dončić expected back in L.A. (Sportklub).
- Media day Sept. 28 · camp open ~Sept. 29.
- Late roster consolidation (Knecht/Vanderbilt/Smith chatter or a cut to 15) before camp.
- Dec. 8 LA Superior Court hearing on the Buss family-stake petition.