NEW YORK — With Luka Doncic now leading the Los Angeles Lakers following his blockbuster acquisition, the franchise enters the 2026-27 offseason with a clear mandate: surround the Slovenian superstar with complementary talent capable of delivering an NBA championship in 2027.

Doncic, one of the league’s most dominant offensive forces, thrives in a system that emphasizes spacing, secondary creation and elite defense. The Lakers, already possessing a strong core, must prioritize roster upgrades that address defensive shortcomings, add shooting and provide physicality without disrupting Doncic’s playmaking rhythm. Here are five realistic targets the Lakers should pursue to construct a legitimate title contender around their new franchise cornerstone.

1. A Defensive Anchor Like Rudy Gobert or a Similar Rim Protector

The Lakers need a dependable big man who can anchor the paint and alleviate defensive pressure on Doncic. Rudy Gobert, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year, remains the gold standard. His elite rim protection and rebounding would allow Doncic to focus on orchestrating the offense rather than constantly helping on drives. Gobert’s screening and rolling ability also complement Doncic’s passing vision, creating easy scoring opportunities in the pick-and-roll.

Even if Gobert proves unattainable due to salary or trade complications, alternatives like Walker Kessler or a versatile frontcourt piece could fill the role. Adding such a defender would address the Lakers’ vulnerability in the paint and improve overall team defense, a critical factor in championship contention.

2. A Sharpshooting Wing Such as Klay Thompson or a Comparable Veteran

Spacing is essential for Doncic’s gravity to work effectively. A proven three-point shooter like Klay Thompson would provide floor spacing and off-ball movement that forces defenses to account for multiple threats. Thompson’s championship pedigree and ability to thrive as a secondary option make him an ideal fit alongside a primary creator like Doncic.

Younger wings with shooting ability, such as a rising talent with size and defensive versatility, could also serve this role long-term. The Lakers must prioritize players who can knock down open threes created by Doncic’s drives and passes, stretching the floor and opening driving lanes.

3. A Secondary Playmaker and Scorer Like Tyrese Haliburton or a Similar Guard

While Doncic excels as the primary ball-handler, a reliable secondary creator would reduce his workload and improve ball movement. Tyrese Haliburton’s elite passing and shooting would form a devastating backcourt tandem with Doncic, creating mismatches and pace advantages.

A guard with size, defensive ability and playmaking instincts would allow the Lakers to deploy lineups that keep defenses guessing. This addition would enhance offensive versatility and provide insurance during Doncic’s rest periods or against teams that load up to stop him.

4. A Veteran Leader and Champion Like Draymond Green or a Similar High-IQ Forward

Championship teams require vocal leaders who understand winning culture. A veteran like Draymond Green, known for his defensive intensity and basketball IQ, would provide the intangibles necessary for a title run. Green’s ability to communicate on defense and set screens would elevate the team’s collective performance.

Even if Green is not available, a similar high-character veteran with playoff experience could mentor younger players and stabilize the locker room. Such a player would help translate Doncic’s individual brilliance into team success during the grind of a long season and deep playoff run.

5. A High-Upside Athletic Wing Like Mikal Bridges or a Comparable Two-Way Talent

Athleticism and two-way versatility would complement Doncic’s game by providing perimeter defense and secondary scoring. Mikal Bridges’ ability to guard multiple positions while knocking down threes would address defensive gaps and add scoring punch without demanding heavy usage.

A younger wing with similar traits could develop into a long-term co-star. This type of player would allow the Lakers to switch defensively across the board and create transition opportunities that maximize Doncic’s court vision.

The Lakers possess significant assets and cap flexibility to pursue these targets through free agency, trades or the draft. Building around Doncic requires balancing immediate contention with long-term sustainability. The franchise’s recent moves signal a commitment to winning now, making this offseason critical for constructing a roster capable of competing against the league’s elite.

Doncic’s arrival has transformed the Lakers’ outlook. His elite scoring, passing and basketball IQ provide a foundation few teams can match. However, championship success requires supporting talent that maximizes his strengths while covering weaknesses. The five players outlined above represent a blueprint for constructing a well-rounded contender.

Management must act decisively. The window for a player of Doncic’s caliber is finite, and the Lakers must capitalize on his prime years. Strategic acquisitions that enhance spacing, defense and secondary creation will be essential to elevating the team from contender to champion.

The broader NBA landscape features several superteams and rising challengers. The Lakers’ ability to surround Doncic with complementary pieces will determine whether they can break through in a competitive Western Conference. With the right supporting cast, a championship in 2027 is a realistic goal.

Doncic has already expressed excitement about his new environment and the opportunity to chase titles. His leadership and work ethic will set the tone, but roster construction remains the decisive factor. The upcoming offseason will test the Lakers’ front office as they aim to build a champion around one of the game’s most gifted players.

As free agency and trade discussions heat up, all eyes will be on Los Angeles. The basketball world is eager to see how the Lakers shape their roster around Luka Doncic. With the right moves, 2027 could mark the beginning of a new dynasty in purple and gold.

NEW YORK — Yahoo Mail experienced widespread outages on Monday, leaving hundreds of users unable to access their accounts, send or receive messages, or view inboxes, according to multiple outage tracking services and customer reports.

The disruption, first noted in the early afternoon, affected login attempts, mobile app functionality and web access for many users across the United States and internationally. The @status_is_down account on X reported that “Yahoo Mail is reportedly down for hundreds of users right now,” linking to community discussions and prompting numerous confirmations from affected individuals.

DownDetector and other monitoring sites showed a sharp spike in reports, with the majority citing problems logging in, error messages, blank inboxes or complete service unavailability. Some users reported being able to log in intermittently only to encounter loading issues or failed message delivery.

Customer complaints highlighted the inconvenience during a busy workday. Many described being locked out of essential email services for work, personal communication and account verifications. The outage appeared to impact both free and paid Yahoo Mail accounts, with some users noting similar issues with associated Yahoo services.

Yahoo has not yet issued an official statement on the cause or expected resolution time. In past outages, the company has typically communicated through its status page, social media channels or in-app notifications once the issue is identified. Users are advised to check Yahoo’s official status page or support accounts for updates as the situation develops.

This marks another notable service disruption for Yahoo in 2026. The email provider, once a dominant force in online communication, has faced increased scrutiny as users rely more heavily on digital services for everyday tasks. Outages like Monday’s can cause significant inconvenience and, in some cases, professional or financial impacts for users who miss time-sensitive communications.

The timing coincided with typical midday email activity, amplifying frustration among customers who expected reliable access. Social media platforms filled with reports from affected users, many expressing annoyance at the lack of immediate communication from Yahoo.

Yahoo Mail serves millions of users worldwide and remains a popular email platform despite competition from Gmail and Outlook. The service’s reliability is critical for users who depend on it for personal, professional and financial correspondence. Disruptions like this highlight the challenges of maintaining global email infrastructure at massive scale.

For customers impacted, recommended steps include trying alternative access methods such as the mobile app versus website, clearing cache and cookies, or using different devices. In cases of prolonged outage, contacting Yahoo support via alternative channels may provide more direct assistance, though response times can vary during widespread incidents.

The incident underscores the growing dependence on digital communication services and the importance of backup email accounts or contingency plans for temporary service interruptions, particularly for time-sensitive matters.

Yahoo has a history of addressing service issues promptly once identified, often with apologies and explanations posted on its status page. Monday’s event may prompt internal reviews to strengthen resilience and communication protocols during outages.

Broader context includes increasing scrutiny on major technology companies’ digital infrastructure reliability. As more services shift toward always-online models, users expect high uptime and transparent communication when problems arise.

Monday’s disruption serves as a practical reminder for all Yahoo Mail users to maintain backup email accounts and avoid relying solely on one provider for critical communications. While the service’s core functionality remains strong, occasional outages illustrate the vulnerabilities inherent in cloud-based systems.

Affected users are encouraged to document any significant impacts, such as missed opportunities or professional disruptions resulting from the outage, in case compensation or adjustments become available. Yahoo has occasionally offered goodwill gestures following notable service interruptions.

As the situation develops, users should continue monitoring official channels for updates. Alternative email services or webmail access may provide temporary relief for those with urgent needs.

The outage also sparked conversations about email redundancy and the importance of having contingency plans for popular online services. Many users maintain multiple email accounts across different providers to mitigate risks from single-point failures in services like Yahoo Mail.

Yahoo, owned by Apollo Global Management, continues investing in infrastructure, cybersecurity and user experience enhancements to minimize future disruptions. Monday’s event may accelerate efforts to improve service stability and scalability as user expectations evolve.

For now, users are urged to remain patient while technical teams work toward full restoration. The company’s long history of serving email customers suggests a swift resolution is likely, though no specific timeline has been provided.

The incident adds to a growing list of major email and communication service outages in 2026, underscoring the challenges of maintaining 24/7 availability at massive scale. As digital communication becomes increasingly essential, reliability and transparent communication during incidents remain critical for maintaining user trust.

Users experiencing issues are encouraged to try accessing Yahoo Mail periodically, as partial restorations often occur before full recovery is announced. In the meantime, documenting experiences can help if formal complaints or compensation requests become necessary.

Monday’s outage serves as a timely reminder for all online service users to maintain awareness of backup options and to avoid relying solely on one platform for critical communications. As the situation evolves, updates from Yahoo and user reports will provide further clarity on the scope and resolution of the disruption.

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NEW YORK — Intuit’s popular accounting software QuickBooks experienced widespread outages on Monday, leaving hundreds of small business owners and accountants unable to access accounts, process payments or manage financial records, according to multiple outage tracking services and user reports.

The disruption, first noted in the early afternoon, affected login attempts, dashboard loading and core functions such as invoicing, payroll and tax filing for many users across the United States. The @status_is_down account on X reported that “QuickBooks is reportedly down for hundreds of users at the moment,” linking to community discussions and prompting numerous confirmations from frustrated business owners.

DownDetector and other monitoring sites showed a sharp spike in reports, with the majority citing problems logging in, error messages, blank dashboards or complete service unavailability. Some users reported being able to log in intermittently only to encounter frozen screens or failed transaction processing.

Customer complaints highlighted the significant inconvenience during a busy workday. Many small business owners described being locked out of essential financial tools needed for payroll, invoicing and tax preparation. The outage appeared to impact both QuickBooks Online and desktop versions, with some users noting similar issues with associated Intuit services like TurboTax.

Intuit has not yet issued an official statement on the cause or expected resolution time. In past outages, the company has typically communicated through its status page, social media channels or in-app notifications once the issue is identified. Users are advised to check Intuit’s official status page or QuickBooks support accounts for updates as the situation develops.

This marks another notable service disruption for Intuit in 2026. QuickBooks serves millions of small businesses and accountants, making its reliability critical for daily operations. Outages like Monday’s can cause significant financial and operational impacts, particularly for users with time-sensitive tasks such as payroll processing or tax filings.

The timing coincided with typical midday business activity, amplifying frustration among users who expected reliable access. Social media platforms filled with reports from affected customers, many expressing annoyance at the lack of immediate communication from Intuit.

QuickBooks is a cornerstone tool for small businesses, offering accounting, payroll, invoicing and tax preparation features. The service’s reliability is essential for users who depend on it for compliance and financial management. Disruptions like this highlight the challenges of maintaining global cloud-based infrastructure at massive scale.

For customers impacted, recommended steps include trying alternative access methods such as the desktop version versus online, clearing cache and cookies, or using different devices. In cases of prolonged outage, contacting Intuit support via phone may provide more direct assistance, though call volumes are often elevated during such events.

The incident underscores the growing dependence on cloud-based business software and the importance of backup systems or contingency plans for temporary service interruptions, particularly for time-sensitive financial tasks.

Intuit has a history of addressing service issues promptly once identified, often with apologies and explanations posted on its status page. Monday’s event may prompt internal reviews to strengthen resilience and communication protocols during outages.

Broader context includes increasing scrutiny on major technology companies’ digital infrastructure reliability. As more businesses shift toward cloud-based tools, users expect high uptime and transparent communication when problems arise.

Monday’s disruption serves as a practical reminder for all QuickBooks users to maintain backup accounting methods and avoid relying solely on online platforms for critical financial tasks. While the service’s core functionality remains strong, occasional outages illustrate the vulnerabilities inherent in cloud-based systems.

Affected users are encouraged to document any significant impacts, such as missed deadlines or financial disruptions resulting from the outage, in case compensation or adjustments become available. Intuit has occasionally offered goodwill gestures following notable service interruptions.

As the situation develops, users should continue monitoring official channels for updates. Alternative accounting software or offline modes may provide temporary relief for those with urgent needs.

The outage also sparked conversations about software redundancy and the importance of having contingency plans for popular business tools. Many users maintain multiple accounting platforms or backup records to mitigate risks from single-point failures in services like QuickBooks.

Intuit, a major player in financial software, continues investing in infrastructure, cybersecurity and user experience enhancements to minimize future disruptions. Monday’s event may accelerate efforts to improve service stability and scalability as user expectations evolve.

For now, users are urged to remain patient while technical teams work toward full restoration. The company’s long history of supporting small businesses suggests a swift resolution is likely, though no specific timeline has been provided.

The incident adds to a growing list of major software service outages in 2026, underscoring the challenges of maintaining 24/7 availability at massive scale. As business operations become increasingly digital, reliability and transparent communication during incidents remain critical for maintaining customer trust.

Users experiencing issues are encouraged to try accessing QuickBooks periodically, as partial restorations often occur before full recovery is announced. In the meantime, documenting experiences can help if formal complaints or compensation requests become necessary.

Monday’s outage serves as a timely reminder for all cloud software users to maintain awareness of backup options and to avoid relying solely on one platform for critical business functions. As the situation evolves, updates from Intuit and user reports will provide further clarity on the scope and resolution of the disruption.

Americans are increasingly reaching a breaking point regarding their household finances.

Despite hopes for a soft landing after years of elevated inflation, consumer pessimism has reached some of its worst levels in years, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s monthly Survey of Consumer Expectations released Monday.

The percentage of U.S. households that reported being “much worse off” financially than a year ago rose to 13.3% in May, up more than 2 percentage points from April and the highest reading since July 2022.

Additionally, 36% of Americans expect their financial situations to deteriorate further over the coming year, while fewer than 23% expect improvement, resulting in the lowest net optimism since October 2022.

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While overall inflation expectations remained largely unchanged, respondents expected higher costs ahead, including a 5.8% increase in food prices and a 7.4% rise in rent over the next year.

More Americans report being “much worse off” financially, according to the latest Federal Reserve Bank of New York suvery. (Getty Images)

The latest Fed survey aligns with the Federal Reserve’s most recent Beige Book, which summarizes economic conditions across the Fed’s 12 regional districts. Prices “increased at a moderate to strong pace overall, with most Districts reporting higher inflation from the previous report,” according to the Fed’s national summary.

“Districts noted that energy-related costs tied to the conflict in the Middle East were the primary driver of inflationary pressures, with spillovers into shipping, packaging, groceries, and fertilizer,” the report added, with the Cleveland Fed noting increased fuel surcharges.

Consumer concerns were also evident in the labor market, with respondents reporting that their confidence in finding a new job if they lost their current one fell to its lowest level since December 2025. Less than half of workers (43.7%) said they believed they would be able to find a replacement job if laid off.

“Labor market expectations deteriorated somewhat with an increase in layoff expectations and a decline in job finding expectations,” the New York Fed said in its release. 

However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday that employers added 172,000 jobs in May, topping economists’ estimates, with unemployment holding steady at 4.3%.

Lindsay Rosner, head of multi-sector fixed income investing at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, called the May jobs report a “Payroll Blowout!” and added: “We’ve gained more and more confidence in the last prints that the Fed doesn’t have to be worried about the labor market. Laser focused on inflation and it will all come down to the duration of this war to determine the Fed’s next move. For now, the move is to not move: HOLD.”

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The consumer report also showed that more than 1 in 8 Americans (12.6%) believe they may miss a minimum debt payment over the next 90 days. The increase was driven “mostly” by respondents with at least a high school education and households earning less than $100,000 annually.

Retired Americans older than 60 and workers earning less than $50,000 annually also reported lower spending-growth expectations.

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FOX Business’ Eric Revell contributed to this report.