The Los Angeles Lakers are setting themselves up to be busy this summer, potentially adding big names in free agency to pair with MVP candidate Luka Doncic and rising star Austin Reaves, all while LeBron James‘ future with the team remains uncertain.
James is set to become a free agent this offseason after picking up his player option with the Lakers for the 2025-26 season.
While previously, it was almost an expectation that he would leave Los Angeles this summer, based on new rumors and the team’s recent success, he could be in line to sign a new deal with the Lakers.
Additionally, just like James as a free agent target, the franchise could be eyeing another big name who could be available over the offseason, someone who’s already in town: Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Lakers Free Agency Rumors On Signing LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard
GettyINGLEWOOD, CA – JANUARY 22, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) goes for the steal against LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in the second half at the Intuit Dome on January 22, 2026 in Inglewood, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Starting with James, the idea of him returning to the Lakers still doesn’t have any concrete facts, and until he decides on his free agency fate, the team will likely have to wait to have a final answer on his future.
Any chance of James staying put would require him to sign for a lot less money. But, now that he’s bought into his new role as their third option, with the success following suit, the idea of him resigning with the Lakers has only grown, compared to the seemingly minuscule chance of him coming back just a few months ago.
With the Lakers set to sign Reaves to a new deal, James would have to return on a much smaller contract, making a lot less than the $52.6 million he’s owed this season. Still, if he can manage taking a backseat for a full season, there’s no reason to think his resigning in hopes of winning championship number five should be off the table.
In addition to that, rumors about Leonard’s contract being voided have increased as of late. The two-time Finals MVP has been quiet about both the salary cap circumvention scandal and his overall NBA career and future throughout his tenure in the league.
However, based on recent rumors, the idea of if his contract is voided by the NBA, Leonard might very well want to stay in Los Angeles, making the Lakers, and their expected cap space, a viable free agency landing spot.
Insiders Chime In On LeBron And Kawhi Lakers Rumors
While writing about the idea of Leonard going to the Golden State Warriors, a team that reportedly made a push for him in the past, Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard said he doesn’t think the Southern California team could afford both the Clippers star and James.
“There’s a LeBron tie-in because there always is — if Kawhi’s contract is voided, a team that could have a ton of cap space next summer and appeal to Kawhi is the Lakers, but only if they let LeBron leave as a free agent,” he wrote, while also linking James to the Warriors.
But, in a separate post on X, NBA insider from CBS Sports, Sam Quinn, believes that with the Lakers’ cap space, they could very easily sign the two aging stars for contracts smaller than what they are currently owed, but still giving them each money within reason.
“So the Lakers are looking at 50ish million in cap space. Is it that far fetched that they could afford both? Who else would Kawhi sign with if his contract was voided?” he asked. “Something like 30 (million) for Kawhi over several years and 20 (million) for LeBron on a one-year deal feels feasible to me.”
The Lakers have never had trouble attracting top free agents. Just look at James back in 2018 when he left the Cleveland Cavaliers to head to Hollywood. It remains uncertain what his plans are, and what chances Los Angeles would have in keeping him should his mind not yet be made up.
Still, with the team’s recent success, regardless of how they finish in the playoffs, the winning formula is there. Perhaps another full season of Doncic, Reaves, and James together could finally work, but that remains to be seen.
As for Leonard, he always wanted to go to Los Angeles when he was a free agent in 2019. Despite his new scandal, there’s been no reason to point to him wanting to move somewhere else, even though the Warriors are linked to him in recent rumors.
While he didn’t want to go to the Lakers a few years ago, if his contract is voided with the Clippers, it’s fair to say their cross-town rival could very well be his next landing spot.
Downsides Of Lakers Signing LeBron And Kawhi In Free Agency
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 01: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers hugs Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers after the 130-125 overtime win at Crypto.com Arena on November 01, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
However, and this is a big however, there are two reasons why the scenario of the Lakers signing both James and Leonard in free agency is not as simple as it might seem.
Firstly, the two are getting old. Let alone James’ status as the oldest player in the league, and while he’s still playing well, the Lakers might just want to move on from him and fully start a new era. Similar case with Leonard, and while he is playing some of the best basketball of his career, as seen in his past, he could suffer a season-ending injury at any given point.
In addition to the age factor, while Quinn did say it was possible, signing James and Leonard to $30 million and $20 million contracts, respectively, would use up nearly all of their cap space. Los Angeles has the rest of its roster they’ll need to fill out, and with other key free agents potentially set to leave this summer, what’s the point in using all the available cap space to add two players on the wrong side of 30, and even 40?
It comes down to this: Are the Lakers ready to finally close the chapter of the ‘LeBron James era’ and fully start fresh with Doncic as the future? If they are, say goodbye to the league’s all-time leading scorer and potentially any chances of signing Leonard in free agency as well. The Lakers want to put young talent that fit around Doncic for the future, and regardless of how nice those two names might sound or look on a promotional board, it’s not the best basketball move.
To put it in short, the Lakers have a few major decisions to make when it comes to free agency this summer.
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