The Los Angeles Lakers are eyeing the offseason to make major changes to their roster, as with Luka Doncic locked in for a few more years, the team has several players set to hit free agency this summer, in turn, creating a massive amount of cap space for general manager Rob Pelinka and the rest of the front office to work with.
Whether it be continuing the push for a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, targeting other trade options, or signing some of the league’s top free agents, the Lakers are expected to have the most cap space in the NBA this offseason and are poised to completely transform their roster.
According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, the Lakers could have roughly $89 million in salary cap space this summer, and while that doesn’t take into account the likelihood that the team will resign Austin Reaves to a near-max contract extension, with LeBron James and a few other players likely on the way out, that opens the door for some top trade and free agent targets to arrive, whether it be Antetokounmpo, or players garnering a bit less attention this offseason.
“If the Lakers let everyone go, including Austin Reaves, Bronny James, all free agents, and both Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart opt out of their final years, L.A. could reach $80 million in cap room. Along with the RMLE, the franchise would have the most spending power in the league,” Pincus wrote. “[With Reaves likely returning] A more reasonable projection may be $54 million in cap room.”
Lakers Salary Cap Space Is Good News For A Giannis Trade, Other Free Agent Targets
The roughly $54 million in cap space is what could likely be expected for the Lakers to have available this summer. According to team owner Jeanie Buss, there has been no indication that James is planning to return. At the same time, with his recent play, it is hard to see Los Angeles committing to another year of Ayton, despite the relatively low number they could keep him for.
It remains to be seen what the Lakers will do with Smart, Dalton Knecht, James Jr., as well as unrestricted free agents Maxi Kleber, Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard, and Jaxson Hayes, meaning they very well could have that $54 million number to use on new players over the summer.
Writing for ESPN, team insider Dave McMenamin offered up a few free agent targets the Lakers are expected to go after this offseason.
“An unrestricted free agent who has been discussed internally, sources told ESPN, is Andrew Wiggins, but he has a player option with Miami he could exercise. Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes and Dean Wade are other players who fit that profile,” he wrote. “The Lakers have also privately discussed restricted free agents Tari Eason and Peyton Watson, sources told ESPN.”
At the same time, Antetokounmpo remains the grand prize. It remains to be seen how open the Milwaukee Bucks will be in terms of trading the franchise centerpiece, but if the two parties can’t come to terms on a new contract extension, the Lakers are expected to be waiting in the wings.
“The Lakers, team sources told ESPN, obviously see the appeal in Antetokounmpo and believe they would be one of the teams on a very short list if the Bucks star asks for a trade out of Milwaukee,” McMenamin added. “A Western Conference executive told ESPN he believes Antetokounmpo is the “big prize” the Lakers hope to land, should the Milwaukee Bucks decide to trade the 2021 NBA Finals MVP in the offseason.”
Sam Amick of The Athletic also said the Lakers are expected to make an ‘all-out pursuit’ of Antetokounmpo this summer to pair him with Doncic and whoever else is on the roster.
LeBron James’ Lakers Future Remains In Question, Impact On Salary Cap Space
While the Lakers have yet to address the futures of several of their rotational players set to become free agents, the team has said multiple times that James staying and retiring in Los Angeles would certainly be welcomed.
However, some other reports have signaled otherwise, and as the 41-year-old has yet to confirm his next move, it leaves the team in somewhat of a limbo heading into the summer.
Despite that, James returning to the Lakers would likely have to come on a much smaller contract, as he isn’t the same player that arrived in 2018, and him making max contract money at his age would severely hinder Pelinka and the front office’s ability to create a true championship contender.
But while he has yet to recommit to Los Angeles, rumors about James leaving for the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer have only grown over the past few weeks. Whether he stays in Los Angeles or goes back home, James would likely have to sign a minimum or mid-level contract for both franchises to have the ability to win multiple postseason rounds.
With that, the idea of the Lakers building a championship-level team, with or without James, becomes a lot easier. He is on the books for $52.6 million this year, and with that money gone in 2026-27, it frees up a ton of flexibility for team building.
Yes, a decent chunk of the salary cap space will likely go to Reaves, but it still leaves a lot left for Pelinka and the other decision-makers to work with.
Antetokounmpo will be the target number one, followed by top free agents like Watson, Wiggins, Grimes, and others.
It remains to be seen what the Lakers will do this summer, but if everything goes according to plan, the team expects to make major upgrades over the offseason to build a true title-contender around Doncic.
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