| News |
|---|
|
Jaxson Hayes Shams: Lakers, Jaxson Hayes agree to one-year deal
Thu, Jul 3, 2025, 1:04 PM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports Jaxson Hayes and the Lakers have agreed to a one-year deal.
Analysis: Hayes appeared in 56 games for the Lakers last season, making 35 starts. However, his role will be different in 2025-26, as Deandre Ayton has agreed to a two-year deal and will be the starting center. Hayes finished last season with averages of 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks on 19.5 minutes per game. He did not provide consistent fantasy value as a starter, which should remain the case now that Hayes will be coming off the bench. |
|
Deandre Ayton Shams: Deandre Ayton, LAL agree to two-year deal
Wed, Jul 2, 2025, 11:47 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports Deandre Ayton has agreed to a two-year deal with the Lakers.
Analysis: Unsurprisingly, Ayton has decided to join the Lakers after agreeing with the Trail Blazers on a contract buyout. Los Angeles had a clear need at the center position, and they'll look to the first overall pick in the 2018 draft to fill it. While he has averaged a double-double in his first seven seasons, Ayton's last two years in Portland were underwhelming. Limited to 40 games last year due to injury, he averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.0 three-pointer in 30.2 minutes. Ayton is not the uber-athletic center who tends to flourish playing alongside Luka Doncic, but he'll play starter's minutes for a hopeful contender. Being in a lineup with Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves will limit Ayton's fantasy ceiling, but providing top-100 per-game value should not be an issue. |
|
Jake LaRavia Shams: Lakers sign Jake LaRavia for $12 million
Mon, Jun 30, 2025, 12:51 PM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports F Jake LaRavia has agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal with the Lakers.
Analysis: LaRavia's deal is fully guaranteed, according to Charania. The 23-year-old small forward averaged 6.1 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game and 1.3 assists per game in 19 games with the Kings last season after coming over from the Grizzlies in a trade. LaRavia is ticketed to remain in a bench role with the Lakers. |
|
Dorian Finney-Smith Report: Dorian Finney-Smith declines player option
Sun, Jun 29, 2025, 6:09 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports Dorian Finney-Smith has declined his player option and will be an unrestricted free agent.
Analysis: If activated, Finney-Smith's option would have paid him $15.4 million next season. Instead, he'll hit the open market and should not lack suitors among teams with serious postseason ambitions. According to Charania, a return to the Lakers is not off the table for Finney-Smith despite Sunday's development. DFS appeared in 63 games for the Nets and Lakers last season, with the latter acquiring him from the former in late December. Finney-Smith underwent ankle surgery in mid-June, but he is expected to be available for the start of training camp. |
|
LeBron James Shams: LeBron James picks up player option
Sun, Jun 29, 2025, 5:18 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports LeBron James has picked up his player option for the 2025-26 season.
Analysis: Sunday was deadline day for James, who had a player option worth $52.6 million for the 2025-26 campaign. He's reportedly decided to pick up the option, meaning LeBron will be back for a 23rd NBA season. However, based on , there are questions regarding James' future with the Lakers despite the player making it clear in the past that he hopes to remain with the franchise. James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain during the Lakers' first-round series against Minnesota, but the expectation is that James will be good to go well ahead of training camp. Based on his Yahoo! ADP, James was expected to provide second-round value in standard leagues last season, and he met that expectation. Look for him to have a similar draft position even though he'll turn 41 in December. |
|
Jordan Goodwin Report: LAL picks up Jordan Goodwin option
Sun, Jun 29, 2025, 3:55 AM
Keith Smith
Spotrac's Keith Smith reports the Lakers have exercised Jordan Goodwin's team option.
Analysis: Signed to a two-way contract by the Lakers after the February trade deadline, Goodwin played well enough to be converted to a standard deal in late March. While his contract for the 2025-26 season is worth $2.3 million, it is only lightly guaranteed. Goodwin's deal becomes fully guaranteed on January 10, 2026, if he's still on the roster. He did have his moments as a streamer last season, but Goodwin is not a player likely to be drafted in most fantasy leagues. |
|
Austin Reaves Report: Austin Reaves declines max extension offer
Thu, Jun 26, 2025, 6:39 AM
Dan Woike
The Athletic's Dan Woike reports Austin Reaves declined a max contract extension offer from the Lakers earlier this week.
Analysis: The Lakers offered Reaves a four-year, $89.2 million extension, which is the most they can offer him at this time. Reaves declined, which isn't surprising as he's in position to bet on himself and potentially make a lot more money next offseason. Reaves could hit free agency next summer and be eligible for a five-year, $246.7 million max deal from the Lakers or a four-year, $182.9 million max deal from any other team. He appears content to play out his current contract and test free agency next offseason. |
|
Dorian Finney-Smith Report: Finney-Smith has successful ankle surgery
Thu, Jun 12, 2025, 9:12 AM
Dave McMenamin
ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported Dorian Finney-Smith underwent successful surgery on his left ankle.
Analysis: Finney-Smith dealt with a lingering ankle issue that he mostly played through down the stretch of the season. The 32-year-old small forward is expected to be able to participate in training camp after successful surgery. Finney-Smith holds a player option to return to the Lakers for $15,378,480. It's possible that he declines the option and becomes a free agent. |
|
Austin Reaves Report: Austin Reaves played through sprained toe
Fri, May 2, 2025, 12:26 PM
Trevor Lane
Lakers Nation's Trevor Lane reports Austin Reaves suffered a sprained left big toe during the first-round series against the Timberwolves.
Analysis: While Reaves reached double figures in all five games of the series, his production shifted offensively after the first two games. According to Lane, the Lakers guard injured his toe during Game 3, impacting Reaves on both ends of the floor. In the first two games, 13 of Reaves' 27 field goal attempts were three-pointers. In Games 3 through 5, 33 of his 46 attempts came from beyond the arc. He could not be as explosive as needed off the dribble, which factored into the Lakers dropping the series' final three games. With the early elimination, Reaves will have ample time to recover ahead of the 2025-26 season. |
|
LeBron James LeBron James diagnosed with Grade 2 MCL sprain
Fri, May 2, 2025, 9:43 AM
Dave McMenamin
ESPN's Dave Mcamenamin reports that LeBron James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee in Wednesday's loss to Minnesota.
Analysis: James suffered the injury when collided with Donte DiVincenzo in the fourth quarter of the closeout Game 5. The recovery time for the injury is 3-5 weeks, but James will have no need to rush back to the court after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs. It's unclear if he'll return for a 23rd season, but if he does, he should be recovered from this latest injury prior to training camp. |
|
LeBron James LeBron James undecided on future following loss
Thu, May 1, 2025, 11:39 AM
ESPN
LeBron James was undecided on his future when asked following Wednesday's season-ending loss to the Timberwolves.
Analysis: The 40-year-old James said he had not given much thought to what the future might hold for him, which is unsurprising since he was focused on the task at hand. But it's a question that will hover over the Lakers franchise throughout the offseason, especially after acquiring Luka Doncic in early February. âI don't have an answer to that,â James said. âSomething I'll sit down with my family, my wife and my support group and kind of just talk through it and see what happens. And just have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play. I don't know the answer to that right now, to be honest. So we'll see.â James, who turns 41 on December 30, has a player option worth over $52.6 million for the 2025-26 season, and that may be reason enough to return for another run. Whatever he decides will significantly impact how the Lakers approach improving a roster that received little trust from head coach JJ Redick this postseason beyond starters James, Doncic, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, and veteran reserve Dorian Finney-Smith. |
|
Luka Doncic Luka Doncic tallies 28/7/9 line, Lakers eliminated
Wed, Apr 30, 2025, 7:15 PM
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 28 points (7-of-18 FGs, 12-of-15 FTs), seven rebounds, nine assists, one steal and two three-pointers in a 103-96 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Analysis: Just before halftime, Doncic exited with a back injury following a hard foul. He was able to return for the second half, though he was clearly moving gingerly at times. However, back pain wasn't going to slow down Luka. He led both teams in scoring, with almost half of his points coming at the free throw line. That wasn't enough to win, which brought his first season with the Lakers to a close. With a full offseason to get used to his new team, and roster moves to build this team around him, expect Doncic to be back to his typical dominant self next season. |
|
LeBron James LeBron James turns in 22/7/6/2 line in Game 5 loss
Wed, Apr 30, 2025, 7:11 PM
LeBron James finished with 22 points (9-of-21 FGs), seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and one three-pointer against the Timberwolves in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Analysis: James was awesome in Games 3 and 4, though Los Angeles wasn't able to get a win in Minnesota. With their backs against the wall in Game 5, LeBron wasn't able to replicate his two previous performances, and the Lakers' season ended in the first round for a second straight season. Though there is no indication that James will retire as of now, he'll be 41 for next season's playoffs. He should be in for another strong year when he's on the floor, but if the Lakers want to win a championship next season, they may prioritize rest for James more than ever during the 2025-26 season. |
|
Rui Hachimura Rui Hachimura puts up 23 points, five triples
Wed, Apr 30, 2025, 7:06 PM
Rui Hachimura lit up the Timberwolves with 23 points (9-of-16 FGs), four rebounds, one block and five three-pointers in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Analysis: This was the second straight game that Hachimura finished with exactly 23 points and five triples. Unfortunately, it was also a second straight single-digit loss for the Lakers, which brought their season to an end. Hachimura improved his numbers and took on a larger role this season with JJ Redick taking over as the team's head coach. There will certainly be roster changes for Los Angeles this summer, but if Hachimura is kept around, he'll be a decent, low-upside option in fantasy next season. |
|
Austin Reaves Austin Reaves caps season with 12-point dud
Wed, Apr 30, 2025, 7:03 PM
Austin Reaves struggled on Wednesday and contributed just 12 points (5-of-14 FGs), five rebounds, two assists, two three-pointers and six turnovers in Game 5 against the Timberwolves.
Analysis: Though it was a strong season overall for Reaves, his playoff series against Minnesota was one to forget. He averaged just 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and three triples while shooting 41.1 percent from the floor during the gentlemen's sweep. Reaves was incredible after the All-Star break, which made his postseason so disappointing. Still, he'll be an intriguing option entering drafts next season after finishing inside the top 50 in nine-cat leagues this season. |
|
Maxi Kleber Maxi Kleber (foot) available for Game 5 Wednesday
Wed, Apr 30, 2025, 2:46 PM
NBA Injury Report
Maxi Kleber (foot) is available to play against the Timberwolves in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Analysis: Kleber has been sidelined since before he was traded to the Lakers as part of the Luka Doncic deal, and this will be the first time he is available to suit up for Los Angeles. In a win-or-go-home game for them, it's unclear how much head coach JJ Redick will lean on a new player that hasn't played in three months. |
|
Maxi Kleber Maxi Kleber (foot) questionable for Game 5 Weds.
Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 2:16 PM
Jovan Buha
Maxi Kleber (foot) is questionable for Game 5 against the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Analysis: At long last, Kleber may be able to make his Lakers debut after being sent to Los Angeles as part of the Luka Doncic trade. The veteran forward/center underwent surgery on his right foot days before being traded, having last appeared in a game on January 25. Kleber can potentially add frontcourt depth, but Lakers coach JJ Redick stuck with the same five (Doncic/Reaves/Hachimura/James/Finney-Smith) for the entire second half of Sunday's Game 4 loss. |
|
Rui Hachimura Rui Hachimura sinks five three-pointers in Game 4
Sun, Apr 27, 2025, 12:59 PM
Rui Hachimura accounted for 23 points (9-of-16 FGs), five rebounds, one assist and five three-pointers in 41 minutes in Sunday's Game 4 loss to the Timberwolves.
Analysis: Hachimura and Austin Reaves (17/7/4/1/2 with five three-pointers) combined to shoot 10-of-22 from beyond the arc in Game 4, providing solid shooting alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic. And this was a needed effort for the former, as he totaled 28 points in the first three games of the series. The Game 4 version of Hachimura is who needs to show up for Game 5 on Wednesday, as the Lakers are a loss away from elimination. |
|
Luka Doncic Luka Doncic scores team-high 38 points in Game 4
Sun, Apr 27, 2025, 12:54 PM
Luka Doncic shot 13-of-28 from the field and 7-of-7 from the foul line in Sunday's Game 4 loss to the Timberwolves, amassing 38 points, one rebound, two assists, one steal, one block and five three-pointers in 46 minutes.
Analysis: Doncic only sat for two minutes on Sunday, playing the entire second half as the Lakers hoped to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole. The final stat line was surprisingly meager outside of the points and three-pointers, but there were some potential assists that Doncic missed out on due to the limited production from some of his teammates. He'll look to rebound and keep the Lakers' season alive when they host Game 5 on Wednesday. |
|
LeBron James LeBron James posts 27/12/8/3/3 line in Game 4
Sun, Apr 27, 2025, 12:49 PM
NBA
LeBron James finished Sunday's Game 4 loss to the Timberwolves with 27 points (5-of-9 FGs, 15-of-18 FTs), 12 rebounds, eight assists, three steals, three blocks and two three-pointers in 46 minutes.
Analysis: While James only had nine official field goal attempts, he was a frequent visitor to the foul line, boosting the final point tally. Unfortunately, the robust stat line was not enough to deliver the Lakers a win, and they'll head home for Game 5 on Wednesday in a 3-1 hole. James did make some more personal history, however, moving into ninth on the NBA's playoff career blocked shot list. The extra day off should be welcomed, as James played the entire second half on Sunday. |
Connect With Us:
