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Luka Doncic Lakers, Luka Don?i? agree to three-year extension
Sat, Aug 2, 2025, 6:29 AM
Luka Don?i?
The Lakers and Luka Don?i? have agreed to a three-year, $165 million extension.
Analysis: While Saturday was the first day Don?i? was eligible to agree to an extension worth up to $222 million over four seasons, he reportedly decided to take a deal with one less year. The three-year extension, which includes a player option, grants the star guard added flexibility for the future. After three seasons, Don?i? would be eligible for a max contract that would pay him 35 percent of the salary cap instead of 30 percent. LeBron James remains on the Lakers roster, but the 40-year-old is headed into the final season of his current contract. Don?i? is the unquestioned cornerstone moving forward, and future moves made by the Lakers will have this in mind. Regarding fantasy basketball, he should be no worse than a top-5 pick in most league drafts. |
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Christian Koloko Lakers to sign Koloko, Manon to two-way deals
Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 9:25 AM
Shams Charania
Lakers signed C Christian Koloko and G Chris Manon to two-way contracts.
Analysis: Koloko will remain with the Lakers for another season, though he likely won't see the floor often behind Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes. Both Koloko and Manon, who played for the Warriors during summer league, will likely spend most of next season in the G League. |
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LeBron James LeBron hasn't had buyout, trade discussions
Wed, Jul 16, 2025, 7:19 AM
Joe Vardon and Dan Woike
The Athletic's Joe Vardon and Dan Woike report LeBron James hasn't had any buyout or trade discussions with the Lakers.
Analysis: The expectation is that LeBron will be with the Lakers for training camp. If you follow every single rumor that happens during the NBA offseason and read between the lines, you can see that LeBron has been pulling some stunts to create some drama. But if you look at the bigger picture, there isn't really a move that makes sense for both the Lakers and another team that LeBron will also agree to, since he has a no-trade clause. The reality is that LeBron will be a Laker next year in what could be his final NBA season. |
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Christian Koloko Christian Koloko posts 13/7/2/1/3 line vs. NOR
Sat, Jul 12, 2025, 5:25 PM
Christian Koloko massed 13 points (5-of-7 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, three blocks and one three-pointer in Saturday's win over the Pelicans.
Analysis: Koloko, who was on a two-way contract last season, is a restricted free agent after the team picked up his two-way qualifying offer. Performances like the one he put forth on Saturday will only help the center's chances of catching on somewhere, even if it's another two-way contract. Koloko is not worth targeting in fantasy drafts, even if he were to remain with the Lakers. In addition to bringing in Deandre Ayton, the Lakers re-signed Jaxson Hayes on a one-year deal. |
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Cole Swider Cole Swider records 21/10/4/1 stat line vs. NOR
Sat, Jul 12, 2025, 5:16 PM
Cole Swider finished Saturday's win over the Pelicans with 21 points (8-of-17 FGs, 1-of-3 FTs), 10 rebounds, four assists, one steal and four three-pointers.
Analysis: Given how well he's played, Swider would likely be a shutdown candidate if he arrived in Las Vegas on a guaranteed contract. He isn't, which makes the Lakers forward's performances more critical. Swider appeared in 10 NBA games last season, making eight appearances for the Raptors. The rebounding is just as important as his shooting ability, with Swider hitting double digits in two straight games. If he can prove consistently valuable in that area to supplement the perimeter shooting, that would improve Swider's chances of earning, at a minimum, a training camp invitation. |
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Cole Swider Cole Swider scores game-high 22 points vs. DAL
Thu, Jul 10, 2025, 4:40 PM
Cole Swider accounted for 22 points (6-of-10 FGs, 4-of-6 FTs), 10 rebounds, one assist, one steal and six three-pointers in Thursday's loss to the Mavericks.
Analysis: Swider excelled at the California Classic and started his time in Las Vegas well on Thursday. He is currently without a contract, so these performances are critical for Swider, who's looking to impress decision-makers around the league. There's no need to consider him for fantasy drafts, but there may come a point when some team gives Swider another opportunity to prove himself in the NBA. |
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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 the Lakers signed C Jaxson Hayes 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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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