FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE:

“The level of confidence in Austin Reaves, LeBron James and Luca Doncic is at an all-time high still,” Pelinka said. “I think those three guys have incredible promise playing together. And we will collectively do a better job to make sure they’re surrounded with the right pieces to have ultimate success.”

But rumors swirled this week, linking L.A. to trade talks with the Utah Jazz for center Walker Kessler and the Miami Heat for wing Andrew Wiggins, and representatives for both Reaves and Vincent were not contacted about any of the teams involved, sources told ESPN, which is customary when a trade nears the finish line.

Kessler was one of the centers L.A. inquired about last season before the Williams trade, sources told ESPN, but Utah’s asking price — multiple first-round picks — was too steep. The 23-year-old 7-footer averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds (including a league-leading 4.6 offensive rebounds) and 2.4 blocks in his third season with the Jazz.

Beyond his age fitting with Doncic’s timeline, Kessler is owed only $4.9 million next season and would have a relatively small cap hold in the summer of 2026, allowing L.A. to pursue other free agents along with holding his Bird rights to be able to extend him.

The Lakers called the Atlanta Hawks about their 6-10, athletic big man Onyeka Okongwu last season, sources told ESPN. Other centers under contract that the Lakers have mulled internally since last season include Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton and Portland’s Robert Williams III, sources told ESPN. Among the other free agent big men L.A. could target are veterans Clint Capela, Al Horford and Brook Lopez.

The rest of the roster will be filled with veteran minimum contracts and in the second round of the draft. On Thursday, L.A. moved up 10 spots to No. 45 by trading the No. 55 pick and cash considerations to the Chicago Bulls for their pick and then traded the No. 45 pick and more cash to Minnesota to draft Arkansas forward Adou Thiero at No. 36.

Pelinka told Spectrum Sportsnet after the draft that Thiero, an athletic 6-8, 220 pound forward, could fit the “archetype” of what OG Anunoby provides for the New York Knicks.

MEANWHILE, THERE’S JAMES, who sources believe will opt in to his $52.6 million player option, and the rest of the roster.

James, who turns 41 in December, returned to on-court basketball activities this week after sustaining a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee in Game 5 against Minnesota.

But before his return to the court, he had been training in the weight room with his son, Lakers guard Bronny James, sources told ESPN, their first extended offseason together after last summer’s Paris Olympics. And while James has considered retirement every offseason since 2023, a source familiar with James’ thinking told ESPN that at this point, James is not entering next season with any certainty that it will be his last.

Reaves, for his part, declined the Lakers’ four-year, $89.2 million offer this week, which sources said came as no surprise.

In the summer of 2026, he’s eligible to sign a four-year, $98 million extension, or he can opt out of the final year of his contract, become an unrestricted free agent and be eligible for 25% of whatever the salary cap is for 2026-27.

The Lakers made the offer, sources said, understanding that Reaves would turn it down, but the franchise wanted to show its interest in him nonetheless and did not want to send the wrong signal by not offering it. Both sides, sources told ESPN, are motivated to find a deal next summer.

Forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who underwent surgery on his left ankle after the season, has until Sunday to opt out of the final year of his contract, worth $15.4 million for next season. He is extension-eligible before free agency begins Monday.

Up until Saturday, the Lakers can offer Finney-Smith a three-year extension worth $54 million, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. From Between Sunday and Monday, L.A. can offer him a four-year extension worth $90.2 million — with his player option being replaced with a new salary.

If Finney-Smith opted in for $15.4 million for next season, he’d be eligible to sign a four-year deal worth $96.5 million, assuming he signs after July 6 when the free agent moratorium is lifted. A source familiar with the talks told ESPN that while Finney-Smith has interest in returning to L.A., he could look elsewhere for a multiyear deal if the only way to stay with the Lakers is to opt into his deal.

The Finney-Smith resolution could have significant effects in determining the options available to L.A. If he were to leave, the Lakers would have parted with three second-round picks for a half-season rental after trading for Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets. And they would be parting with a popular locker room figure and a player Redick trusts implicitly.

But his departure would allow L.A. to open up the full midlevel exception of $14.1 million, which could be split up to pursue multiple free agents seeking a premium contract above the veteran minimum. And if the Lakers didn’t use all of the midlevel exception, they could take on more salary in a trade and absorb the extra money into whatever they have left of the MLE.

And then, of course, there’s Doncic, L.A.’s 26-year-old superstar and the future face of the franchise.

On Aug. 2, the Lakers can offer Doncic a four-year, $229 million extension. Doncic could also opt to sign a three-year, $165 million extension with a player option in 2028, per Marks, which would then allow him to sign a max deal in 2028 that would give him 35% of the salary cap for five seasons.

While the exact salary scenario Doncic and the Lakers land on remains to be seen, there’s no signs of a split anytime soon. A source close to Doncic told ESPN that Walter’s purchase was a positive development.

“You always want the wealthiest owners, so that speaks for itself,” the source said. “And his track record speaks for itself. … [Doncic] wants to win. This owner’s proven that he wants to win. So this is a plus-plus.”

Additionally, Doncic remains motivated by how the Dallas Mavericks treated him in the aftermath of the trade and how the Lakers’ season ended, and has committed to an offseason training and nutrition program, sources told ESPN.

Doncic will also have a direct conduit to the Lakers’ coaching staff with him this summer. Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean will serve as an assistant coach with the Slovenian national team, sources told ESPN, as Doncic competes for his home country in the FIBA EuroBasket tournament.

The Lakers might have their ascending star in Doncic, a bright young coach in Redick and deep-pocketed owner in Walter to set up their future, but there is plenty of work to be done to maximize the current opportunity with this team. Especially knowing that James is so close to the end.

“We’re going to turn over every stone and whatever resources the collective bargaining agreement gives us, we’re going to use to the utmost,” Pelinka told Spectrum SportsNet on Thursday. “We won’t rest until we get it right.”

Damn it. Would have loved Lakers to bring back Lonzo to play alongside Luka. Would have been perfect. Best luck to Lonzo.

If he’s out it (and if we don’t guarantee Shake) we get the full MLE and BAE. I’m not concerned at all.— Yinoma2001 (@Yinoma2001) June 28, 2025

“The Lakers could have most of their $14.1 million non-tax midlevel exception but only if Finney-Smith declines his option and does not re-sign. The Lakers are $20 million below the first apron if the forward doesn't return.”https://t.co/5qr6N0GRXw— The Lakers Review (@TheLakersReview) June 28, 2025

“The Lakers and other NBA scouts compare the 220-pound Thiero to Knicks forward OG Anunoby, a three-and-D player that L.A.'s scouts thought might be drafted in the first round.” https://t.co/NOjQGR43Zd— The Lakers Review (@TheLakersReview) June 27, 2025

For Los Angeles Lakers fans, a breakdown of my #15 prospect, Adou Thiero. Potentially the single greatest steal of the draft. pic.twitter.com/QB0Tv0PNw3— Matt Powers (@DraftPow) June 27, 2025

Feels like he could see some time in the second unit, more likely a major factor at the G-League level, but has a lot of tools in the box we need on defense.

It’ll take him awhile to adjust to the NBA game and so I’m most excited for year 3 of his development but here’s hoping he makes strides out of the gate and picks up the pro nuances fast. He’ll have some great teachers.

🗣️ “We were super aggressive… turned 55 into 36 to get younger, more athletic on the wings.” – GM Rob Pelinka talks about the Lakers' draft-night moves and how he plans to add toughness and defense to the roster. pic.twitter.com/7Kp34IrAfw— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) June 27, 2025

Would be happy with these results.

My predictions:
-LBJ opts in and says it’s the swan song season.
-DFS opts out and becomes an URFA.

🚨 BREAKING: Texas F Arthur Kaluma is signing an Exhibit 10 deal with the LakersVia @TheAthletic pic.twitter.com/u7Na1fAa6O— LakersMuse (@LALMuse) June 27, 2025

🚨 Lakers sign Eric Dixon to a two-way deal23.3 PPG 👀 (led NCAA in scoring)47.0% FG 🔥 40.7% 3PT 🎯 pic.twitter.com/maJa1Tty7m— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) June 27, 2025

RJ Davis has signed with the Lakers! pic.twitter.com/FjNoHK3pUg— Great Day Tar Heel (@GreatDayTarHeel) June 27, 2025

UC Davis TY Johnson will suit up for the @Lakers this summer @NBASummerLeague ‼️He averaged 21.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game this past season!Let’s go 2️⃣ @iamty_2 pic.twitter.com/LMploX5zcP— Coach Justin Rhymes (@iamjrhymes) June 27, 2025

🇱🇹🔥The son of Hall of Famer Sarunas Marciulionis, Augustas will have a chance to make the roster of the Los Angeles Lakers! pic.twitter.com/7SJL8q52Gb— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) June 27, 2025

Really hoping DK takes the trade and frustrations around it into the gym and punishes players on the floor. best way to show someone is wrong about you is to prove them wrong.

Kind of surprising but I’ll wager this was a long time coming internally. They had rode the coattails of that banner for a couple seasons now and it’s hard to see anything resembling a direction or an identity these days.

Having said that, before anyone thinks this means he’ll come to the Lakers, my guess is he goes overseas and manages NBA Africa league and brings it up.

None of this makes sense…we’re not gonna have the coin for 3/4’s of the guys on this list unless we let DFS walk, which would be a bad choice IMO. In free agency Nick Richards should be at the top of the list. He’s the only one in our price range that I like, maybe Kornet but I’m kinda ‘meh’ on him in general.

Lakers should zero in on Capella. Win-now center who can/will help on both ends and still be the lob threat Luka likes. After that it’s either wholly unrealistic or not really an upgrade over Jax.

Not sure where, again, the Jaxson Hayes shade comes from. All he did last season was rise to the occasion before he got outclassed in his first, limited, tase of a true playoff role. He needs to cut down on fouls, add some weight, and keep working on a post move beyond dunks. Everything else is coming along OK. Dude is 25, still upside left untapped.

I’d be just fine retaining Jaxson Hayes, you read it here folks. I think Mongo said it yesterday, too, actually. or something akin to that.