Bobby Marks: NBA offseason 2025: Draft, free agency, trade targets for 30 teams

May 9, 2025 at 10:37 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Los Angeles Lakers
2024-25 record: 50-32

Draft picks in June: No. 55

Free agents: LeBron James (P), Jaxson Hayes, Dorian Finney-Smith (P), Alex Len, Markieff Morris, Jordan Goodwin (T) and Christian Koloko (R)

State of the roster:

There is no denying that trading for Luka Doncic has given the Lakers their next generational star to help build a championship roster. Los Angeles had the eighth-best record since acquiring the 25-year-old, finishing third in the competitive Western Conference.

But as their lack of depth, size and late-game execution in the first round confirmed, the regular season is not the playoffs. President of basketball operations Rob Pelinka acknowledged when he traded for Doncic in February that the roster is far from a finished product. “We’re going to build a roster that fits JJ Redick’s basketball philosophy,” Pelinka told reporters in February.

The Lakers enter one of the more pivotal offseasons in franchise history. The future of LeBron James is a focus for a second straight offseason. James has a $52.6 million player option and again can enter free agency. Doncic is not a free agent but is eligible to sign up to a four-year, $229 million extension on Aug. 2. In the unlikely scenario a contract is not reached, Doncic will become a free agent in the summer of 2026. Then there is Austin Reaves, who is also eligible to sign an extension and could enter free agency at the same time as Doncic.

While re-signing the trio is the team’s top priority, how Pelinka improves the rest of the roster is worth monitoring. If the trade deadline was any indication, expect the Lakers to get aggressive.

The Lakers tried to acquire Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams at the deadline to provide Doncic with a lob threat and to help L.A. fill the hole made by trading away Anthony Davis, but the trade was rescinded after a failed physical. While the Lakers do not have cap space to sign free agent Myles Turner, for example, Los Angeles does have a 2031 first-round pick, five years of pick swaps, former first-round pick Dalton Knecht and over $70 million in expiring contracts (Reaves, Dorian Finney-Smith, Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber and Gabe Vincent) to use in a trade.

Offseason finances:

For a second straight offseason, James’ potential free agency plays a role in who the Lakers can add to their roster. James has a $52.6 million player option for next season. He and Finney-Smith have until June 29 to opt in for next season.

If James opts in or signs a new contract with a comparable starting salary, the Lakers will be $1.3 million over the luxury tax. They are $6.7 million below the first apron and will only have access to their $5.7 million non-tax midlevel exception. Because the Lakers are well below the second apron, they have flexibility to aggregate contracts in a trade.

Top front office priority:

How does losing in the first round a second consecutive season impact what happens next with James? The 40-year-old continues to defy time with his play on the court. After his birthday on Dec. 30, James averaged 25.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists in the regular season. If James does decline his player option, he is allowed to sign up to a three-year, $175.3 million contract with the Lakers. James has signed four contracts with the Lakers since 2018, with only one longer than two years.

Doncic, for his part, confirmed to ESPN’s Malika Andrews in an interview before the postseason that his intention is to remain with the Lakers. But while there should be confidence in Doncic extending, showing him what a post-LeBron roster could look like is a major priority.

There are multiple options on what Doncic’s extension could look like on Aug. 2, the first day he’s eligible to sign.

A four-year, $229 million max, where the $51 million first-year salary for 2026-27 replaces the player option for that season. More likely: a three-year, $165 million extension that includes a player option in the third year. The short-term extension allows Doncic to reenter free agency sooner and potentially recoup the $345 million he lost when he was traded from the Mavericks.

Extension candidate to watch:

The four-year, $53.8 million deal Austin Reaves signed in 2023 is considered one of the best value deals in the league. Reaves’ $13.9 million salary next season is below the non-tax midlevel exception. Reaves finished the regular season averaging career highs in points (20.2), assists (5.8) and rebounds (4.5). After the Lakers acquired Doncic, Reaves shot 48% from the field and 40% on 3-pointers in the regular season.

But the bargain contract also could play a role in Reaves deciding to become an unrestricted free agent in the 2026 offseason. Because of his team-friendly salary, the maximum extension the Lakers can offer is four years, $89.2 million. The first-year salary of $19.9 million is 140% of the average player salary, the maximum allowed under the CBA.

If Reaves bypasses the extension and becomes a free agent, the Lakers and teams with cap space would be allowed to sign him next offseason to a contract worth up to 25% of the salary cap. His first-year starting salary in that contract would be $42.5 million.

Other extension eligible players: Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and Rui Hachimura

Team needs:

A lob-threat starting center, frontcourt size and reliable rotation players. The Lakers ranked last in the playoffs in points in the paint and third worst in paint points allowed. The Timberwolves’ bench outscored them by more than 16 points per game in the series.

Draft assets:

L.A. owes Utah a 2027 top-four protected first-round pick and Dallas an unprotected first in 2029. The Lakers are allowed to trade one first-round pick in either 2031 or 2032. Los Angeles does have the right to swap firsts in five seasons (2026, 2028, 2030, 2031 and 2032) and have one second-round pick available to trade.

Comments

LakerTom says

May 9, 2025 at 10:37 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Los Angeles Lakers
2024-25 record: 50-32

Draft picks in June: No. 55

Free agents: LeBron James (P), Jaxson Hayes, Dorian Finney-Smith (P), Alex Len, Markieff Morris, Jordan Goodwin (T) and Christian Koloko (R)

State of the roster:

There is no denying that trading for Luka Doncic has given the Lakers their next generational star to help build a championship roster. Los Angeles had the eighth-best record since acquiring the 25-year-old, finishing third in the competitive Western Conference.

But as their lack of depth, size and late-game execution in the first round confirmed, the regular season is not the playoffs. President of basketball operations Rob Pelinka acknowledged when he traded for Doncic in February that the roster is far from a finished product. “We’re going to build a roster that fits JJ Redick’s basketball philosophy,” Pelinka told reporters in February.

The Lakers enter one of the more pivotal offseasons in franchise history. The future of LeBron James is a focus for a second straight offseason. James has a $52.6 million player option and again can enter free agency. Doncic is not a free agent but is eligible to sign up to a four-year, $229 million extension on Aug. 2. In the unlikely scenario a contract is not reached, Doncic will become a free agent in the summer of 2026. Then there is Austin Reaves, who is also eligible to sign an extension and could enter free agency at the same time as Doncic.

While re-signing the trio is the team’s top priority, how Pelinka improves the rest of the roster is worth monitoring. If the trade deadline was any indication, expect the Lakers to get aggressive.

The Lakers tried to acquire Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams at the deadline to provide Doncic with a lob threat and to help L.A. fill the hole made by trading away Anthony Davis, but the trade was rescinded after a failed physical. While the Lakers do not have cap space to sign free agent Myles Turner, for example, Los Angeles does have a 2031 first-round pick, five years of pick swaps, former first-round pick Dalton Knecht and over $70 million in expiring contracts (Reaves, Dorian Finney-Smith, Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber and Gabe Vincent) to use in a trade.

Offseason finances:

For a second straight offseason, James’ potential free agency plays a role in who the Lakers can add to their roster. James has a $52.6 million player option for next season. He and Finney-Smith have until June 29 to opt in for next season.

If James opts in or signs a new contract with a comparable starting salary, the Lakers will be $1.3 million over the luxury tax. They are $6.7 million below the first apron and will only have access to their $5.7 million non-tax midlevel exception. Because the Lakers are well below the second apron, they have flexibility to aggregate contracts in a trade.

Top front office priority:

How does losing in the first round a second consecutive season impact what happens next with James? The 40-year-old continues to defy time with his play on the court. After his birthday on Dec. 30, James averaged 25.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists in the regular season. If James does decline his player option, he is allowed to sign up to a three-year, $175.3 million contract with the Lakers. James has signed four contracts with the Lakers since 2018, with only one longer than two years.

Doncic, for his part, confirmed to ESPN’s Malika Andrews in an interview before the postseason that his intention is to remain with the Lakers. But while there should be confidence in Doncic extending, showing him what a post-LeBron roster could look like is a major priority.

There are multiple options on what Doncic’s extension could look like on Aug. 2, the first day he’s eligible to sign.

A four-year, $229 million max, where the $51 million first-year salary for 2026-27 replaces the player option for that season. More likely: a three-year, $165 million extension that includes a player option in the third year. The short-term extension allows Doncic to reenter free agency sooner and potentially recoup the $345 million he lost when he was traded from the Mavericks.

Extension candidate to watch:

The four-year, $53.8 million deal Austin Reaves signed in 2023 is considered one of the best value deals in the league. Reaves’ $13.9 million salary next season is below the non-tax midlevel exception. Reaves finished the regular season averaging career highs in points (20.2), assists (5.8) and rebounds (4.5). After the Lakers acquired Doncic, Reaves shot 48% from the field and 40% on 3-pointers in the regular season.

But the bargain contract also could play a role in Reaves deciding to become an unrestricted free agent in the 2026 offseason. Because of his team-friendly salary, the maximum extension the Lakers can offer is four years, $89.2 million. The first-year salary of $19.9 million is 140% of the average player salary, the maximum allowed under the CBA.

If Reaves bypasses the extension and becomes a free agent, the Lakers and teams with cap space would be allowed to sign him next offseason to a contract worth up to 25% of the salary cap. His first-year starting salary in that contract would be $42.5 million.

Other extension eligible players: Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and Rui Hachimura

Team needs:

A lob-threat starting center, frontcourt size and reliable rotation players. The Lakers ranked last in the playoffs in points in the paint and third worst in paint points allowed. The Timberwolves’ bench outscored them by more than 16 points per game in the series.

Draft assets:

L.A. owes Utah a 2027 top-four protected first-round pick and Dallas an unprotected first in 2029. The Lakers are allowed to trade one first-round pick in either 2031 or 2032. Los Angeles does have the right to swap firsts in five seasons (2026, 2028, 2030, 2031 and 2032) and have one second-round pick available to trade.

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