Lakerholics

A Lakers Fan Community

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

    21. Mitchell Robinson

    Team: New York Knicks
    2025-26 Salary: $13 million
    Rights: Full

    The Knicks are among the top teams in the East, advancing last playoffs to the Conference Finals. All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns is ahead of Robinson in the rotation, but doesn’t have the same defensive skill set. Against some opponents, New York needs what Robinson provides as a strong, physical shot blocker.

    The challenge for the team next season, given Robinson’s free agency, is deciding whether or not to exceed the second apron. While Robinson has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, several teams could use what he brings and may test New York’s appetite for luxury taxes and apron penalties.

    16. Quentin Grimes

    Team: Philadelphia 76ers
    2025-26 Salary: $8.7 million
    Rights: Full

    When the 76ers were decimated by injury last season, Grimes averaged 21.9 points over 28 games in a significant role. The Sixers have had more health this year, and Grimes’s production has flagged to 12.7 points per game, and his three-point shooting has dipped from 37.3 percent to 34.1 percent.

    Philadelphia chose to keep Grimes on his qualifying offer, instead of negotiating a more lucrative multi-year deal. As a still young (26 in May) talented combo guard, he seems likely to depart if he can find a team willing to give him the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($15.1 million starting) or more in free agency.

    11. Tari Eason
    Team: Houston Rockets
    2025-26 Salary: $5.7 million
    Rights: Full (restricted)

    The Rockets and Eason are in an interesting position. Kevin Durant is a 37-year-old All-Star. Fred VanVleet, almost 32, is out for the year with a knee injury. Eason represents part of the team’s young core, but he’s expecting a significant pay raise.

    If Houston pays Eason in the $20-30 million starting range, the franchise could face apron restrictions.

    If the Rockets pass, letting him leave as a restricted free agent (or sign-and-trade him), the team loses youth, depth, and a tough wing who is shooting 46 percent from three-point range on nearly five attempts.

    One of the teams with cap room could test Houston’s resolve with a large offer sheet.

    10. Luguentz Dort
    Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
    2025-26 Salary: $18.2 million ($18.2 million team option)
    Rights: Full

    If the Thunder win another title, losing Dort would be a difficult choice. While Oklahoma City has avoided paying luxury taxes for what could be back-to-back championships, the third try will be more costly after giving Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren significant extensions.

    The Thunder could opt Dort out with an agreement to re-sign at a lower number on a multi-year deal, but he’s the kind of player a team like the Los Angeles Lakers or Chicago Bulls might want to fill significant defensive gaps in their roster. Oklahoma City has a long list of talented players that can fill Dort’s minutes, but none are as tough and physical defensively. At this early stage, guessing the option decision is a coin flip.

    8. Walker Kessler
    Team: Utah Jazz
    2025-26 Salary: $4.9 million
    Rights: Full (restricted)

    After five games, Kessler was lost for the season with a shoulder injury. The 24-year-old center, listed at 7’2″, briefly averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 blocks for the Jazz.

    Utah was initially projected to have cap room this summer and expected to re-sign Kessler as a restricted free agent after using its spending power (while taking advantage of his $14.6 million free-agent cap hold).

    Instead, the franchise traded for Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies. Will the Jazz invest heavily into three frontcourt players or attempt to sign-and-trade Kessler to make a playoff push?

    7. Peyton Watson

    Team: Denver Nuggets
    2025-26 Salary: $4.4 million
    Rights: Full (restricted)

    Watson helped carry the Nuggets when Nikola Jokić was sidelined for 16 games with a knee injury.

    Through 15 games in January, Watson averaged 21.9 points per game and shot 46.2 percent from three-point range, compared to 14.9 points and 41.7 percent from three on the season.

    Unfortunately, Watson is missing time with a hamstring strain. The Nuggets have the power to keep the 23-year-old wing, but will another franchise issue a massive offer sheet to test Denver’s mettle?

    6. Isaiah Hartenstein
    Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
    2025-26 Salary: $28.5 million ($28.5 million team option)
    Rights: Early Bird

    The Thunder hope to win back-to-back titles, presumably bringing back the core of the roster for a three-peat opportunity. This season, the team is under the luxury tax threshold. Next year, the Thunder face tax and apron issues that could lead them to opt Hartenstein out of his contract regardless of what happens this postseason.

    Still, even if Hartenstein is opted into free agency, the team may pre-negotiate a multi-year deal at a lower starting number. Another team could try to steal him away, but the Thunder may need to offer enough to ensure they don’t—given All-Star big Chet Holmgren has durability issues. Rookie Thomas Sorber, who is out for the year (knee), may gradually fill that spot, but pencil in Hartenstein back with the Thunder in the meantime.

    3. Austin Reaves
    Team: Los Angeles Lakers
    2025-26 Salary: $13.9 million ($14.9 million player option)
    Rights: Full

    Reaves turned down a four-year, $87.4 million extension with the Lakers (starting at $19.5 million)—the most the team can offer. Instead, he’s expected to opt out to explore free agency. Before a calf injury, he was a top-10 NBA scorer, seemingly primed for his first All-Star bid.

    The Lakers can pay him up to about $41.5 million in starting salary for up to $240.7 million. The most another team can offer is four years, $178.5 million (the same amount he’d be eligible for via sign-and-trade).

    Whatever the result, Reaves projects to be well compensated this summer.

    2. Jalen Duren
    Team: Detroit Pistons
    2025-26 Salary: $6.5 million
    Rights: Full (restricted)

    Along with MVP candidate Cade Cunningham, Duren has emerged over the last two years as a true game-changer in Detroit. He’s grown on both sides of the floor, especially defensively on a very stingy Pistons squad.

    A first-time All-Star, Duren is averaging a career high 17.7 points a game for the best team in the Eastern Conference by record at the All-Star break (40-13). Duren should get a sizable raise to stay, but if the Pistons aren’t willing to max him out, the Lakers have plenty of cap room for an offer sheet.

    1. LeBron James
    Team: Los Angeles Lakers
    2025-26 Salary: $52.6 million
    Rights: Full

    Out of respect for James’ career and his stature as one of the NBA’s legendary stars, the 41-year-old free agent tops the list despite his age.

    He may choose retirement. He could return to the Lakers (if they’ll have him—though they may turn the page to build properly around Luka Dončić) or his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers for a third and final stop.

    Perhaps James will look to join a star-laden team such as the Golden State Warriors with Steph Curry or the New York Knicks with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

    Few of those options will have the power to pay James close to what he earned with the Lakers this year. To chase what is likely his final NBA season, he may need to embrace a significant pay cut.

Leave a Reply