The Los Angeles Lakers are going to look significantly different next season, even despite LeBron James opting into the final year of his contract and Luka Doncic likely to sign a multiyear extension in August.
Dan Woike of The Athletic reported on Monday, June 30, which was the official start of NBA free agency, that Los Angeles is prepared to watch Dorian Finney-Smith depart after he opted out of the final year of his contract Sunday.
That means the Lakers will likely lose a starting forward/wing who was important to both how they played defense last season and who leaves a void in their floor spacing on offense after shooting nearly 40% from behind the 3-point line on almost five attempts per game in L.A. last season.
However, Los Angeles is likely to gain the vital defensive ingredient it was missing from the roster in 2024-25 in the form of a rim-protector at the center position. Woike reported Monday that the focus is down to three players, including DeAndre Ayton who just secured a contract buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers ahead of the final season of his four-year, $133 million deal.
“Armed with the $14.1 million mid-level exception, the Lakers are expected to chase Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez and the Atlanta Hawks’ Clint Capela, with the surprise addition of Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton as another target on their list,” Woike wrote. “The Lakers are not making calls gauging Austin Reaves’ trade value, one of the sources said.”
Dorian Finney-Smith Opt Out Affords Lakers Full Midlevel Exception
GettyFormer Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith.
Had it not been for Finney-Smith’s opt out, the Lakers would have had only the $5.7 million taxpayer’s midlevel exception to pursue players like Lopez and Capela.
As such, Finney-Smith’s likely departure, while a loss to Doncic as a former teammate of his with the Dallas Mavericks, makes the acquisition of a viable center more possible.
Finney-Smith’s exit — which, if it comes, will most likely be to the Houston Rockets based on multiple reports Monday of that franchise’s interest in his services — wouldn’t actually have impacted the Lakers’ ability to pursue Ayton due to the unique circumstances of his breakup with Portland.
“Deandre Ayton is free to sign with any team despite earning greater than $14.1M+,” Bobby Marks of ESPN posted to X Monday. “The waiver restriction for second apron teams only applies during the regular season. He had $35.6M left on an expiring contract.”
“Ayton has to clear waivers in 48 hours,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne added on X. “Portland had a glut of centers after the draft and it’s very hard to trade a player making as much as he does. Expect teams that need a center to be very active with him.”
Brook Lopez, Clint Capela Alternative Options for Lakers at Center
Getty Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks (right) defends Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers (left) during an NBA game in 2025.
Ayton will turn 27 years old in July and has averaged 16.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks over the course of his seven-year career.
A former No. 1 overall pick of the Phoenix Suns in 2018, Ayton was a key member of that franchise’s trip to the NBA Finals following the 2020-21 regular season.
Capela is four years older and a less complete offensive player than Ayton, though he would still fit the mold of a rim-protector on defense and a rim-running lob threat for Doncic on offense.
Lopez is 37 years old and provides rim protection on defense, as well as floor spacing offensively due to his quality 3-point shot (37.3% on nearly two attempts per game in 2024-25).
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