Lakers’ Offseason Moves Finished? Insider Answers

The Los Angeles Lakers are done with the offseason, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.

“I don’t think another move is coming for the Lakers before the season starts, and really, it’s just a simple cost-benefit analysis of making one,” Woike wrote on his Aug. 13 mailbag.

The Lakers are hard-capped at first apron following the Marcus Smart signing, a move in which they needed to waive Jordan Goodwin and Shake Milton to gain access to their $5.1 million bi-annual exception. They only have $1.1 million in cap space available.

As it currently stands, the Lakers only have one first-round pick (2031 or 2032) and their 2032 second-round pick available to trade and over $100 million expiring salaries, if you include LeBron James, who opted into his $52.6 million player option.

“To create a roster spot to sign a remaining free agent, you’re spending at least one second and losing a veteran who you believe to some degree can help (or who can make as big of a difference compared to whatever player is still uncommitted here in August). As far as trades go, while talks could pick back up as training camp gets closer, I believe it’s way more likely that the Lakers would rather look at the roster that they’ve built, assess the strengths and weaknesses and try to improve during the season than use any of their limited draft arsenal to get a deal done now,” Woike wrote.

The Lakers did great with the limited budget they had heading into this offseason. It only cost them $19 million and a change to add Smart, Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia without dipping into their already shallow draft capital.

Lakers’ Biggest Concern

Getty Deandre Ayton will start at center, but the Los Angeles Lakers still face depth concerns.

The Lakers have filled up their gaping hole in the middle with the bargain signing of Ayton to a two-year $16 million deal after he agreed to a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers.

But despite the big man’s addition, the Lakers still have the center position as their biggest concern entering next season.

“Nothing the Lakers do is under the radar, so this potential pitfall might seem more obvious than the other contenders’ concerns,” Dave McMenamin wrote on ESPN about the Lakers’ biggest concerns. “But until proved otherwise, L.A. is soft in the middle.”

Behind Ayton, the Lakers only have Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber. 

The Lakers could only be just one Ayton injury away from reverting to the team that flamed out in the first round of the playoffs last season.

Luka Reunited With Close Ex-Mavs Staffer

Getty Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic gives a first pump to general manager Rob Pelinka, right, before game four of the first round of the NBA playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Lakers continue catering to their new face of the franchise. They rounded up their offseason additions with Doncic’s friend from the Dallas Mavericks.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Lakers hired strength and conditioning coach Jeremy Holsopple, who worked closely with Doncic in Dallas. 

“The Lakers are hiring Jeremy Holsopple as their new head strength and conditioning coach,” Stein wrote on X. “As Dallas’ athletic performance director, Holsopple was named as the NBA’s top strength and conditioning coach in March 2021.”

Doncic underwent a stunning body transformation this offseason following the hurtful criticisms about his poor conditioning and lifestyle habits when the Mavericks shockingly traded him.

According to Slovenian Pop TV, Doncic lost 31 lbs. since the Lakers’ season ended at the end of April. Doncic has shed an average of over 10 lbs. per month.

In a magazine cover interview for Men’s Health, Doncic revealed that he’s doing 16 hours of intermittent fasting six days a week since the season ended.

As part of his new diet, Doncic consumes only a gluten-free, low-sugar diet, including “at least 250 grams of protein and one almond milk–fueled shake a day.”

Doncic has also incorporated plant-based foods into his new diet. He took a month off from playing basketball, which he admitted was hard at first, to give his mind and body the much-needed time to recover.

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