Per usual, the Los Angeles Lakers were linked to a lot of big names heading into the offseason, but they didn’t end up landing any of them. The biggest move they’ve made was signing Deandre Ayton, who was bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Lakers also couldn’t make any moves on their own guys. Austin Reaves refused to sign a contract extension, and there are rumors that LeBron James wants to be traded or that he plans to move on from the franchise after the season.
Luka Doncic is the only reason to be excited about the Lakers’ future, but he has yet to sign a contract extension with the franchise. Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report put together a list of the offseason winners and losers so far, and he had the Lakers in the loser column.
“Quite clearly, the Lakers aren’t interested in adding long-term salary as they reorient around Luka Dončić,” Hughes wrote. “One assumes they would have retained Dorian Finney-Smith, a vital three-and-D weapon, if they were gunning for short-term success.
“It’s not necessarily the wrong move to softly nudge James out the door, but Dončić is in his prime right now and winning should be the priority. There’s no guarantee it’ll be easy to find a second star to pair with Dončić who’s better than a 41-year-old LeBron James.”
Ayton Isn’t Enough to Get Excited About
It’s entirely possible that Ayton ends up being the only major addition the Lakers make this offseason. While he’s an upgrade over Jaxson Hayes at center and a former No. 1 pick, there’s a reason why the Trail Blazers wanted to be rid of him.
He has an injury history and is known to cause issues in the locker room. If he’s healthy and committed, he could be a difference maker for the Lakers, but that’s too many variables to call this offseason a success so far.
“Deandre Ayton is a solid value signing, but it’s hard to get too excited about a player whose former team paid him $25 million to go away,” Hughes wrote.
“Los Angeles seems to be entering a gap-year situation. Maybe it’ll strike it rich in 2026 free agency and build a contender around Dončić in a post-LeBron world. But the future is uncertain, and the Lakers may not be meaningfully better at present than they were last season.”
Is Rob Pelinka’s Seat Warming Up?
Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka recently signed a big contract extension and had one of the most secure jobs in the NBA, thanks to his relationship with the Buss family. He got thrown a curveball this offseason when it was revealed that Mark Walter was buying majority ownership in the franchise.
Walter’s ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers has proven that he won’t accept mediocrity in the front office. He won’t make a move on Pelinka this season, but another bad offseason could spell the end for the longtime Lakers general manager. He’s not on the hot seat quite yet, but it’s starting to warm up, especially if he can’t seal the deal on a Doncic contract extension this offseason.
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