The Lakers’ subdued trade deadline may lead to a dynamic offseason.
RUI HACHIMURA COULDN’T conceal the joy on his face as he made his way down the ramp to the players’ parking area at Crypto.com Arena.
The Los Angeles Lakers had just secured a 119-115 comeback win against the Philadelphia 76ers, achieving a season series sweep for the first time since Sam Hinkie was at the helm of “the process,” with Hachimura contributing 11 of his 14 points in the second half.
Earlier in the day, the NBA trade deadline had passed, with L.A. finalizing one transaction — trading Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for sharpshooter Luke Kennard. This solitary move concluded weeks of speculation regarding the franchise’s efforts to enhance the championship prospects of a team featuring Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves.
Hachimura, who was brought to L.A. from the Washington Wizards prior to the 2023 deadline and played a key role in the team’s run to the conference finals, had acclimated to his new role as a Laker — along with all its implications.
“With the Lakers, we encounter a lot of rumors,” Hachimura shared with ESPN. “However, many times, those rumors are unfounded. …
“We have reached a point where it’s like, ‘Alright, this is our group now.’ Because we understand that now. So we’re prepared for what lies ahead.”
Hachimura held one of the expiring contracts on the Lakers’ roster, making his $18.3 million salary more manageable in any trade scenario. The 28-year-old forward will enter free agency this summer. In a typical offseason, Hachimura’s situation could dominate the Lakers’ list of priorities.
However, this summer is not an ordinary offseason for L.A.
Reaves, who declined an $89.2 million extension with the Lakers last summer, is eligible for a maximum contract worth five years and $241 million.
Additionally, James is also set to become a free agent, and his future remains uncertain, with the 41-year-old frequently expressing doubts about whether he will continue playing next season or retire after this, his record-setting 23rd season.
This Lakers squad, as it currently stands, has only the remaining 28 games of the regular season — plus any potential playoff run — guaranteed.
However, the decisions made this summer could significantly impact the Lakers’ success for years to come.
THE LAKERS’ APPROACH to the deadline maintained their flexibility for what could be a transformative summer.
Beginning with draft night, L.A. will possess three first-round picks available for trade — 2026, 2031, and 2033 — and is projected to have $51 million in cap space, factoring in the $20.9 million free agent hold for Reaves, according to ESPN’s NBA front office insider Bobby Marks.
Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka informed reporters that there were opportunities L.A. chose to decline in order to maintain flexibility.
“I would say we were proactive,” Pelinka stated. “And one way to be proactive is to reject moves that may not be in the best interest of both the short- and long-term future. That can be seen as being proactive, even if you end up making no moves, because it’s challenging to decline offers for a good player that could provide a quick fix, but may have long-term implications that do not align with the overall vision for the team.”
The primary question is whether that vision still includes James.
“The first thing they need to do is part ways with LeBron,” an Eastern Conference front office executive told ESPN. “Let him go and utilize the space to retool around Luka. Retaining Reaves is essential. [Doncic] performs best with another ball handler/creator, similar to his time with Kyrie [Irving] and [Jalen] Brunson.”
The projected $51 million in cap space for L.A. is calculated without James and Hachimura, and assumes that Deandre Ayton ($8.1 million) and Marcus Smart ($5.4 million) will exercise their player options.
If James wishes to play a 24th season, he would be welcomed back in L.A., sources informed ESPN.
Pelinka expressed earlier this season that he would be pleased if James retired as a Laker, and sources indicated that this sentiment was intended to reflect a retirement in 2026 or 2027, should James choose to extend his career.
If James were to return, his salary would significantly influence the type of team L.A. could construct.
James is earning $52.6 million this season and recently participated in the All-Star Game for a record-setting 22nd time. He is averaging 22 points on 50.2% shooting, along with 7.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game. Although he accepted a $2.7 million pay cut below the maximum on his last contract with L.A. to assist the franchise in avoiding second-apron penalties, if he were to take a substantial pay cut to re-sign with the Lakers this summer, it would represent a notable shift from his typical negotiation approach throughout his career.
Moreover, a considerable amount of cap space will be necessary to address the deficiencies in the current roster.
“They need to acquire as many defenders with length who can also shoot as possible,” an Eastern Conference front office member told ESPN.
Unrestricted free agents under consideration internally, sources revealed, include Andrew Wiggins and Tari Eason, while Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes, and Dean Wade are other players who fit that description.
The Lakers also privately discussed restricted free agent Peyton Watson, sources noted, and could secure him if Denver, which already has $215 million in salary committed to returning players for next season, does not match the offer sheet.
“We believe that creating or maintaining optionality now is a positive aspect for us this coming offseason,” Pelinka stated.
“Because there are teams that may have become too entrenched in the aprons. And we observe that players around the league become available when teams find themselves in that situation.”
Another possibility involves trading for a player who would utilize the available salary cap space, similar to what the Washington Wizards accomplished when they acquired Trae Young and Anthony Davis this season.
However, the primary target for the Lakers with that strategy is another generational talent, a decade younger than James: Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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Stephen A. Smith contends that if the Lakers are healthy and performing well offensively, they can make a playoff run in the Western Conference.
THE LAKERS, TEAM sources informed ESPN, clearly recognize the allure of Antetokounmpo and believe they would be among the teams on a very short list if the Bucks star requests a trade from Milwaukee.
A Western Conference executive conveyed to ESPN that he views Antetokounmpo as the “big prize” the Lakers aspire to acquire, should the Milwaukee Bucks opt to trade the 2021 NBA Finals MVP during the offseason.
Nonetheless, Antetokounmpo is not guaranteed to be traded, despite the ongoing narrative surrounding the Bucks and their long-time superstar. The Lakers are aware that Milwaukee could use the offseason to enhance the team’s competitiveness and persuade him to sign an extension, which he becomes eligible to do on Oct. 1, rather than viewing a trade as inevitable.
Still, the Lakers’ potential trade package for Antetokounmpo becomes more enticing in the offseason than it would have been had they chosen to engage in those discussions earlier this month.
The Lakers’ proposal would center around those three future first-round picks, which could be more attractive to Milwaukee if it plans to undergo a complete reset following Antetokounmpo, rather than attempting to rebuild on the fly with an offer from a team like the New York Knicks that would focus on players such as Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby.
Antetokounmpo has expressed his desire to compete for another championship. Doncic and the Lakers marked their one-year anniversary together earlier this month, and their collaboration has thus far resulted in a first-round exit in April, a three-year, $165 million extension for Doncic in August, and currently, the No. 5 seed in the West.
A source familiar with Doncic’s perspective informed ESPN that L.A.’s deadline strategy, characterized by “adherence to discipline” and a focus on the “long-term picture,” was endorsed by the 26-year-old star. He has not pressured the team to acquire a superstar-level co-star for when James is no longer part of the roster.
Nonetheless, this offseason will be pivotal for Pelinka and Lakers acting governor Jeanie Buss, as they collaborate with new owner Mark Walter to determine the best path forward with Doncic as the franchise’s centerpiece.
Pelinka informed reporters earlier this month that he and Buss will oversee the Lakers’ offseason, leveraging Walter’s financial resources in hopes of replicating the success of Walter’s other team across town: the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers made a significant move before their consecutive titles by signing two-way player Shohei Ohtani to the largest contract in MLB history. Could the Lakers make a similarly impactful move this summer?
“[They could] simply decide, ‘F— it,'” remarked the Eastern Conference executive, “and go all-in on Giannis.”
