The Los Angeles Lakers’ 2024-25 season ended in spectacularly disappointing fashion on Wednesday, when the club couldn’t capitalize on the Minnesota Timberwolves missing 40 triple tries to extend their first round playoff series beyond an eventual 103-96 Game 5 Minnesota victory.
21-time All-Star power forward LeBron James, who often looked completely fatigued in fourth quarters of the Timberwolves series, has a $52.6 million player option for 2025-26. He could either pick up that option, decline it and agree to a longer-term deal, decline it and enter unrestricted free agency, or, yes, retire.
The latest intel from Shams Charania of ESPN, however, has James suiting up for at least a record-extending 23rd NBA season next year. Whether that will be in L.A. or elsewhere, after a second straight five-game first round exit, remains to be seen.
3-and-D forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who emerged as one of first-year head coach JJ Redick’s five preferred players as the series progressed, has a $15.4 million player option of his own for next year. Starting center Jaxson Hayes, who by the end of the series was a healthy scratch, is an unrestricted free agent.
It’s clear that the Lakers intend to prioritize adding wing defenders and at least one rim-rolling center to pair with their newest superstar, Luka Doncic. What kinds of franchise-altering moves they’ll employ to do that remain to be seen.
Most critically this summer, the five-time All-NBA First Team guard (who won’t add a sixth All-NBA Team to his resume this year after missing 32 regular season games) can agree to a massive four-year, $229 million contract extension — or a three-year, $165 million extension with a player option for the third year — on August 2. Otherwise, Doncic could hit unrestricted free agency as soon as 2026.
Per Lakers All Day Everyday, Doncic, team president Rob Pelinka and Redick were spotted departing L.A. restaurant Craig’s recently after what appears to be have been a private meeting.
Doncic, 26, is now the team’s most important player, supplanting the 40-year-old James by default. The club’s future depends on his buy-in. Redick and Pelinka surely appreciate that.
