The LA Lakers enter the 2025 offseason with limited cap flexibility. They will rely on expiring contracts, minimal draft capital, and the taxpayer midlevel exception to address key roster gaps, including the center position, through trades.
On Thursday, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka mentioned those issues, saying the team’s top offseason priorities are to add size at the center position and improve perimeter defense, particularly on the wings.
The LA Lakers are now building around Luka Doncic, so any new additions must complement his ball-dominant style of play.
However, the front office faces a tough offseason. The Lakers are operating without salary-cap space, making it difficult to sign free agents outright.
They do have over $40 million in expiring contracts—Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and Maxi Kleber—along with one future first-round pick (2031 or 2032) and a 2030 first-round pick swap.
According to Jovan Buha and Sam Amick of The Athletic, these salary-cap limitations will make pursuing a big man especially challenging. The Lakers would need to acquire one via trade or use the taxpayer midlevel exception, which is projected to start at $5.7 million.
In short, any significant improvements this summer will likely have to come through trades. Their main trade assets are the expiring contracts, their limited draft capital, and young guard Dalton Knecht.
The Athletic also reports that the Lakers’ goal is to upgrade the roster enough to give both Doncic and LeBron James confidence in the team’s direction, especially with their offseason decisions looming.
While LeBron could ease the financial burden by taking a pay cut, the latest The Athletic report says he’s unlikely to do so this summer. Last year, he gave up about $2.7 million to help Los Angeles stay below the second tax apron and maintain flexibility.
