After Dorian Finney-Smith turned down his $15.4MM player option for the 2025/26 season, the Lakers offered him a new contract, but it only covered two seasons, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic. The veteran forward instead agreed to a four-year, $53MM deal with Houston.
As Woike explains, the Lakers want to maintain as much future cap flexibility as they can in order to be able to pursue a star-level player to pair with Luka Doncic following LeBron James‘ eventual retirement.
That point has also been made by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, who writes that the Lakers want to preserve 2027 cap room in the hopes of landing a maximum-salary player, and by Shams Charania, who discussed the subject on SportsCenter late on Monday night (Twitter video link).
“They are really prioritizing two-year contracts right now,” Charania said. “They want to have max-salary space in 2027.”
How that stance affects the Lakers’ search for a center remains to be seen. While Brook Lopez committed to the Clippers on Monday and Clint Capela agreed to a deal with Houston, it’s Deandre Ayton who has been the team’s top priority, according to Woike, who points out that Ayton and Doncic share the same agent (Bill Duffy).
It sounds like the Lakers are unlikely to offer more than two years to Ayton, so if there’s a rival suitor willing to put a longer deal on the table, that could be problematic for Los Angeles. However, I’d be a little surprised if that’s the case after his time in Portland ended via buyout.
Woike points to the Bucks as one team to watch for Ayton, noting that they should have access to most of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception and lost their starting center (Lopez) on Monday.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- ESPN’s Dave McMenamin spoke on NBA Today on Monday about where things stand with James following agent Rich Paul‘s Saturday statement about evaluating “what’s best for LeBron” as the star forward opted into the final year of his contract. “(Paul) has not had any discussion with the Lakers about wanting a trade, on the back end of this statement,” McMenamin said (YouTube link). “He did say that four teams have contacted him in the last 24 hours wanting to take trades, but Rich didn’t have any substantive conversations with those teams either. Right now, LeBron is focused on playing on a championship-caliber roster. Rich told me there’s no guarantees in building a championship-caliber roster, but we know what it looks like and what it doesn’t look like. And we’ll see if in a week from now – when Rob Pelinka‘s finished doing his work with this roster – if it looks like a winning, realistic situation.”
- According to Jovan Buha (Twitter video link), the rumored trade talks between the Lakers and Heat about Andrew Wiggins haven’t gained any real momentum due to a “pretty high” asking price on Miami’s end. “We’re talking basically everything or close to everything that the Lakers could offer from a top-end asset standpoint,” Buha said. “So I don’t think that is going to happen. I don’t think the Lakers are trading Rui (Hachimura), a first, and Dalton (Knecht) for Andrew Wiggins. That’s not fair value. That’s not a realistic trade. I think Miami’s playing hardball. We’ll see if they soften their stance.”
- League sources tell Woike that Jake LaRavia, who agreed to a two-year, $12MM deal with the Lakers on Monday, was the team’s first call when free agency opened, and that the free agent forward was impressed by the way Pelinka sold the Lakers’ strength and JJ Redick‘s “detailed” plan for how he would be used. One executive who spoke to Woike about the move lauded LaRavia for his toughness, shooting, and burgeoning play-making skills, while another said, “Everyone can use a player like him.”
LeBron needs to do whats best for everyone and just retire today.
Quite possibly the dumbest thing I’ve ever read on here. And that’s saying a lot. I’m no fan of James, but he’s still a top end player. Retiring wouldn’t help him or the Lakers. Probably not his kid either.
Trade the Lames for a pallet of urinal cakes!
There are benefits to LeBron being out for sure. First, Luka can play his way, like he did in Dallas, without any hesitation or deferment. They can also start surrounding Luka with the players he needs on the roster to be successful.
But LeBron is still a useful player. If the Lakers can add Ayton, Maxi and Hayes can back him up, if LaRavia, Knecht, and the new pick can be decent rotational players, they will have a strong team.
If the lakers stall out close to mid season you will see him traded to a team that is at mid level standing for at a shot to the playoffs. Lakers know this is his last season in LA unless he delivers a championship. LeBron will want out to so he can go to a team that could win a championship.
James is going to hurt the Lakers this season, Lakers going to regret not finding a team to take Lebron and Bronny this offseason. Don’t see the Lakers getting even a sniff of the championship this coming season, they will make the playoffs, but it will be the same ol same ol , they will be eliminated again. Basically, they will have the same team, not a strong defense, not deep, just a good starting five. Even if they do sign Ayton, he is not a good everyday player, just when he wants to play which is not often. Phoenix regretted drafting him, and Portland regretted trading for him, could not wait to get rid of him. If he goes to the Lakers not a serious upgrade to the roster.
LeBron’s value at this point in his career is about selling jerseys and tickets, not winning chips….
LeBron’s salary hurts every team’s chance to win a chip. With the salary cap, there’s just no value in an aging max player on the decline….
LeBron is still a useful player, just not at over $50 mil a year….
Ayton is only going to do a 1 year deal I assume? Minimum up to the MLE whatever he agreed to in the BO.
Bucks should be pushing hard to get him, Lakers obviously and the Hornets don’t have a Center on the roster right? Celtics may not have anyone either but what’s the point there? Celtics should just sign any upside center or stopgap if Horford leaves.
Ayton agreed to the BO by giving as per reports, 10m
Who in the world is gonna give Ayton more than two years after the way things have gone down hill for him the past few years? Hard to imagine a bidding war for him. If he’s got any sense at all he will take the year or two that the Lakers offer him and the chance to play with Luka and try to rebuild his value.
Ayton is going to want to sign two years at $10M, with second year with player option. He doesn’t want a 4 year deal with a $10M starting salary. He is going to want to negotiate for a bigger contract next year.
His best bet is with the Lakers. He can showcase his talent with them where he is needed most to resurrect his reputation. Plus, the lakers will be able to pay him next year cause they will have cap space.
Could Valanciunis be a possibility for the Bucks? DeRozan too? Maybe it’s a 3 way with Clax going to Sac, and Kuzma & PatC to Bklyn and a Sac FRP to Bklyn as well…
I do wonder if having a few teams more or less centerless might increase Clax’s value sonewhat.
LaRavia was an excellent signing.
Why would Ayton even want more than a 1 year deal from his end if the starting amount is 10 mm? The standard (assuming 10 mm is below market) would be a 1 + 1 p/o. That should fit the LAL agenda as well. Lopez going to the LAC, and Capela to HOU, on backup deals suggests the LAL know something about Ayton or another available C.
Ayton will want 3 things. A team that he can play a lot on. A team that is a playoff team. A chance to be a free agent next year and be in control where he goes and make more money.
LAL can give him all 3. Plus, they won’t even try to get him to commit beyond the year.
Ayton will learn soon, though, that, with age, his past bad behavior won’t continue to be so easily dismissed going forward like it’s been. This time, especially in a high profile gig with Luka and LeBron, he should think about delivering.
Since the Bucks have now signed Turner, the only two teams now I see as on the Ayton sights are either the Lakers or Indiana. Sounds like if the Lakers want him they may have to overpay Ayton to get him. Do they want the headache. The only other is to over pay to Cleveland in a deal for Allen.