Los Angeles Lakers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Lakers Notes: Doncic, Smart, Vanderbilt, Kleber, More

July 21st, 2025 at 8:56am CST by Luke Adams

“External fretting” about whether or not Luka Doncic will make a long-term commitment to the Lakers has subsided significantly in recent weeks, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link), who says the star guard and his camp have worked closely with the front office this summer as it has bolstered the roster in free agency.

As previously reported, Doncic played a major role in the Lakers’ efforts to recruit both center Deandre Ayton and guard Marcus Smart to Los Angeles. According to Stein, Doncic’s pitch to Smart “particularly resonated” with the former Defensive Player of the Year, who ultimately chose the Lakers despite the division-rival Suns making a “determined push” to land him.

As of August 2, Doncic will be eligible to sign an extension that could be worth up to a projected $222.4MM over four years. While there’s no guarantee he’ll sign for the maximum four years or that he’ll get a deal done immediately on Aug. 2, it seems increasingly likely that the five-time All-Star will have a new extension in hand before the 2025/26 season begins, as reporting over the weekend indicated.

Here’s more on the Lakers:

Like Doncic, Smart has been working hard this offseason on his body and his conditioning, according to Stein, who writes that the Lakers are optimistic about getting a “sleeker” version of the 31-year-old next season after he battled health issues over the past couple years.
Stein has also heard that forward Jarred Vanderbilt is healthier now than he was at any point during the 2024/25 season. Although both players were on last season’s roster, healthy versions of Vanderbilt and big man Maxi Kleber could feel sort of like offseason additions for the Lakers, Stein writes. Vanderbilt played a very limited role in 36 regular season outings last season, while Kleber didn’t make his debut as a Laker until the playoffs — both of them missed time while recovering from foot surgery.
People around the league believe Trail Blazers veterans Jrue Holiday and Robert Williams are potential trade targets to watch for the Lakers this season, according to Grant Afseth of Fast Break Journal. I’m skeptical of the Holiday fit, given that Los Angeles has shown no interest in taking on long-term money (Holiday is still owed $104.4MM over three years) and Portland was prepared to give up a pair of draft picks along with Anfernee Simons to acquire him (those two second-rounders ultimately weren’t included due to minor concerns about Holiday’s physical). However, if he proves he’s healthy, Williams might make some sense for the Lakers due to their limited depth behind Ayton in the middle.
In case you missed it, the Lakers waived both Jordan Goodwin and Shake Milton on Sunday in order to create the cap flexibility necessary to sign Smart using their bi-annual exception.

Lakers Waive Jordan Goodwin

July 20th, 2025 at 8:57pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Lakers have waived Jordan Goodwin, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (via Twitter). The move was necessary to create room below the first tax apron to sign Marcus Smart following his buyout from the Wizards.

The Lakers had recently picked up the $2.3MM team option on Goodwin’s contract, but only $25K of the deal was guaranteed.

As the only remaining Laker with a non-guaranteed contract following the team’s decision to waive Shake Milton earlier today, Goodwin’s place on the roster became tenuous once it was clear the Lakers were bringing in Smart on a two-year, $11MM deal that necessitated multiple cost-cutting moves. Smart’s salary for next season is expected to be worth the full bi-annual exception of $5.1MM.

As Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets, once Smart signs, the Lakers will be operating about $1MM below the first apron, so they won’t have enough breathing room to sign a 15th man before the season begins without further cost-cutting moves.

Marks adds (via Twitter) that because Goodwin has played in the league for four seasons, he’s ineligible for a two-way deal. The 26-year-old defensive-minded guard played 29 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 18.7 minutes per night. He shot 38.2% from three and appeared in four of the five Lakers’ playoff games against the Timberwolves, averaging 7.8 minutes per game in the postseason.

Goodwin will now hit waivers and then become an unrestricted free agent if no one claims him (the priority order is determined by the reverse order of last season’s standings). The Athletic’s Tony Jones speculates (via Twitter) that Goodwin is likely to have a number of suitors on the open market.

Marcus Smart To Join Lakers After Buyout With Wizards

July 20th, 2025 at 5:13pm CST by Arthur Hill

July 20: Smart has officially reached a buyout agreement with the Wizards and been placed on waivers, the team announced (via Twitter).

July 19: Marcus Smart has reached an agreement on a buyout with the Wizards and plans to join the Lakers once he clears waivers, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Smart’s new contract will be worth $11MM over two years and will contain a player option for the second season.

Sources tell Charania that Luka Doncic played a large role in recruiting Smart to L.A. He adds that the Lakers, Suns and Bucks all received permission from Washington to contact Smart, and he had “positive conversations” with all three teams.

The Lakers can use their full bi-annual exception to add Smart, according to cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link). They’ll have to clear about $4.2MM in salary to have access to the full amount, which may mean parting with Shake Milton, who has a $3MM non-guaranteed salary, and Jordan Goodwin, who only has a $25K guarantee on his $2.35MM salary.

If that happens, L.A. wouldn’t have enough available apron space to sign a 15th man before the start of the season, as Gozlan notes (Twitter link).

Milton’s salary for 2025/26 will become fully guaranteed after Sunday, so the Lakers will have to act fast if they plan to waive him.

If Smart gives back the equivalent of the bi-annual exception in his buyout, the Wizards will be more than $30MM below the luxury tax, Gozlan adds. Washington has its full $14.1MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception remaining, along with $13.4MM and $9.9MM trade exceptions.

Smart, 31, was named Defensive Player of the Year with Boston in 2022, but his career took a downturn after a trade to Memphis in the summer of 2023. Injuries limited him to 39 total games in a year and a half with the Grizzlies before he was sent to Washington in a three-team deal at this year’s trade deadline.

If Smart can stay healthy, he’ll bring much-needed defensive help to the Lakers’ backcourt. He appeared in 19 games with Memphis and 15 games with the Wizards last season, averaging 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 20 minutes per night with .393/.348/.761 shooting numbers.

The Wizards have added numerous young players to their roster this summer, so there likely wouldn’t have been regular playing time for Smart, who had a $21.6MM expiring contract. There were rumors last month that Smart was on the trade market, but the Wizards evidently couldn’t find a team willing to take on his salary.

Lakers Waive Shake Milton

July 20th, 2025 at 12:52pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Lakers are waiving guard Shake Milton, per Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

Milton’s $3MM salary for the 2025/26 season would have become guaranteed if he had remained under contract through Sunday. Charania notes that L.A. is carving out room below the first tax apron for forthcoming new addition Marcus Smart.

As Bobby Marks of ESPN notes (via Twitter), the move now puts Los Angeles $3.9MM below the league’s first luxury tax apron. Another transaction will be necessary in order for the team to sign Smart to a deal worth the full bi-annual exception ($5.1MM).

Los Angeles recently picked up its club option on the $2.3MM contract of young, defense-first guard Jordan Goodwin, but only $25K of Goodwin’s salary is guaranteed as of now. He’s the only other Laker on a non-guaranteed deal, so he would likely be the odd man out unless the club trades or waives-and-stretches a player with a guaranteed salary.

Milton was a minimal contributor to head coach JJ Redick‘s rotation after being acquired as part of L.A.’s midseason trade for Dorian Finney-Smith.

Across 30 contests after being traded to Los Angeles, the 6’5″ SMU alum averaged 3.9 PPG, 1.8 RPG, and 1.3 APG in 11.5 MPG. The 28-year-old wasn’t in Redick’s rotation in the postseason, appearing in just two games for 2.0 MPG.

Pacific Notes: Doncic, Richard, Suns, Little

July 19th, 2025 at 11:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Lakers have been checking off items from Luka Doncic‘s wish list this summer, and they’re encouraged that he’s taken an active role in the process, writes Dan Woike of The Athletic. Doncic’s extension restrictions won’t lift until August 2, but his enthusiasm for building the roster provides confidence that he’s committed to the organization for the long term.

Sources tell Woike that Doncic expressed his desire to management to add a “rim-running center, shooting help and defensive support.” They responded by signing free agents Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia, with Marcus Smart about to join them once he clears waivers following a buyout with the Wizards. Woike’s sources say that Doncic reached out to Ayton and Smart and convinced them to come to L.A.

Woike adds that the Lakers posted an interview on Saturday where Doncic says he wants to be known as “the guy that brought championships to the city.” While details of an extension still have to be worked out, it seems increasingly likely that Doncic will have a new deal in place before the start of the season.

There’s more from the Pacific Division:

Longtime Warriors fan Will Richard got his wish when he wound up going to Golden State with the 56th pick in last month’s draft, per Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle. The Warriors were the 16th of the 17 pre-draft workouts Richard conducted after winning a national title at Florida, and he believes they’re a good fit for his skills. “I like that we play fast,” Richard said. “They want you to play free, but on the other end you’ve got to guard with ball pressure and stuff like that. Just playing hard. Playing fast and playing physical.”
Owner Mat Ishbia had visions of a dream team when he united Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but the Suns turned into a cautionary tale about the dangers of free spending in the apron era, observes Zach Kram of ESPN. Second apron restrictions forced Ishbia to break up his ‘big three” this summer by trading Durant to Houston and negotiating a buyout with Beal, who will sign with the Clippers. Kram goes through the reasons behind Phoenix’s demise, including the incompatibility of its stars, unwise spending and poor trade decisions.
John Little, who served as head coach of the Suns‘ G League affiliate last season, will join new head coach Jordan Ott’s staff, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Little is currently serving as an assistant to Summer League head coach DeMarre Carroll.

FA/Extension Rumors: Giddey, Suns, Young, Doncic

July 16th, 2025 at 2:11pm CST by Luke Adams

Restricted free agent Josh Giddey hasn’t been attending Bulls Summer League games despite being in Las Vegas this past week, but there are no signs that contract talks between the two sides have “ever become contentious,” writes Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune (subscription required).

According to Jamal Collier of ESPN, Giddey had lunch with Bulls head coach Billy Donovan in Vegas and the guard’s agent was scheduled to meet with team executives at some point this week.

As Poe notes, there’s a significant gap to bridge in the contract negotiations between Giddey and the Bulls. While the 22-year-old is reportedly seeking an annual salary in the range of $30MM per year, the Bulls would prefer something closer to $20MM per year, says Poe. Reaching a compromise will likely take some time, but multiple sources tell Collier that they anticipate the point guard and the club to come to terms on a new contract sooner or later, and Poe hears the same thing.

Here are a few more notes and rumors on free agents and other NBA contract talks:

While the Suns are expected to add a guard to their roster to replace Bradley Beal, Gerald Bourget of PHNX Sports tweets that neither Chris Paul nor De’Anthony Melton seems likely to end up in Phoenix. John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7, meanwhile, says (via Twitter) that the Suns don’t have interest in former No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons.
Trae Young was involved in recruiting Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard to Atlanta this offseason and is excited about what the Hawks‘ new-look roster is capable of, Marc J. Spears of Andscape said during a TV appearance on ESPN on Monday (Twitter video link). However, according to Spears, there haven’t been any “substantive talks” yet about a contract extension for the four-time All-Star. Young holds a player option for 2026/27, so he could become an unrestricted free agent as soon as next July.
Appearing on NBA Today on Tuesday (YouTube link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted that even if Luka Doncic intends to sign an extension with the Lakers this summer, it may not happen right away once his restrictions lift on August 2 (six months after his trade to L.A.). As Windhorst observes, Doncic will be overseas with the Slovenian national team preparing for this year’s EuroBasket tournament and typically hasn’t made a habit of finalizing NBA contracts until after his time with the national team is over.

Lakers, James Haven’t Held Trade Or Buyout Discussions

July 16th, 2025 at 8:31am CST by Dana Gauruder

Despite rampant speculation about LeBron James‘ future with the Lakers, it’s expected that he will be with the organization for training camp, Dan Woike and Joe Vardon of The Athletic report.

Those expectations come from both members of the Lakers organization and people close to the 40-year-old superstar. There have been no discussions regarding trade or buyout scenarios between James’ representatives and the team’s front office, according to The Athletic duo.

This essentially confirms an ESPN report that his agent, Rich Paul, hasn’t asked the Lakers to trade James following his decision to exercise a $52.6MM player option for next season. The Athletic’s sources hear the Lakers have received no indication from James or his representatives that he would request a trade or ask for a buyout.

Even if he eventually does seek to leave the Lakers, there are major roadblocks toward reaching that goal.

While a third stint with his hometown Cavaliers has frequently been mentioned as a logical landing spot, Woike and Vardon point out that the only realistic way for that to happen is a buyout prior to training camp — the Lakers, who have championship aspirations, have no incentive to take that route.

Cleveland is operating over the second apron and cannot aggregate salaries, which would make a James trade virtually impossible without significant cost-cutting. Second-apron restrictions would also prohibit the Cavs from signing LeBron if he’s bought out after the regular season begins.

The Warriors and Knicks have also been speculated as teams who might go all-in for a player nearing retirement in order to win next year’s championship. However, trading away James for a high-salary player such as Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns, both of whom are signed for at least the next two seasons, would wreck the Lakers’ plans to have salary cap flexibility next summer.

The Mavericks, who have also been thrown into the rumor mill regarding James, don’t have interest in gutting their roster to match his salary in a trade, The Athletic duo adds. It’s also noteworthy that LeBron has a full no-trade clause in his contract, so the Lakers can’t deal him unless he signs off on the transaction.

Pacific Notes: Lakers, Wiggins, Bazley, Kings, Carter, Livers

July 15th, 2025 at 12:20pm CST by Luke Adams

Heat forward Andrew Wiggins was linked to the Lakers earlier in the offseason as a potential trade candidate, but Dan Woike of The Athletic suggested during an appearance on The Zach Lowe Show podcast (YouTube link) that he’s not anticipating Wiggins to be sent to Los Angeles.

“(The Lakers) are not interested in Andrew Wiggins,” Woike said when Lowe brought up the subject (hat tip to HoopsHype). “I think I can put that to bed. I’m pretty confident on that front.”

Those aforementioned reports on the Lakers’ apparent interest in Wiggins suggested that the Heat would be seeking Dalton Knecht or a first-round pick in addition to Rui Hachimura‘s expiring contract. As Lowe observes, the idea that L.A. would entertain that asking price never made all that much sense, given that Wiggins is coming off an up-and-down season in which both his teams (Golden State and Miami) were better when he was off the court than when he was on it.

“I didn’t understand those rumors,” Lowe said. “They were suddenly giving up a lot of s–t for Andrew Wiggins. Like, is Rui Hachimura just as good as Andrew Wiggins? Why am I adding a lot more to that?”

Here’s more from around the Pacific:

Former first-round pick Darius Bazley spoke to Matthew Valento of Lakers Nation about playing for the Lakers‘ Summer League team in an effort to “revamp” his career. The 25-year-old forward/center averaged 17.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in three California Classic outings and averaged a double-double (10.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG) through his first two games in Las Vegas before struggling on Monday, with just one point and four rebounds in 22 minutes.
Kings star Zach LaVine is enthusiastic about what newly signed point guard Dennis Schröder will bring to the team next season, as Chris Biderman of The Sacramento Bee relays. “Me and DeMar (DeRozan) have a track record for being able to put the ball in the basket and do the things on the court that we need to,” LaVine said. “But I think we need an overall team concept to where everything’s working the right way. Sometimes roster construction helps out a lot with that. So having Dennis, a veteran point guard who’s been in a lot of places, can come off the bench, has started. He can calm things down. He’s been in pressure situations. I think it’s going to help a lot.”
After making just 2-of-14 shots in his first Las Vegas Summer League game on Thursday, second-year Kings guard Devin Carter has bounced back admirably in what could be a trade showcase. As Jason Anderson details in a pair of stories for The Sacramento Bee, Carter led the Kings to a victory over Chicago on Saturday with 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting, then racked up another 17 points and three steals in a Monday win over Phoenix.
New Suns two-way player Isaiah Livers spoke on Sunday about his long journey back to the NBA following a reshaping procedure on his right hip, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “They said I was probably playing on it for about a year, straight bone on bone,” Livers said of his hip injury. “It just kept getting worse and worse. I tried to go to L.A. last summer and do conservative rehab. We found out we got to do this special surgery. I was very upset. … (But now) I kind of feel like a whole new player, to be honest.”

Bucks, Hawks Interested In Horford?

July 14th, 2025 at 9:03pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Warriors are considered the heavy favorite to sign veteran big man Al Horford if he doesn’t retire. However, ESPN’s Marc J. Spears reports that a couple of Eastern Conference teams are interested in his services (hat tip to Brian Robb of Masslive.com).

The Bucks and Hawks, along with the Lakers, have looked into signing the Celtics free agent. Atlanta could hold some intrigue for Horford, since he has a home there.

“Golden State obviously expected him to sign last week, he didn’t [sign],” Spears said on ESPN’s NBA Today. “Lakers, Milwaukee, and Atlanta, I believe are also interested in a nearly 40-year-old guy who also has retirement on the table. He’s still considering retiring, he’s not in any hurry. He’s got a sixth kid coming on the way, he lives in Atlanta and Boston in the offseason. I’m hearing that whether it’s Golden State and a lesser extent to the Lakers, being away from the family that far isn’t going to be in that decision.”

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said earlier this month that it’s “unlikely” Horford returns to Boston, though Stevens did say the team made offers to both him and Luke Kornet (who signed with San Antonio).

Milwaukee’s reported interest is somewhat surprising, considering it has landed Myles Turner in free agency and re-signed big men Bobby Portis and Jericho Sims.

Atlanta would make more sense, considering the offseason departures of Clint Capela and Larry Nance Jr. The Hawks traded for Kristaps Porzingis, but would be relying on youngsters like first-round pick Asa Newell and Mouhamed Gueye for depth purposes behind Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu in the frontcourt.

Los Angeles Notes: C. Christie, Brown, LeBron, Bronny

July 13th, 2025 at 3:29pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Second-year Clippers guard Cam Christie is getting some Summer League reps for the second straight year. The 6’5″ swingman out of Minnesota played sparingly during his 2024/25 rookie season, appearing in just 13 games. He recently outlined how he wants to grow in ’25/26, per Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter video link).

“Really just defensive intensity and shooting,” Christie said of what he could bring to the team in his second season. “Obviously I know we have ball handling and scoring with James [Harden] and Kawhi [Leonard], and we have great players with Zu [Ivica Zubac], but I feel like defense can always help the team, no matter what. Defensive intensity and then shooting as well, being able to knock down open shots, space the floor for our main guys, and help them out that way.”

Christie went on to credit teammates Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn for much of his defensive evolution since the start of his rookie season, along with big brother Max Christie, who is now a Maverick.

“I think on the ball I’ve learned a lot, just from watching DJ,” Christie said. “We have similar builds, and he’s obviously a point of attack defender so to watch him navigate screens and stuff like that, and my brother as well, because he’s also point of attack, so learning things from him. And then, just off-ball-wise, learning from Kris, how he’s able to break on the ball and traps, and stuff like that.”

There’s more out of Los Angeles:

Although his minutes were limited by a second-half right ankle injury, third-year Clippers forward Kobe Brown flashed plenty of promise in a 95-92 Summer League victory against Houston Friday, writes Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. In just 20 minutes, Brown notched 14 points, four boards and four assists. “He’s just got to continue to do what he did tonight,” Clippers Summer League head coach Jeremy Castleberry said. “Play great defense. Make the right reads. We’ve been talking about it all training camp. Get in the paint, draw two, make the right reads and if they put a small on him, he showed his ability to be able to score against a mismatch tonight and doing it the right way — quickly, getting downhill, not dancing, just getting straight to the point.”
As trade rumors swirl around Lakers All-Star forward LeBron James, Bill Plaschke of The Los Angeles Times suggests the four-time MVP needs to follow Hall of Fame former L.A. great Kobe Bryant‘s example when it comes to retirement. In 2015, on an expiring contract just as James is now, Bryant announced his 20th season would be his last, and was able to endear himself to the league at large during a prolonged farewell tour on a lottery-bound Lakers squad. While Plaschke isn’t demanding James call it a career just yet, he does see in the Bryant narrative a solid approach for James to take when the time comes.
James’ eldest son, second-year Lakers guard Bronny James, enjoyed an encouraging Summer League performance in a 94-81 win against New Orleans on Saturday with LeBron sitting courtside, writes Turner in another piece. Bronny James scored 14 points while shooting 5-of-11 from the field and also contributing three assists and a pair of steals. “Yeah, we want him to play on the ball,” Lakers Summer League head coach Lindsey Harding said. “Especially in tight moments, I like the ball in his hands and I want him to make those decisions. You can go through as many drills as you want, but nothing beats live.”