Lakers Free Agents: Who to Re-Sign and Let Go
The Lakers enter free agency with one goal in mind: build the perfect roster around Luka Doncic. While LA will undoubtedly have to look at the outside market in order to improve their roster, they also have some decisions to make in-house.
The Lakers could see, including two-way contracts, up to seven players from this year’s roster enter free agency. They will also have to make a couple of decisions regarding contract extensions. Here is who they should look to bring back to LA and who they need to let go.
I asked Lakers fans who they’d want back and here’s how y’all responded 👀
What comes to mind? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/tErLjB46go
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) May 5, 2025
Bring Back:
LeBron James: It goes without saying that the Lakers’ number one priority should be bringing back LeBron James if he declines his player option. Despite his old age, James continues to excel and is the best or second-best player on the team every night.
It would be nice to see James possibly decline his player option and take a pay cut to allow for more cap flexibility, but the Lakers will have to see whether their superstar would be willing to do that. James could continue his trend of signing 1+1 deals as his career winds down, but he will likely at least play one more season.
Dorian Finney-Smith: Dorian Finney-Smith was an excellent contributor for the Lakers after being traded to LA in December. He showed his versatility defensively while also maintaining his consistent outside shooting.
Finney-Smith has a $15.3 million player option; if he declines, the Lakers should bring him back on a new deal. Finney-Smith has established he enjoys playing with Luka Doncic, which should make negotiations easier. Ideally, LA could re-sign the veteran wing to a similar multi-year deal he signed with Dallas a few years ago.
Trey Jemison: Jemison was a breath of fresh air during his short stint with the Lakers on a two-way deal, and he probably deserved a standard contract for the playoffs over Alex Len. Either way, if there is a world where the Lakers can bring back their energy bunny big man, they should.
Let Go:
Jaxson Hayes: It is pretty clear after his Game 5 DNP in the playoffs that Hayes’ time in LA is up. Hayes showed flashes as a competent lob threat next to Doncic, but his defense, foul trouble, and overall lack of versatility suggest that there are better options out there.
Markieff Morris: The former NBA champion with the Lakers was part of the Luka Doncic trade as a throw-in and served as a veteran locker room presence for the Lakers. However, he does not offer much contribution on the court and does not need to be brought back.
Alex Len: Len was pretty disappointing for the Lakers after they signed him in the buyout market. The Lakers have to do better at the center spot than Len, who seems to be near the end of his career.
Christian Koloko: Koloko made his return to the NBA with the Lakers this year on a two-way deal. He received limited playing time, and there simply was never a spot for him on the team.
Contract Extensions:
Austin Reaves: Reaves struggled in the first-round playoff series against the Wolves after having a career year that included averaging 20 PPG. It would be silly to give up on him after just a couple of bad games, and the Lakers should look to extend him if they can stay at or below the 20-22 million dollar range per year.
Even if the Lakers feel he may be on the trade block, giving him an extension at a good price would only increase his value.
Luka Doncic: Doncic, after the trade, is no longer due for a supermax extension. However, the Lakers still need to give him a max contract and secure him for the long-term future. Doncic has expressed since being traded that he enjoys LA and would like to continue to be a Laker.
It will surely be a busy offseason for Rob Pelinka, as for the first time in a long time, the Lakers can now make moves centered around both the present and the future thanks to the acquisition of Luka Doncic.
