On Thursday’s “First Things First on FS1,” Nick Wright said he wasn’t impressed with the Lakers’ offseason, claiming they had done “the bare minimum” up to this point.
Though many expected LA to swing a trade for Walker Kessler or Nic Claxton, they have left free agency (for now) with two solid additions and a familiar face. As the Lakers look to redeem themselves next season, they should be happy with the work put in so far—but know that it’s far from over.
Grading the Lakers 2025 Free Agency
The Big Picture
The Lakers lost a valued member in Dorian Finney-Smith, but they made up for it by adding two younger players who bring much-needed skills to the table. And though a major trade would have been nice (and may or may not still happen), the team had a decently productive summer, all things considered.
Overall Grade: B+
Deandre Ayton
2024-25 Stats: 14.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 BPG | 56.6% FG, 18.8% 3PT, 66.7% FT
The Lakers’ search for a starting center culminated in 26-year-old Deandre Ayton, who is coming off a two-year stint with the Portland Trail Blazers after going first overall to the Phoenix Suns in 2018. He checks nearly all the boxes for the Lakers as an athletic, physical lob threat who can work well in the post and hit midrange jumpers. However, he’s also been criticized for his lack of effort on defense and, more importantly, off-court issues that range from tardiness to tantrums.
In his introductory press conference Tuesday, Ayton vowed to use that hate as fuel.
“It fuels me completely,” he said. “It’s a different type of drive that I’ve been wanting to express for a long time. I think this is the perfect timing, here in the purple and gold. And it’s a platform that I cannot run from. I can show what I really am, and just be around some greats to really emphasize that for me as well. There’s a lot of fuel in me to prove the whole world wrong.”
If Ayton commits to that mindset in an organization that prioritizes winning—especially next to LeBron James and Luka Doncic—there is no doubt he can thrive with LA and achieve that goal by season’s end.
Grade: A-
Jake LaRavia
2024-25 Stats: 6.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.9 SPG | 47.5% FG, 42.3% 3PT, 67.8% FT
But before Ayton came on board, the Lakers boosted their bench by signing forward Jake LaRavia to a two-year, $12 million deal. A 6’8” 23-year-old born in Pasadena, LaRavia has plenty of skill on the perimeter, having canned 42% of his threes last season. Though that came on limited attempts (2.2 per game), he should see many more playing with skilled facilitators in Doncic, James and, his buddy, Austin Reaves.
On the other side, though LaRavia isn’t known for defense, he is a mobile and physical player who aims to stop star-caliber opponents. The rising fourth-year said he has seen the most grown on that end of the floor.
“That’s been my main focus since I got to the NBA,” LaRavia told Spectrum Sportsnet’s Chris McGee. “I take pride in my defense, now especially, taking the toughest matchup on or anything like that.”
With LaRavia’s promising 3-and-D skill set, he has an opportunity to earn meaningful minutes for a Western Conference contender. He is not a replacement for DFS by any means, but he can be a high-level scorer who complements LA’s stars like a glove.
Grade: B+
Jaxson Hayes
2024-25 Stats: 6.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.9 BPG | 72.2% FG, 62.2% FT
The latest move the Lakers made was bringing back Jaxson Hayes on a one-year, $3.4 million deal, much to the surprise (and to some, chagrin) of the fanbase. The 25-year-old will look to settle back into a comfortable role after entering the starting lineup when the Lakers got Doncic.
Hayes is a springy 7-footer who, for the most part, held his own throughout the year. The end of the regular season and 2025 playoffs were anything but kind to him, and Hayes will hope to bounce back as LA’s main lob threat off the bench. Yes, LA could have made a move for someone like Nick Richards or Goga Bitadze, but they made a wise decision to stick to who they know on another team-friendly contract.
Grade: B
What’s Next for the Lakers?
Though it may be the “dog days” of free agency, the Lakers are still looking to add guard and wing depth via trades. With all of their guaranteed roster spots filled (as well as two of three two-way contracts), it’s the only way the Lakers can make any changes to the roster ahead of September training camp and October preseason.
Still, whether they add those rumored targets or not, Rob Pelinka and Co. have filled gaping holes in JJ Redick’s rotation, a noble feat despite the financial constraints they faced this summer.
© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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