The Los Angeles Lakers are not expected to make a major move ahead of the trade deadline as their set of options become more powerful in the offseason when they arrive at substantial cap space and access to three tradeable first round picks.
“So, they have $40 million in expiring contracts and they have been interested in upgrading on the perimeter defend and defense and at rim protection,” said Brian Windhorst on Monday afternoon’s Sports Center. “But they really just kind of want to use those expiring contracts. They don’t want to use draft assets. They don’t really want to use players that they value past this season. And so, that just basically makes them bargain bin hunting.
“That’s kind of what they did last summer when you look at they signed DeAndre Aiden and Marcus Smart. Those were guys who were bought out elsewhere. Now, their strategy could shift. Again, we are only on Monday, but I think they’re bargain shopping and looking to go into the summer when they will have $100 million in cap space and not sort of mess with that right now.”
LeBron James and Austin Reaves will be free agents in the 2026 offseason.