Rumors

Much of the tension appears to stem from the Lakers’ desire to keep their salary-cap sheet as clear as possible starting next summer, allowing them to find Luka Dončić’s future partner either in free agency or via trade, when they’ll have access to use first-round picks in 2026, 2031 and 2033 for a single trade.

New York Times

On May 3, four days after the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Craig's reserved a booth for four VIPs: the Lakers' new superstar point guard, Luka Doncic; his longtime manager, Lara Beth Seager; Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka; and coach JJ Redick. LeBron James, the centerpiece of every Lakers decision and strategy for the previous seven-plus years, was not in attendance. Redick, Pelinka and Seager entered through the front entrance, Doncic through the back. But all four exited through the front door, where a crowd of paparazzi and fans spotted them and took videos that were immediately uploaded to TMZ and social media. Doncic even stopped to sign a few autographs before leaving. The purpose of the meeting was as clear as their choice of door: Doncic is the face of the franchise now and the Lakers wanted him -- and everyone else -- to know it. Over a bottle of Opus One, Pelinka and Redick explained not only their strategy in building the team around Doncic's skill set, sources told ESPN, but also the complexities of the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement and how they planned to navigate it.

ESPN

The Lakers will gladly accept either, though they may have to be patient; Doncic is playing for the Slovenian national team this summer in the high-intensity EuroBasket, which runs through mid-September, and his NBA contract business might wait until then. But that is not the kind of topic you talk about over dinner at Craig's in May, however. No, at that dinner plans are made to visit Doncic in Europe later this summer. Players he would like to team up with are discussed; the team's style of play and organizational culture are examined. Behind the tinted windows, the leaders of the Lakers' organization sent a message to the star they hope will lead them: That this is what life in L.A. can be like if he elects to stay and be the next face of the franchise.

ESPN

Dave McMenamin: Rob Pelinka on the Lakers’ Jake LaRavia signing, from the team’s release: “Jake is a high IQ two-way player with ideal skills for a JJ Redick basketball system. He’s a disruptive defender who uses his size and physicality to create turnovers. Offensively, he can score at all three levels and has a knack for creating space for himself and his teammates.”

x.com

Michael Scotto: Lakers President Rob Pelinka on Deandre Ayton: “Acquiring a starting-caliber center was the top priority for us this offseason, and we believe Deandre is an amazing solution to that objective and is an ideal player to add to our current core. Deandre’s size, mobility and athleticism will allow both paint scoring and paint protection. Deandre’s playoff experience as a starter on an NBA Finals team also aligns well with our ultimate Lakers championship aspirations.”

x.com

Shams Charania: Free agent center Jaxson Hayes has agreed on a one-year deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. Hayes' agents, Bill Duffy and Marlon Harrison of WME Basketball, finalized a contract with Lakers president Rob Pelinka on Thursday.

x.com

Shams Charania: BREAKING: Deandre Ayton has agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. Between Portland and L.A., Ayton will earn $34 million next season. Agents Nima Namakian of Innovate Sports and Bill Duffy of WME Sports reached the deal with Lakers president Rob Pelinka.

x.com

According to league sources, LaRavia was the Lakers’ first call when free agency officially opened at 3 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday. In his conversation with Rob Pelinka and Lakers coach JJ Redick, LaRavia and his team were impressed with the ways Pelinka sold the strengths of the Lakers’ brand and Redick’s detailed vision for how he’d like to use the young wing. The Lakers were able to get a relatively quick commitment to a two-year guaranteed contract worth $12 million. “Hope Lakers fans are as excited as I am,” LaRavia posted on Instagram. “Let’s work.”

New York Times

An unflattering claim is making the rounds this week about Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka. Pelinka has been accused of attempting to tank the market for Lakers free agent forward Dorian Finney-Smith. Lakers writer Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints made the claim during a podcast appearance this week and noted that word got back to Finney-Smith’s camp about Pelinka’s alleged shady move. “The word out there is that Rob Pelinka was going out there and talking to teams about Dorian’s knee to try to tank Dorian’s free agency value and the offers that could potentially come in,” Irwin said. “Word is that got back to Dorian and his camp.”

Larry Brown Sports

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is exercising his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN on Sunday. James, the NBA's career leading scorer, wants to compete for a championship next season and potentially beyond and will be closely monitoring the Lakers' moves and whether the team is positioning itself this offseason to field a title-contending roster. "LeBron wants to compete for a championship," Paul told ESPN. "He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career. "We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what's best for him."

ESPN

The only mechanism the Lakers are projected to have in free agency is the taxpayer midlevel exception, worth $5.7 million, because LeBron James is expected to pick up the final year of his contract for $52.6 million, sources told ESPN. On the trade market, Dalton Knecht and the Lakers' 2031 first-rounder will continue to be positive assets the Lakers can include in offers, as well as the expiring contracts of Rui Hachimura ($18.3 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million) and Maxi Kleber ($11 million) as Pelinka searches for a center. Pelinka indicated that Reaves would not be traded when asked about the team's core after the season.

ESPN

Dan Woike: Rob Pelinka says Lakers scouts had a first-round grade on Adou Thiero. Referenced how the pick would help the Lakers "win on the margins."

Twitter

The most pressing need the Lakers have is finding a rim-running, shot-blocking young center to put alongside Luka Doncic for the present and future. But the Lakers don’t have a first-round pick to use in Wednesday night’s NBA draft, and when they do make their choice in the second round at No. 55 on Thursday night in the two-day event, that’s probably not where they are going to find that sort of talent. So, the Lakers will look for the proverbial “best player available” and look to develop him and most likely have him play for the South Bay Lakers, their G League team.

Los Angeles Times

Now, with the NBA Draft less than a month away, sources say Pelinka has held conversations with several teams, often floating some iteration of the trade package that would've landed Williams, in order to gather as much information as he can for when moves can actually be made. “The problem Rob is running into is that, anyone who has a big who can walk and chew gum is going to start talks with Dalton (Knecht) and a first, then go up from there if their center can actually play,” an Eastern Conference executive said.

Clutch Points