Quick Bytes
- Lakers maintain a full roster with minimal offseason changes.
- Team may trade players to utilize the taxpayer mid-level exception.
- Lakers prefer keeping Jaxson Hayes over Christian Wood and Cam Reddish.
- Interest in free agents Gary Trent Jr. and Spencer Dinwiddie if roster spots open.
Lakers’ Offseason Strategy and Roster Preferences
The Los Angeles Lakers have had a relatively quiet offseason, keeping their roster intact with 15 players, including the addition of rookies Dalton Knecht and Bronny James. The team’s salary cap strategy, influenced by LeBron James’ contract, aims to stay below the CBA’s second apron, potentially opening up a taxpayer mid-level exception worth over $5 million.
To create roster space and financial flexibility, the Lakers might consider trading away players with minimum salaries. Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wood, and Cam Reddish, who all exercised their player options for the 2024-25 season, could be on the trading block. However, the Lakers reportedly prefer to retain Hayes due to his impactful performance off the bench, especially in the latter half of the previous season.
Hayes’ energy and contribution to the center position, despite not being the ideal size to guard top-tier big men like Nikola Jokic, make him a valuable asset for the Lakers. On the other hand, Wood and Reddish ended the season with injuries, making them more likely candidates for a salary dump.
If the Lakers manage to clear roster spots, they have shown interest in signing free agents Gary Trent Jr. and Spencer Dinwiddie, utilizing the taxpayer mid-level exception. These potential acquisitions would aim to bolster the Lakers’ lineup for the upcoming season.
