How LA can still improve the new-look Lakers roster in free agency after LeBron’s final decision

LeBron James no longer has the Los Angeles Lakers, and a significant chunk of the NBA, in a holding pattern.

James is now officially with the Philadelphia 76ers after leaving the Lakers in free agency. 

His other potential suitors — the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves — are no longer in the dark about his next destination. And the free agents and teams contingently connected to those franchises are free to continue their offseason work now that one of the biggest dominoes of the offseason in James is accounted for. 

Among those teams include the Lakers, who swiftly underwent their offseason reconstruction around superstar Luka Dončić after James made it clear on June 29 he wasn’t going to return to the franchise for his unprecedented 24th NBA season.

Eight players that ended last season with the Lakers won’t return for 2026-27, including James, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Luke Kennard — the starting lineup from the first four games of their first-round playoffs series victory over the Houston Rockets in the spring. 

The Lakers’ free-agency newcomers: Walker Kessler (four years, $130 million), Quentin Grimes (four years, $60 million), Sandro Mamukelashvili (four years, $52 million), Collin Sexton (two years, $19 million), Kevon Looney (one year, $3.9 million), Ziaire Williams (one year, $2.8 million) and Matisse Thybulle (one year, $3.3 million). 

This doesn’t include Cameron Carr (the No. 24 pick in June’s NBA draft) or Jaden Hardy (who the Lakers acquired from the Wizards in the trade that sent Ayton to Washington). Or Austin Reaves, who re-signed with the Lakers on a four-year, $180 million deal.

And the Lakers still aren’t done making moves.

By league rules, they can’t be done, having to trim their roster from 16 players to 15 by the time the regular season starts in October. 

But they’re also actively looking to add to their roster to put a bow on their offseason before training camp starts in two months. 

What must happen between now and then for the Lakers’ offseason to be considered even more successful? A starting-level forward? Another backup big man? 

Here’s where the Lakers’ offseason stands, and the directions it’s moving in. 

Kuminga pursuit 

The Lakers and Cavaliers remain connected even after James’ decision. 

As previously reported by the California Post, both franchises are pursuing unrestricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, who had his $24.3 million team option declined by the Hawks on June 29. 

The Lakers met with Kuminga the following day and have stayed in touch with his side over the last few weeks, but they haven’t been able to find a deal.

The holdup has been centered around financial terms of a potential contract that would bring the 23-year-old Kuminga to L.A. – a source told the Post in mid-July the Lakers were offering around $10 annually – and the details of a sign-and-trade the Lakers would need to execute with the Hawks to acquire Kuminga. 

As told to the Post last week, there hadn’t been significant progress in a deal that would bring Kuminga to L.A., but that was before James’ decision was made. 

A sign-and-trade – which must be for at least three seasons without contract options – is the most realistic way for Kuminga to join the Lakers. 

The Post previously reported the Hawks are willing to send Kuminga to the Lakers in a sign-and-trade in a deal that would involve the framework of Atlanta taking back Jarred Vanderbilt and the Lakers’ 2032 first-round pick swap – the lone option the Lakers have of trading a first-round pick this offseason. But that was before the Hawks acquired Lu Dort from the Thunder in a three-team deal and had 17 players under contract on standard deals – meaning they’ll also have to trim their roster over the next few months. 

Even after agreeing to terms with Mario Hezonja on a one-year deal, the Cavaliers remain a viable option for Kuminga via sign-and-trade. How much they’ll be able, or willing, to offer him Kuminga depends, in part, on how much of a pay cut James Harden is willing to take to return to the Cavaliers after declining his $42.3 million player option. The Cavaliers are reportedly also interested in DeMar DeRozan. 

Good enough roster?

Without Kuminga, the Lakers’ roster has an evident hole for a starting-caliber wing alongside Doncic, Reaves, Grimes and Kessler.

If they don’t land Kuminga, their paths to a backup option appear to be murky. 

The same is true for the Lakers’ quest for another big man, with their rotation currently being Kessler, Looney and Mamukelashvili.

Multiple front office personnel who spoke with the Post on the condition of anonymity throughout July overall liked the moves the Lakers made during the offseason.

But the moves weren’t lauded to the point where they’re viewed as a contender to come out of the Western Conference. The Lakers remain viewed as at least a tier below the Spurs and Thunder – along with most of the West.

Landing Kuminga – or another starting-level forward – would help the Lakers close the gap between themselves and the top of the West. 

But realistically, there aren’t enough big moves for the Lakers to make this offseason to transform their outlook for 2026-27 outside of what they’ve already done.

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