Lakers Off-season Information Thread
###⏺ Preface
For now, this is just an early topic for key off-season dates, the general cap-situation of the team, the team's free agents, the team's player/team options, and the team's projected cap-holds.
As the off-season progresses, the format will be updated to better reflect the state of the off-season.
Feel free to list restricted free-agents and free-agents you think the team should pursue and why. I might compile a key FA wishlist.
Also, if you notice anything wrong, please let me know.
###⏺ Key Off-season Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 23rd~24th | NBA Draft |
| June 29th | Player-option/Team-option/ETO deadline |
| June 29th | RFA qualifying offer deadline |
| June 30th | Veteran extension deadline |
| June 30th | Start of FA negotiations |
| July 1st | Moratorium period begins |
| July 1st | Restrict Free-agent offer sheets can be officially signed |
| July 1st | 1/2 year minimum salary exceptions can be officially signed |
| July 1st | 2-way contracts can be officially signed |
| July 1st | 1st round picks can be officially signed |
| July 1st | 2nd round picks can be officially signed |
| July 6th | Moratorium period ends |
| July 6th | Free-agents can be officially signed/extended |
| July 6th | Trades can be officially finalized |
| July 6th | 24-hour window to match a signed RFA offer sheet begins |
| July 13th | Deadline to withdraw RFA qualifying offers |
| July 31st | Cap-hit starts for second-round pick exception signings |
| August 29th | Deadline to waive and stretch players |
###⏺ Current Roster
| Player Name | Cap amount (or cap-hold amount) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Luka Doncic | $49.5m | estimated |
| Jarred Vanderbilt | $12.4m | -- |
| Jake LaRavia | $6.0m | -- |
| Dalton Knecht | $4.2m | -- |
| 2026 25th pick | $2.7m | projected $3.2m signing value |
| Nick Smith Jr. | $2.5m | team option (deadline 6/29) |
| Bronny James | $2.3m | 1.3m guaranteed (fully guaranteed 6/29) |
| Adou Thiero | $2.2m | -- |
| Empty roster spot | $1.4m | cap-hold |
| Empty roster spot | $1.4m | cap-hold |
| Empty roster spot | $1.4m | cap-hold |
| Empty roster spot | $1.4m | cap-hold |
| Minimum projected payroll | $87.7m | estimated |
| Projected cap-space | $77.3m | estimated |
| Projected cap | $165m | projected |
| 1st Apron | $209m | projected |
| 2nd Apron | $222m | projected |
Note: This is the minimum projected payroll that the team has control over. They can squeeze out a bit more cap-space by waiving Nick Smith Jr.
Note: Player-options and free-agent cap-holds detailed in the next section will deduct from this.
###⏺ Player-options and Cap-holds
| Player Name | Cap-hold | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | $59.5m | Bird rights |
| Rui Hachimura | $27.4m | Bird rights |
| Austin Reaves | $20.9m | Bird rights |
| Maxi Kleber | $20.9m | Bird rights |
| Luke Kennard | $13.2m | Non-bird rights |
| DeAndre Ayton | $8.1m | Player-option |
| Marcus Smart | $5.4m | Player-option |
| Jaxson Hayes | $4.5m | Early-bird rights |
Note: If exercised, these will deduct from the projected cap-space. For example, if exercised, Austin's bird rights of $20.9m will be deducted from the team's $77.3m in projected cap-space leaving the team with $56.4m ($57.8m post incomplete roster deduction). If DeAndre Ayton exercises his play-option, $8.1m will be deducted from that $56.4m leaving the team with $48.3m ($51.1m post incomplete roster deductinn). Empty roster cap-holds (incomplete roster deductions) apply up to 12 roster spots.
Note: Bird rights, Early-bird rights, and Non-bird rights must be exercised if the team intends to exceed the cap when signing these players. For example, the team can exercise Austin's bird rights of $20.9m, spend their $56.4m worth of cap-space, and then exceed the $165m cap to re-sign Reaves up to a ~$41.3m starting salary.
###⏺ Exceptions
| Exception | Projected Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full Mid-level Exception | $15,048,000 | Hard-caps team at the 1st apron |
| Tax Payer Mid-level Exception | $6,065,000 | Hard-caps team at the 2nd apron |
| Room Mid-level Exception | $9,369,000 | Only available to teams who have used cap-space |
| Bi-Annual Exception | $5,478,000 | Not available |
| Minimum Salary Exception | Varies | Details |
| Traded Player Exception | $500,000 | Acquired in Gabe Vincent trade |
Note: The Lakers can access any of the mid-level exceptions depending on how they manage their cap-holds and free-agents. However, it's most likely that they will use their cap-space and thus be locked into the Room MLE. Also, due to using the Bi-Annual Exception on Marcus Smart last season, the Lakers will not have access to it this season.
###⏺ TLDR Summary
The Lakers can have a lot of cap-space but it depends on which players return from this year's roster. We won't have a better picture of exact cap amounts until 6/29 at the latest since that is the team/player-option deadline.