Is LeBron James really done with the LA Lakers after this season? Clearly, this is Luka Doncic’s team going into the future, while the 41-year-old James decides on where to spend one final season (maybe) next year. The early betting is that he returns to his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the meantime, assuming they don’t go all the way to a championship this June, who do the Lakers pursue this offseason to fill out their 2026-27 roster?
According to Dan Favale of Bleacher Report, there are three splashy big targets the Purple & Gold could look to bring in, via trade. Granted, they’d all be tough to pry loose from their current teams.
Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat
It’s been a typical, frustrating season overall for Deandre Ayton in his latest spot, manning the middle for the Lakers. Interspersing flashes of dominant play with his trademark low-engagement, frustrating performances, he’s left with career low numbers of 12.6 points per game and 8.3 rebounds. Ayton has a player-option on $8M for next season, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him opt out and search for greener pastures.
Bringing in Bam Adebayo in to play center would be a dynamic move for the Lakers. They’ll have nearly $50M in cap space, and, as Favale notes, they could use a “massive upgrade” in the middle. But the Heat won’t be giving Bam away, and it would take a huge deal to get that done. Adebayo is still the hot topic of conversation around the NBA following his history-making 83-point game last week.
OG Anunoby, New York Knicks
With a “massive upgrade” also needed on the perimeter, why not go for one of the league’s top wing defenders in Anunoby? Of course, there’s no chance of OG leaving Manhattan “unless the New York Knicks luck into Giannis Antetokounmpo” this summer. And we do know that that’s a possibility, given that Giannis asked to be traded to New York last summer.
Favale writes, “the Lakers should hold out hope for the chance to swoop in as a third-party facilitator who sends draft equity the Milwaukee Bucks’ way.”
Lu Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder
Dort is another strong wing option for the Lakers to consider. OKC has a team option on him at $18M, but with the second apron looming, it’s quite possible they would rather decline it. However, before just letting him go as a free agent for nothing, the Thunder would first try to swing a trade to get something in return for Dort. The Lakers would have to take on that contract and give up a little draft equity.
