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With two weeks remaining in the NBA regular season, the Lakers are focused on securing their postseason spot rather than free agency.
The Lakers (46-29) remain in fourth place in the Western Conference standings after Monday’s home win over the Rockets.
However, general manager Rob Pelinka and advisor JJ Redick will soon need to turn their attention to the future. The Lakers’ decision to pair Luka Doncic with LeBron James ahead of the trade deadline may have bolstered their postseason hopes, but there are still areas of the roster in need of improvement.
One glaring issue remains the center position. While Jaxson Hayes has shown promise when healthy, the Lakers could benefit from added depth and defensive presence, assuming Hayes returns via free agency.
The 24-year-old Hayes is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, his performance and potential are likely to attract suitors on the open market.
“I think there will be suitors who look at the pedigree of being a former lottery pick, look at the age, look at the skill set, look at the improvement, and try to poach him from the Lakers,” Buha said.
Regardless of whether Hayes is retained, the Lakers should keep a close eye on Hawks center Clint Capela. Capela, 30, is expected to leave Atlanta in free agency this summer, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. Capela has been relegated to a backup role in Atlanta, and with the Hawks reportedly looking to move him before the NBA trade deadline, his departure seems imminent.
While Capela is not the player he once was, having battled injuries in recent seasons, he remains a capable defender and rim protector. He would provide crucial depth to the Lakers’ frontcourt and could complement Doncic in pick-and-roll situations.
This season, Capela has averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. Though his play has dipped somewhat from his peak, the 2021 rebounding champion would offer solid minutes off the bench for Los Angeles.
Capela is a player the Lakers have shown interest in before. However, the financial aspect could pose a challenge. Buha suggested that Capela could command a salary of at least the taxpayer MLE, potentially a two-year deal worth $22-23 million, though a lower figure is also possible.
The Lakers are currently projected to be $4.4 million under the first luxury tax apron, according to Spotrac. But that figure doesn’t account for potential contracts for Hayes or decisions regarding James’ and Dorian Finney-Smith‘s player options.
With other needs, such as perimeter shooting, to address, Capela’s contract demands could complicate matters. He carried a $22.3 million cap hit this season, which could make adding him a difficult financial decision for the Lakers.
Still, Capela would be a strong fit in LA, and with his free agency looming, adding him to the roster could be in play.
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Lakers Insider Provides Update on LeBron James' Immediate Future With LA
The Los Angeles Lakers still believe that they are in a great position to win a championship with both LeBron James and Luka Doncic on the roster. They are still two of the top 15 players in the league. More news: Lakers’ Luka Doncic Has Made More Changes Than Just His Weight, Says Slovenian Teammates James' future in Los Angeles has become murkier in the last few months, after the team shifted to building around Doncic and the future of the team. James doesn't seem thrilled by that revelation, and there have been trade rumors swirling around him for a while. A Lakers insider has given an update on where that situation stands. More news: Lakers Hiring Former Mavericks Award-Winning Coach According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, James is going to be in Los Angeles for training camp, and they fully expect him to play all season with the Lakers, but he is leaving all scenarios on the table. "All indications are that James will be in training camp at the end of September and will play his 23rd NBA season with the Lakers. But I really don’t want to make any guesses, informed or not, about how James views his future, either as a Laker or as an NBA player." James has never asked for a trade in his long, 20-plus-year career. He has only ever left via free agency, and that seems unlikely to start this late in his career. He only has a couple of years left. There aren't a lot of options for James to consider this late into the offseason, either. If he wants to change teams, he likely will wait until next season to opt out if he wants to leave Los Angeles. More news: Lakers ‘Want to Get Out of LeBron James’ Business’ Says NBA Insider The Lakers are expecting to have LeBron James for next season Los Angeles continues to expect James to be at his best this season for another run at a title. After making some improvements on the roster, specifically at the center spot, they feel good about their chances of improving from last year. James is going to be better now that he's had Doncic to work out with for an entire offseason. Doncic is going to be more comfortable in this city, too. Latest Lakers News For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
Five best NFL offseason value signings on offense: Bills get great deal with RB extension
Few know how to spend money like an NFL front office. This offseason, teams handed out over $4 billion in extensions alone, not to mention the several other billions spent in free agency. But which were the shrewdest investments? Below, we examine the best value signings at five positions on offense: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and offensive line. Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith Contract: Two years, $75 million ($65.5M guaranteed) Shortly after acquiring Smith in a trade from the Seattle Seahawks, the Raiders extended the 2022 Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year to a contract that raises the Raiders' floor while maintaining flexibility. Smith has a manageable $26.5M cap hit in 2026, when Over The Cap projects Las Vegas to have the third-most cap space ($78.7M) based on an estimated 5.8 percent cap increase. Since 2022, Smith has the third-highest completion percentage (68.5 percent) among 32 quarterbacks with at least 20 starts during that span. He's also tied with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the second-most fourth-quarter comebacks (10) and trails only Mahomes in game-winning drives. Buffalo Bills running back James Cook Contract: Four years, $48M ($30M guaranteed) Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams pierced Cook's bubble when he signed a three-year, $33M extension on Aug. 5. The Bills running back sought $15M per year, making his $12M in annual average value (AAV) a huge win for Buffalo. Over Cook's first three seasons, he's averaged 4.9 yards per carry. In 2024, he led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns. With just 533 career tackles, Cook doesn't have the wear-and-tear of other backs who've made splashes early in their careers, raising hopes that he can withstand the workload that comes with being Buffalo's featured back. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins Contract: Four years, $115M ($40.9M guaranteed) The Bengals retained Higgins at a remarkable price, keeping him in Cincinnati at less than $30M per year, the going rate for the league's top wideouts. Per Spotrac, while Higgins is No. 10 in AAV among wide receivers, he ranks just outside the top 20 in guaranteed money. Last season, Higgins averaged 75.9 receiving yards per game, his most since 2021, and scored a career-high 10 touchdowns despite missing five games due to injury. Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride Contract: Four years, $76M ($43M guaranteed) The 2024 first-team All-Pro ranks No. 1 among tight ends in guaranteed salary. However, if he continues producing numbers more akin to WR1s — last season, he had 111 receptions, 1,146 receiving yards and two touchdowns — his contract will be one of the league's better bargains. Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley Contract: Three years, $60M ($44M guaranteed) Stanley's journey back from a devastating 2020 lower leg injury culminated in the 2019 first-team All-Pro being named a Pro Bowler for the second time in his first nine seasons last year. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft was rewarded with a contract that will keep him in Baltimore through his age-33 season. In terms of average annual value, his extension ranks below other left tackles who signed contracts this offseason, and not just younger players such as Rashawn Slater (Los Angeles Chargers), who was recently lost for the season, and Bernhard Raimann (Indianapolis Colts). Atlanta Falcons tackle Jake Matthews, 33, is averaging $22.5M on his current deal, while Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller, 29, is set to earn $22M per year through 2028.
Commanders have major hang-up preventing them from paying Terry McLaurin what he's due
It’s been two weeks since Washington Commanders star wide receiver Terry McLaurin publicly revealed his trade request, and a resolution doesn’t appear to be in sight. Thanks to ESPN’s John Keim, we’re starting to get more insight into how the Commanders are approaching negotiations…and how they run counter to their star wide receiver’s financial desires. As we’ve assumed all along, the Commanders are wary of giving McLaurin a lucrative contract that would extend well into the player’s 30s. As Keim notes, the Commanders “rely heavily on analytics,” and those numbers aren’t particularly kind to receivers on the wrong side of 30. They may be onto something. Per ESPN Research, over the past five years, only three receivers 31 years or older have played at least 10 games and averaged 70-plus receiving yards per game (that number jumps to six players if you adjust for 60-plus receiving yards). Further, the team can simply point to the NFL landscape, as other teams are also clearly wary of paying aging wideouts. Among the 24 active wide receivers who are attached to the most guaranteed money, only Tyreek Hill was older than 30 when the deal was signed. McLaurin has continually pointed to his lack of mileage despite his age; he barely played during his first two years at Ohio State, meaning he may not have the same wear and tear as similar players his age. McLaurin is also naturally pointing to the stat sheet, as the receiver has continually produced despite uncertain QB play, uncertain ownership and a handful of different coaching staffs. Per Keim, the Commanders don’t want to pay McLaurin based on his past performance, with the front office preferring to shape any future contracts based on his projections for age-31-plus seasons. The organization also doesn’t want to set a new precedent by paying McLaurin, as it could convince future veterans to push for lucrative deals in their 30s. While McLaurin has taken the drastic measure of requesting a trade out of Washington, the organization is still convinced they have leverage in this showdown. After all, the player is still under contract for the 2025 campaign, meaning McLaurin will have to forfeit game checks if he sits out games. The team could even choose to slap him with the franchise tag next offseason (which could come in north of $30M), meaning they’re in full control of the player’s fate moving forward. The team is also skeptical that another suitor is going to willingly pay McLaurin the type of money he’s seeking. Per Keim, there are doubts around the league about whether another team would be willing to meet the receiver’s demands. Even if a clear suitor does emerge, Keim makes it clear that Washington’s front office won’t give the star away without receiving a haul. We heard recently that McLaurin wasn’t necessarily seeking a deal that matched fellow 2019 draftee D.K. Metcalf‘s deal with the Steelers. However, Keim says Metcalf’s contract has generally served as a guide for McLaurin, but it’s uncertain whether the Commanders wideout is looking to match the AAV ($33M) or total guarantees ($60M). Ultimately, one source believes the Commanders may agree to pay McLaurin a contract that will pay $28M per year. Of course, it’s uncertain if the player would even accept that offer. If that hypothetical maximum offer doesn’t end in a signing, a divorce may be the logical next step.
Troubling news emerges on Bears QB Caleb Williams’ workout with HC Ben Johnson
It might have been a good thing the Chicago Bears didn’t play Caleb Williams on Sunday. The Bears might need to hide their second-year quarterback as he irons out his wrinkles in the pre-snap process and with accuracy issues. The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft struggled with timing and accuracy during the Bears’ joint practice with the Miami Dolphins on Friday. Caleb Williams was inaccurate in the red zone against no defenders On Sunday, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson chose not to play second-year quarterback Caleb Williams against the Dolphins in their first preseason game. Instead, Johnson led a workout with Williams and wide receivers Rome Odunze and DJ Moore before the game. Per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears ran a total of 87 plays during the workout. All of the plays were routes in the air with no defenders on the field for the scripted practice. Despite going against no defenders bringing pressure or guarding his receivers, Williams struggled to hit his targets in the red zone. "Williams would stand next to Johnson, who would give him the play," Biggs wrote. "Then, the quarterback simulated a huddle with the player (only one ran a route on each snap) and gave the play call. They’d break the huddle, go to the line of scrimmage, Williams would simulate pre-snap actions and then the play would be run… "Before ending the session with eight deep balls, there was a 25-play set of snaps in the red zone. One thing Williams struggled to connect on was out routes to Moore and Odunze near the goal line. Those throws were not close and Williams consistently led the receivers too much." A closed-door problem for the Chicago Bears The throws weren’t close during routes on air… in the red zone? Williams wasn’t ready to take the field for the preseason game. For all of the flak he’s been getting from practice reports, the quarterback would have been relentlessly mocked for having these issues shown during an NFL Network broadcast. Biggs’ report is troubling, with a month to go before the season. Williams has much to improve upon, and the Bears are very much trying to do so without cameras present for a reason.
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