Lakers' Current Payroll For 2025-26 NBA Season: 15 Players On Roster And 2 On Two-Way Deals

The Los Angeles Lakers have now officially signed Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and rookie Adou Thiero to multi-year deals. With those contracts now in place, here is a look at the Lakers' payroll for the 2025-26 season.

LeBron James - $52.6 million

Luka Doncic - $45.9 million

Rui Hachimura - $18.2 million

Austin Reaves - $13.9 million

Jarred Vanderbilt - $11.5 million

Gabe Vincent - $11.5 million

Maxi Kleber - $11 million

Deandre Ayton - $8.1 million

Jake LaRavia - $6 million

Dalton Knecht - $4 million

Jaxson Hayes - $3.4 million

Shake Milton - $3 million

Jordan Goodwin - $2.3 million

Bronny James - $1.9 million 

Adou Thiero - $1.2 million

The Lakers have Eric Dixon and Trey Jemison on two-way contracts as well, but those do not count against the cap. So, the total salaries amount to $195.0 million, leaving the team less than a million under the first apron ($195.9 million).

The Lakers also split their entire $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia, which hard-capped them at the first apron. They now only have the bi-annual exception left to sign free agents, but can only use the entire $5.1 million as long as they don't cross the first apron.

Waiving Shake Milton would allow the Lakers to use up to $3.9 million, and they'll have to shed more salary via trades to use the full BAE. As for who the Lakers should look to move on from, there are a few candidates when you look at that payroll.

The Lakers have $34 million tied up in Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, and Maxi Kleber. Vanderbilt and Kleber are unlikely to play significant roles when the playoffs come around, while Vincent didn't impress in the first round against the Minnesota Timberwolves last season.

Getting off of Kleber and Vincent's contracts won't be too difficult, as they are entering their final years. Vanderbilt, though, is under contract through 2026-27 and has a player option for 2027-28. The Lakers are going to find it difficult to shed his salary.

Going up a bit further on that payroll, Rui Hachimura is someone to keep an eye on as well. Hachimura is entering the final year of his deal and is another who could be packaged in a trade.

There was some buzz about Austin Reaves being traded as well, but that seems to have died down now. Reaves is set to hit free agency in 2026 by declining his $14.8 million player option for 2026-27, though, and it will be interesting to see what kind of deal is put up on the table.

As for the two biggest earners on the team, LeBron James and Luka Doncic's salaries take up nearly $100 million of the Lakers' cap space. They're certainly worth the money, though.

James opted into his $52.6 million player option for 2025-26 and is coming off his 21st straight All-NBA selection. Doncic, meanwhile, is the biggest star on the team now and is set to get an extension in August. 

While Doncic's long-term future with the Lakers looks secure, the same cannot be said about James'. His relationship with the front office has been strained, and it will be interesting to see if he asks out at some point before the trade deadline.