Rumor: Lakers Motivated By ‘Flexibility,’ Not Pining For Another Star

The Los Angeles Lakers are motivated by “flexibility,” not pining for another star, according to NBA reporter Dave McMenamin of ESPN. 

The Lakers signed Luka Dončić to a three-year, $165 million extension this past weekend. Dončić can become an unrestricted free agent in 2028 by declining his 2028-29 player option. 

“While the team’s aversion to offering free agent forward Dorian Finney-Smith a deal that extended beyond 2027 — leading him to sign with the Houston Rockets — left some around the league with the impression that L.A. was preserving cap space to go after a big name in free agency that summer, a source familiar with the Lakers’ thinking insists that their strategy is motivated by flexibility, not pining for another potential star,” McMenamin wrote. 

“Would multiple-time MVP winners Nikola Jokic or Giannis Antetokounmpo look great in a Lakers uniform? Of course. The real mission, however, is to give the team as much margin to pivot as possible — either fueled by need or opportunity — each season while maintaining championship aspirations. As one Lakers source put it: ‘If you don’t have optionality, you get stuck.'”

LeBron James becomes an unrestricted free agent after next season. The leading scorer in NBA history will make $52.6 million next season. 

The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games. Dončić recruited Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to Los Angeles, while Austin Reaves recruited Jake LaRavia. 

LeBron guided the Lakers to the 2020 championship against the Miami Heat. Los Angeles hasn’t been back to the NBA Finals since then. 

“This is a team that wants to win championships,” a Lakers source told ESPN. “That hasn’t changed and it won’t change in the future.”

Lakers second-year head coach JJ Redick is expected to start Dončić, Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron and Ayton next season. 

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