Kent Bewley's News Story Collection

As the 2025-26 NBA offseason has arrived, the Los Angeles Lakers made a big move to help shore up their roster as they retained one of their biggest star players and probably the best undrafted player to wear a Purple & Gold jersey. Point guard Austin Reaves was signed by the Lakers front office, led by Rob Pelinka, to a four-year, $185 million extension after Reaves declined his player option on his previous contract. With a potential free agency that didn’t have plenty of teams that could pay him a super max extension, Reaves decided to stay in L.A and is set to receive $46.25 million per year along with having a player option for the 2029-30 season. The Lakers were wise to secure their second best player on the active roster next to Luka Doncic, who has formed a powerful connection on the floor with Reaves over the past year and a half.

With the extension of Reaves, who averaged 23.3 points per game and 5.5 assists in 52 games played due to injuries to his foot and oblique, the Purple & Gold have addressed their first major offseason concern. Now their next ones lie with acquiring a more talented center to complement Luka and the entire team on the floor. Deandre Ayton had a less than ideal season in his one-year deal and he did not consistently show up in big games, especially in the playoffs. Even though he led the team in rebounds, which is his job to do, and blocks per game, Ayton did not do enough to show himself as worthy of being a top-tier big man that can help the Lakers get back to the NBA Finals. Potential names on the market include Myles Turner, Walker Kessler, Robert Williams III and Jalen Duren.

The next big agenda item for the Lakers is whether LeBron James will decide to return on a new, team-friendly deal or if he will go off to play for a different team. In his 23rd season in the NBA and eighth overall in Los Angeles, LeBron played in 60 regular season games and averaged roughly 21 points per game along with six rebounds and seven assists. When Doncic and Reaves both suffered serious injuries near the end of the regular season, the King stepped up and helped lead the Lakers to a First Round series victory over the Houston Rockets. James was the leading scorer for the Lakers in the postseason with 23 points per game along with his average seven assists. But in the second round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron could not keep the Lakers afloat with a younger and more talented team. Mon, May 11, 2026 could have been the final game for James in L.A but only time will tell. Even though he is 41(approaching 42), LeBron James still holds value in being a talented passer, good scorer(for his age), and outstanding defender when he decides to play his classic form of defense. A couple of teams other than the Lakers might be interested in signing him. One of those teams are the Golden State Warriors, whom LeBron shares good relationships with two of their older stars in Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. With Steve Kerr returning to be the head coach, the Warriors have plenty of other young talented players along with veteran stars and if not for unfortunate injuries to star players like Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis and others, Golden State could have made a good playoff run. If LeBron decides to go upstate and take a sweetheart deal with a team that he faced four times in the Finals(and defeated only once, which was more than enough for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016), then that creates an interesting dynamic for the Lakers. Bronny James could follow his father wherever he goes or stay in L.A as his skills continue to develop at the G-League level and recently with playing opportunities on the actual team.

Then, there are plenty of other unrestricted free agents from this season’s team such as Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard, and Jaxson Hayes who were all key contributors. Marcus Smart and Ayton are restricted free agents and could receive good deals that incentivize them to stay in town. Signing potential free agents that can serve as good “three and D” players around Doncic and Reaves can be a top priority of the front office. For now, Reaves being locked up on a max extension is a good early accomplishment of this offseason for the Lakers, who look to improve their roster as they look to get up to the level that the San Antonio Spurs and OKC Thunder are at currently in the Western Conference.