The Los Angeles Lakers are weighing trade options as they prepare for the 2025–26 NBA season, according to a report from Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
The organization will open camp with 14 players, including Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and Maxi Kleber, all entering contract years. Their expiring deals, combined with future draft assets, give general manager Rob Pelinka flexibility in potential negotiations.
McMenamin noted that the Lakers could part with a 2031 or 2032 first-round pick to pursue upgrades. That future leverage, paired with tradable contracts, has positioned the franchise to explore ways to strengthen its roster around Luka Doncic.
Los Angeles is also open to acquiring players signed beyond 2026. With Doncic under long-term contract, the front office is not limiting itself to short-term deals, signaling a broader view of team-building.
Doncic spent much of the summer with the Lakers’ support staff, who tracked his progress closely after he battled a calf injury last season. Team personnel were encouraged by his improved quickness and lift, particularly against double-teams.
The 26-year-old also built stronger ties with the franchise during EuroBasket, where Lakers leadership and fans supported him while he represented Slovenia. Doncic described the connection as meaningful, underscoring his growing comfort in Los Angeles.
Pelinka faces the challenge of balancing roster depth with the need for an additional piece that can elevate the Lakers into championship contention. Expiring contracts provide trade value, but the team must weigh which assets to move without weakening its rotation.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are no longer on the roster, shifting the spotlight fully onto Doncic and a restructured supporting cast that includes Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Austin Reaves, and first-round pick Dalton Knecht.
The front office has already shown a willingness to reshape the group. The Lakers traded away their first-round pick in June’s draft but retained a late second-rounder, which they used on Australian forward Lachlan Olbrich.
