The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to have a busy offseason as they aim to become serious title contenders in the 2025-26 season. With free agency starting just over a week from now on June 30, Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus has put out his predictions for the Lakers' 2025 free agency class.
- Clint Capela
- LeBron James
- Dorian Finney-Smith
Pincus thinks the Lakers will sign Clint Capela using the taxpayer mid-level exception. Capela averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game for the Atlanta Hawks in 2024-25.
Lakers insider Anthony Irwin also listed Capela as one of the players the team is looking at to be their backup center next season. The Swiss big man is no longer at his absolute best, but would be a fantastic option off the bench.
Capela remains a terror on the glass and provides some much-needed rim protection as well for the Lakers. They will face some competition for the 31-year-old's services, and it will be interesting to see who he ends up with.
Pincus expects Capela to be the only notable addition the Lakers make in free agency, with LeBron James and Dorian Finney-Smith re-signing with the team.
James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in 2024-25. The 40-year-old has a $52.6 million player option for 2025-26, and he is expected to opt into it. Pincus thinks he'll either do that or sign a two-year deal with a player option at a similar salary.
It's a testament to James' greatness that the Lakers could give a man entering his 23rd season a two-year contract worth over $100 million, and it wouldn't be deemed a ridiculous decision. The 21-time All-Star made the All-NBA Second Team in 2025 and is still a force on the court.
Finney-Smith wasn't eligible for any honors after playing 63 games in 2024-25, but he had a positive impact on the court for the Lakers. The 32-year-old arrived via trade from the Brooklyn Nets midseason and averaged 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game for LA.
Finney-Smith helped elevate the Lakers' defense upon arrival. The veteran proved to be extremely important for the team, and retaining his services was always going to be a top priority.
Like James, Finney-Smith also has a player option for 2025-26. Unlike his teammate, however, he is expected to decline his $15.4 million option.
Finney-Smith also hinted that he won't take a pay cut to remain with the Lakers. Pincus thinks the 3-and-D wing will get a deal worth $12-16 million per year, and that the figure could be lower based on the length.
Depending on the trades the Lakers make, this would be a solid free agency class. If they can acquire a good starting caliber center and a wing defender, they'd get a pretty good grade for this offseason.
Would these moves make the Lakers title contenders in the Western Conference? Perhaps. You'd certainly expect them to fare better in the playoffs than they did this year, when the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated them in five games in the first round.
