Free agency will be a pivotal moment of this offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers. Not only will they look to bolster the support around Luka Doncic with new additions to the team, but there are a couple of their own guys who the franchise needs to take care of.
The Lakers have seven players who can or will be hitting free agency in some capacity. Some of those names are pivotal players they cannot lose. Others are pieces they will be more than happy to guide to the door.
Today is all about figuring out who lands where on that pecking order. The following list is ranked from least to most likely to return for the following 2025-26 campaign.
Alex Len (UFA)
Alex Len is as good as gone. The Lakers brought him in midseason with the hopes of boosting a depleted frontcourt. That decision failed miserably.
Len failed to make any sort of significant impact during his time with the Lakers. Rob Pelinka should take every opportunity to look elsewhere to fill his roster spot for next season.
Markieff Morris (UFA)
The possibility of Markieff Morris returning to the team is greater than zero. However, in an ideal scenario, the Lakers do not have to make that move.
Morris was a throw-in to the blockbuster Doncic trade. The best days of the 14-year veteran are long behind him. With the former lottery pick not even showcasing himself as a serviceable role player anymore, there will be no harm done in turning elsewhere this offseason.
Jaxson Hayes (UFA)
The Jaxson Hayes experience was a rollercoaster this season. The athletic center went from underwhelming backup to a solid placeholder starter to downright unplayable in the NBA Playoffs.
The last part of that equation will be the most important factor in any potential talks of his return for next season. Would it be surprising for the Lakers to bring Hayes back as an end of the bench option? No. Are all the other options going to be exhausted first? Probably.
Christian Koloko (RFA)
To keep this one short and simple, Christian Koloko had enough moments of encouragement to potentially secure himself another two-way deal. It likely will not be a priority for Pelinka and company, but it certainly is not out of the realm of possibility.
Dorian Finney-Smith (Player Option)
The Lakers desperately need to ensure Dorian Finney-Smith is back with the team for the 2025-26 season. That fact should be well known to the versatile defender and his agent too.
After investing the trade capital to acquire Finney-Smith this season and seeing his importance grow as the campaign went on, there should be an expectation for the 3-and-d forward to decline his player option. When he does, the Lakers front office will be forced to pay up (and they should).
Jordan Goodwin (Team Option)
Jordan Goodwin technically fits this list, but this one will probably be a formality. The feisty defender saw his two-way contract converted to a standard deal before season's end.
Part of that standard deal was a team option for the 2025-26 campaign. After showing promising flashes of being a reliable bench contributor throughout his first season with Los Angeles, Goodwin deserves an opportunity to continue his growth. It would be surprising to see his option declined.
LeBron James (Player Option)
The usual murmurings of LeBron James being a flight risk are around. However, the reality of that actually happening is a tough sell to truly buy into and believe.
James and Doncic quickly proved they can co-exist as a tandem. Despite the premature playoff exit, it is difficult to imagine the future Hall of Fame inductee finding a better situation this summer for his final season(s) in the NBA.
