Analysis | Lakers offseason outlook: Zhan Dongli s prospects for renewal are optimistic. How to strengthen is a bigger highlight

(The original article was published on May 1, and the author is BobbyMarks on ESPN website. The content of the article does not represent the translator's opinion)

This year's playoffs are in full swing, and 14 lottery teams have also been determined. Next, we can analyze how each eliminated team should spend the offseason, including the draft, free agent market and trading market. Which lottery team can draw the No. 1 pick and have the chance to pick Cooper Flag? How are the reconstruction progress of teams such as the Wizards, Jazz and Hornets? ESPN's BobbyMarks analyzes potential options for each team, including a look at the team's roster status, financial status, management priorities, renewals worth paying attention to, team needs, and future draft assets.

Los Angeles Lakers

Season record: 50 wins and 32 losses (first round exit)

Draft picks in June this year: 55th pick

Free players: LeBron James (player option), Jaxon Hayes, Dorian Finney Smith (player option), Alex Lane, Markieff Morris, Jordan Goodwin (player option), Christian Kolock (restricted)

The current situation of the team lineup:

No doubt, the transaction has brought the next generation of superstars to the Lakers, which can help the team build a championship lineup. Since introducing the 25-year-old star, the Lakers ranked 8th in the league in record performance and finally won the fiercely competitive Western Conference No. 3 seed. However, the problems of insufficient lineup depth, body shape and lack of execution at critical moments exposed in the first round of the playoffs confirm the essential differences between the regular season and the playoffs. Lakers general manager Pelinka admitted when she came to Doncic in February that the lineup had not yet taken shape: "We will build a team that conforms to the coaching philosophy of coach Redick."

The Lakers are about to usher in one of the most critical offseasons in team history. James' future is in the spotlight for the second consecutive year, with a $52.6 million player option in hand and may enter the free agent market again. Although Doncic is not a free agent, he is eligible to sign a four-year, $229 million early contract renewal on August 2. If an accident occurs, the two sides fail to reach an agreement, Doncic will become a free agent in the summer of 2026. Reeves is also qualified to renew his contract and may enter the free agent market at the same time as Doncic. Although renewing these three people is the Lakers' top priority, how Pelinka should strengthen the other positions in the lineup is more worth paying attention to. Judging from the trading deadline, the Lakers are likely to take positive actions.

Before the trading deadline, the Lakers tried to introduce Hornets center Mark Williams to provide Doncic with an all-in threat and fill the inside vacancy left after the trade Davis, but the transaction failed due to physical examination problems. Although the Lakers do not have the salary space to sign free agents like Turner directly, they can hold the first round pick in 2031, the first round swap rights in the next five years, last year's first round pick Kennector, and the expiration contracts worth more than $70 million (Reeves, Finney Smith, Hachimura, Kleber and Vincent) as trading chips.

Offseason Financial status:

For the second consecutive offseason, James' potential free agent status will directly affect the operational space for the Lakers' lineup to strengthen. The superstar has a $52.6 million player option, and both Finney Smith must decide whether to execute next season's contract by June 29.

If James chooses to execute the player option or sign a contract with a starting salary of equivalent, the Lakers' total salary will exceed the luxury tax line of $1.3 million. The Lakers currently have $6.7 million in buffer space from the No. 1 rich line, and can only use the full middle-class special case of $5.7 million. Because it is far lower than the second rich line, the Lakers still have the flexibility to package multiple players for trading.

Management's top priority: What impact will the first round ending for two consecutive years have on James' future? The 40-year-old is still using his performance on the field to fight the law of time. Since she turned 40 on December 30 last year, James averaged 25.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game in the regular season. If James chooses to jump out of the contract, he can sign a three-year, $175.3 million contract extension with the Lakers. However, he has signed four contracts with the Lakers since 2018, with only one exceeding a two-year term.

Doncic made a clear statement in an interview with ESPN reporter Malika Andrews before the playoffs started and he made a clear statement that he would stay behind the Lakers. Despite the optimistic prospects for renewal, showing the "post-James era" team blueprint to the new nuclear company remains the top priority for management. August 2 is the first day Doncic has obtained eligibility for renewal. The contracts between the two parties may take many forms: for example, a four-year maximum salary plan of $229 million, of which a starting salary of $51 million in the 2026-27 season will replace the original player option; however, it is more likely to be a three-year $165 million contract (the third-year player option). A short-term contract renewal will allow Doncic to return to the free agent market faster, and is expected to make up for the $345 million contract lost when traded by the Mavericks.

The candidates worth paying attention to:

Reeves signed a four-year, $53.8 million contract in 2023 is regarded as one of the most cost-effective contracts in the league, and his annual salary of $13.9 million next season is even lower than the full middle class special case amount. The defender averaged 20.2 points, 5.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game in the regular season this season. After Doncic joined, he even gave a 48% shooting percentage and a 40% three-point shooting percentage. However, this value-for-money contract may also prompt Reeves to choose to become a full free agent in the 2026 offseason. Due to the low salary of existing contracts, the Lakers can only provide up to four years, $89.2 million in advance renewal ($19.9 million in the first year is the 140% average salary cap set by the labor-management agreement). If the contract is refused to renew, Reeves is expected to sign a maximum salary contract that accounts for 25% of the salary cap next summer, with a starting salary of $42.5 million..

Team needs:

The three major elements that the Lakers urgently need to strengthen: starting center with an all-in threat, front-line body size and reliable rotation players. During the playoffs, the Lakers ranked last in the league in the penalty area, and lost points in the penalty area ranked third worst. In the first round of the series, the Timberwolves' substitute averaged more than 16 points per game than the Lakers.

Future draft assets:

The Lakers owe the Jazz a first-round pick protected by the top four picks in 2027, and owing the Mavericks a first-round pick unprotected in 2029. Currently, the Lakers can trade first-round picks for any year in 2031 or 2032, and can also trade first-round swap rights and one second-round pick in five years (2026, 2028, 2030, 2031, 2032).

Original text: BobbyMarks

Compiled by: Li Taibai