The Lakers are currently in waiting mode to fill their last roster position

The Lakers are currently in waiting mode to fill their last roster position. Because the Lakers used non-taxpayer mid-level exceptions on Ayton and Laravia, they were hardtopped on the first apron. Despite this roster position, they were not allowed to sign No. 15 until January 18.

While the Lakers do have restrictions on what they can trade (James has a ban on trade clause, and Ayton, Smart, Hayes and Laravia won’t trade until December 15), Hachimura, Maxi Kleber and Gabe Vincent’s contracts are about to expire, with a total value of $40 million for the 2025-26 season.

Pellinka has been active in the deal, acquiring Anthony Davis in the 2019 offseason and then Doncic in February this year. However, the obstacle to the next blockbuster game may be the lack of first-round draft capital. The most regrettable thing for the Lakers is that they do not have sufficient future draft picks, and can win Durant in 26 years Although they can exchange a first-round draft pick every year except 2027 and 2029, the Lakers have only one tradable first-round draft pick: either in 2031 or 2032. (Their only second-round picks that can be traded will not be available until 2032. Starting in the 2026 offseason, their tradeable firsts have increased to two: 2031 and 2033. The expiration of contracts from Hachimura, Claybel, Vincent and James in 2026 will have some effect on the Lakers' financial flexibility next offseason. With four players not on the roster, the Lakers may have $45 million in cap space. That number includes Reeves' rejection of 1490 Free-agent holding rights when the $10,000 player option. Ironically, the best free agent next year is James himself (Kevin Durant may also be a free agent if he doesn’t reach a contract extension with the Houston Rockets.

"I think the first thing we have to do there is respect for him and his family's decision on how long he will play," Pelinka said of James' future.

The Lakers wait 100 million space by 2027

An ideal situation is to pass on the upcoming contracts to players who can help now and next season, even if that means there is no ceiling space for the first time since 2019, which will give the Lakers close to 1 in 2027. $100 million in cap space.

It was the summer when Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Carl Anthony Towns, Donovan Mitchell and former Lakers big man Davis could be free agents. The temptation of playing with Doncic, the Los Angeles market, new ownership and cap space could be a productive combination.

Jokic, especially Jokic, both of them are good friends themselves, and if the two of Europe's best pairs in Los Angeles would be a new OK combination!

If you want evidence, turn the clock back to the summer of 2018 and 2019, when the Lakers had cap space. They were able to do so in 2018 Sign James in 2020 and reshape their roster over the following offseason, trade Davis, sign Danny Green and bring back free agents Kentavius Caldwell Pope, Alex Caruso, Javier McGee and Rajean Rondo. The Lakers will continue to win their only championship on the roster with James in 2020.

But under the current collective bargaining agreement, limiting space and trying to surpass competitors poses risks. As players can renew more funds, no NBA guarantees All-round free agents will be available.

Antetokounmpo, Mitchell, Davis, Caruso, Laurie Markcanen, Damian Lillard, Jimmy Butler III, Rudy Gobert, Brandon Ingram, Derek White and Ivica Zubac became free agents. Yet each of them signed a long-term extension.

"The mechanism of the labor-management negotiation agreement is very clear: we are trying to give existing teams an advantage in drafting, developing and retaining players," NBA Commissioner Adam Swallow said during the summer league. This does not mean there are no free agents; but in many cases players will choose to stay in these markets. So, I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing.

If the Lakers wait for the game and rely solely on the ceiling space to reshape the roster around Doncic, then this statement does not bode well.