The Los Angeles Lakers have two of the best players in basketball on their current roster in LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
The Lakers also, reportedly, are making a decision that doesn't attempt to maximize that fact.
In ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin's story about the Lakers losing forward Dorian Finney-Smith to the Rockets (4 years, $53 million), he threw in one line that's quite odd.
“Though Finney-Smith was a popular locker room figure and helped the Lakers to a 14-6 record in the 20 games he started in the regular season, L.A. exercised discipline in its negotiations to preserve cap space for 2027, when the team expects to have space to sign a max-salary free agent," McMenamin wrote.
We'll give The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor the first word here:
2027? You mean…two summers from now…for a player they may or may not be able to get? Is Rob Pelinka insane? YOU HAVE LUKA DONCIC AND LEBRON JAMES ON YOUR TEAM TODAY! https://t.co/gRzF13qQer
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 1, 2025
That is the correct response.
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In essence: What are the Lakers doing?
Sure, they may not have wanted to pay anyone the big bucks in this particular free agent class. But to already be targeting free agency two years down the road is a tough look.
As O'Connor says, there's no way of really knowing who will be available in general, or specifically available to L.A.
And it also doesn't seem like a good way to maximize the title window of a team that already includes two of the most gifted players in the history of basketball.
The Lakers evidently have their minds made up, though. Look out two years from now, because Los Angeles might finally break out the checkbook.
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