Lakers' Top Trade Targets, Signings to Help Luka After LeBron James' Decision in NBA Free Agency

The clarity that the Los Angeles Lakers had been seeking ahead of free agency finally came on Tuesday with ESPN's Shams Charania reporting LeBron James has informed them he intends to sign elsewhere for the 2026-27 season.

James' contract and $59.5 million cap hold were hovering over everything for the Lakers going into this summer. Now that they know he won't be returning, they can plan for what they want the roster to look like with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves definitively their top two players.

Per ESPN's Bobby Marks, the Lakers are projected to have $52 million in cap space to add to their roster via free agency and trades.

James' departure would seem to increase the chances Rui Hachimura, who is also set to become a free agent, returns to the Lakers since they need starters and wing depth.

Lu Dort is another potential target for the Lakers if the Oklahoma City Thunder look to trade the veteran three-and-D starter.

The other key spot on the roster the Lakers need to address is center, with players like Jalen Duren and Mitchell Robinson potential options when the free-agent negotiating period begins on Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET.

Lakers' Top Trade Targets

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The Lakers are set to have Deandre Ayton back next season after he opted in to his $8.1 million salary, but it would make sense if they tried to use his expiring salary as a trade piece.

Even if they can't find a take for Ayton, it shouldn't preclude them from scouring the center market.

One name that appears to be near the top of the Lakers' wish list is Duren, who is set to hit restricted free agency coming off an All-Star season. He would likely have to be acquired via sign-and-trade with the Detroit Pistons.

Duren is scheduled to meet with Lakers officials at some point when free agency opens as his contract talks with the Pistons have stalled, but this could also be a situation where Detroit uses other teams to negotiate a contract for him.

NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Friday that the Pistons are conveying they won't deal Duren and plan to come to terms on an agreement.

The Lakers could try to blow any potential offer sheet he receives out of the water, but that also runs the risk of overpaying a player who showed some cracks in his game during the playoffs last season.

Another option that might make even more sense as a fit for the Lakers is Dort. The Thunder have already started getting rid of some money on their books by trading Isaiah Joe to Detroit for two future second-round draft picks.

Oklahoma City has done enough business already to get under the second apron, even after picking up Dort's $17.7 million salary for next season, so trading him may not be as likely as it once seemed.

Given that Cason Wallace is up for an extension and arguably a more important player for the Thunder than Dort, there's still a way to imagine Dort being moved.

NBA insider Jake Fischer reported earlier this month that the Lakers called Oklahoma City about a potential Dort trade. His defensive prowess would be a huge asset for a Lakers team that needs a lot of help in that area to be a title contender in the West.

Lakers' Top Free Agent Targets

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Hachimura's path back to the Lakers seems to have opened up a lot in recent days.

In addition to James' decision providing clarity on the Lakers' cap, one potential destination for Hachimura may not have the money to get him anymore.

After the San Antonio Spurs agreed to bring back Harrison Barnes on a one-year, $8 million contract and Julian Champagnie on a three-year, $45 million deal, they have essentially left themselves with the $15 million midlevel exception to use without going into the tax.

Fischer and Stein listed a group of free-agent forwards the Spurs were interested in, with Hachimura among them. The Brooklyn Nets were also cited as a potential landing spot.

The Lakers offer Hachimura stability because he already knows their system well and has had success in it, shooting over 40.0 percent from three in each of the past three seasons.

If the Lakers don't want to try playing the restricted free-agent game for Duren, they have plenty of cap space to poach Robinson from the New York Knicks.

Knicks governor James Dolan has been adamant about not going into the second apron. They are currently just $21 million under that threshold with Robinson as their most prominent free agent.

Robinson could reportedly land a deal that starts around the $15 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception, pushing the Knicks right up against the second apron.

Robinson's rebounding and ability as a lob threat for Dončić would make him an ideal center for their team if they want to make an aggressive push to get him away from the reigning NBA champs.