FSM Recap: Lakers vs Clippers - Game 54 - 2025 | Franchise Sports Media

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FSM Recap: Los Angeles Lakers Offseason – 2025 – Are the Lakers Serious Now?

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Los Angeles Lakers (50-32)

After being eliminated in the first round of the NBA Playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves, changes to the Los Angeles Lakers’ flawed roster were necessary for next season’s team to be a true contender. Los Angeles entered the 2025 offseason with immense pressure to make significant moves, and the front office was constantly under a microscope.

Lakers Rob Pelinka — Photo Credit: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

The Buss family, which had owned the Los Angeles Lakers since 1979, agreed to sell a majority ownership stake to businessman Mark Walter at a valuation of $10 billion. Walter has allowed Jeanie Buss to remain governor of the team and “continue to oversee all team operations on a day-to-day basis for the foreseeable future.”

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka spoke of his expectations for the Lakers’ offseason: “One of our primary goals is going to be to add size in the frontcourt at the center position.”

The Lakers desperately needed a center, and they got a good one, all without breaking the bank. After missing out on Brook Lopez and Clint Capela, Los Angeles pivoted to DeAndre Ayton. It’s a low-risk, high-reward move for a former No. 1 overall pick who still has something to prove.

Ayton agreed to sign with the Lakers on a two-year, $16.6 million agreement, hitting the books for 2025-26 and 2026-27 with a player option in Year 2. He’s also still due $25.6 million from the Portland Trail Blazers following his buyout. Between Portland and the Lakers, Ayton will earn $34 million next season.

“Acquiring a starting-caliber center was the top priority for us this offseason, and we believe Deandre is an amazing solution to that objective and is an ideal player to add to our current core,” Pelinka said on the Ayton signing.

Deandre Ayton | Los Angeles Lakers Offseason — Photo Credit: NBA.com

Ayton, the 2018 No. 1 overall pick who is the only player in NBA history to average 15+ points on 60+ percent shooting in the postseason. He has career averages of 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds on 59 percent shooting over the last seven seasons.

“The teams that me and my agents evaluated during that time span, I feel that the Lakers was the best fit,” Ayton said of his decision. “Being around the two best playmakers in the league, having the fan base behind them (like) I’ve never seen before and just to be a part of it, knowing the winning legacy that this organization has. I know the expectations. I know that winning means a lot here.”

Since his exit from the Phoenix Suns in 2023, Ayton has played in 95 games over the past two seasons for the Trail Blazers (57.9 percent). During his tenure in Portland, Ayton averaged 31.5 minutes, 15.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game on 56.9/16.7/75.5 percent shooting splits.

Ayton even spoke on his critics, saying, “It fuels me. This is a platform I can’t run from. It’s a different type of drive that I’ve been wanting to express for a long time. I think this is perfect timing, here in the Purple and Gold. I can show what I really am and just be around some greats to really emphasize that for me as well.”

Pelinka also said that beyond adding a center this summer, that they were looking to improve defensively, particularly on the wings. However, the opposite happened.

Jake LaRavia | Los Angeles Lakers Offseason — Photo Credit: Getty Images

Former Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith declined his $15.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season and instead agreed to a four-year, $53 million deal with the Houston Rockets. A huge loss for Los Angeles — on multiple fronts, weakening their perimeter depth and defense while strengthening their rivals.

DFS was also one of Doncic’s favorite teammates. Finney-Smith shot a career-high 41 percent from beyond the arc and held All-Star players to 47 percent effective shooting in half-court settings, which ranked top-10 among players to defend 125+ shots last season.

To counter that loss, Los Angeles acquired forward Jake LaRavia on a two-year, $12 million deal. LaRavia logged 66 games last year, initially suiting up for the Memphis Grizzlies, but he ended the season on the Sacramento Kings. LaRavia averaged 20.4 minutes, 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game on 47.5/42.3/67.8 percent shooting splits.

“Jake is a high IQ two-way player, a disruptive defender who uses his size and physicality to create turnovers,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said of LaRavia. “Offensively, he can score at all three levels and has a knack for creating space for himself and his teammates. Being just 23 years old, we think Jake has significant basketball upside, which will be honed nicely in our Lakers basketball development program.”

LaRavia essentially replaces Finney-Smith in the rotation. While Finney-Smith’s defensive presence will be missed, LaRavia may be far more versatile offensively and fits better next to ball-dominant players like Doncic and James.

The biggest concern is whether LaRavia can hold up defensively against elite wings. While not a liability, he’s also not a defensive stopper. Still, this is a smart move with upside, especially on a team built around playmakers.

The Lakers managed to strike gold, enlisting the services of 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, who agreed to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards and quickly signed a two-year, $11 million deal with Los Angeles after clearing waivers.

Marcus Smart | Los Angeles Lakers Offseason — Photo Credit: Boston Globe

Since his departure from the Boston Celtics in 2023, Smart appeared in just 54 games over the past two seasons, playing for the Memphis Grizzlies and the Wizards (32.9 percent). Smart averaged 23.8 minutes, 11.0 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game on 41.1/33.1/76.4 percent shooting splits over that limited stretch.

Keeping those numbers in mind, Smart, a three-time All-Defense first team guard, will have a player option on his new Lakers deal in hopes of entering a more flush 2026 free agency market.

A point of attack defender was needed for Los Angeles — Luka Doncic knew this and reached out to Smart himself, initiating the signing. To sign Smart, the Lakers had to waive guards Jordan Goodwin and Shake Milton. Milton’s $3 million contract for next season would have become fully guaranteed as of the day he was released.

The Draft

The Lakers traded from No. 55 to No. 45 and then No. 45 to No. 36, trading up in order to draft Adou Thiero out of Arkansas. A lot of people had first-round grades on Thiero before his knee injury. If he returns to full health, Los Angeles may have just gotten the steal of the draft.

“It feels good, dream come true, just happy to be here,” said Thiero. “Playing for the Lakers too, that’s a blessing for sure.”

Thiero is a 6’8″, 220 lb forward known for elite athleticism, defensive versatility, and a high motor. He averaged 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game last season. Thiero also shot a hyper-efficient 54.5 percent from the field. However, he wasn’t a great 3-point shooter, shooting just 25.6 percent from deep.

Thiero spoke of his excitement to get started, “It’s going to be fun learning from everybody, but you got LeBron, Luka, AR … I’m just ready to get with the guys and work.”

Villanova star Eric Dixon agreed to a two-way NBA contract with the Lakers. Dixon was the No. 1 scorer in college basketball last season, shooting 41 percent from 3-point range. The Lakers also signed former UNC guard RJ Davis to an Exhibit 10 deal.

Lake Show Extras

Lakers vs Trail Blazers | Franchise Sports Media — Photo Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer/AP

LeBron James opted into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season.

“He knows the Lakers are building for the future,” James’ agent Rich Paul said. “He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”

“LeBron is one of the GOATs of the game and he’s been a completely selfless leader,” Pelinka said of James. “LeBron’s going to have high expectations for the roster and we’re going to do everything we can to meet those. But I also know that he’s still going to give his 110 percent every night, and that never wavers.”

Jaxson Hayes agreed on a one-year deal to return as a backup center for the Lakers. Hayes emerged as the starting center last season and shot a career high 72.2 percent from the field and finished top-10 in field goal percentage allowed as a contesting defender on layups and dunks among players to contest 250+ shots.

Pelinka told reporters that the Lakers kept Alex Len over converting two-way bigs Christian Koloko or Trey Jemison III because they thought that he’s a “good player.” Pelinka noted that their head coach, JJ Redick, controls the rotation and whether Len would play.