NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski doesn’t believe the Los Angeles Lakers will make a blockbuster move this offseason.
“There’s no big game hunting out there for this Lakers organization,” Wojnarowski said. “In this league right now, with a new collective bargaining agreement, you can’t really have three max superstars and expect to have any depth on your roster. It’s going to look a lot the same.”
The Lakers made it to the 2023 Western Conference Finals after starting the 2022-23 season 2-10. Even though LA got swept by the Denver Nuggets in the conference finals, the front office is prioritizing roster continuity.
Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura become restricted free agents this offseason, while D’Angelo Russell, Dennis Schroder and Lonnie Walker IV become unrestricted free agents. Los Angeles is expected to re-sign Reaves, Hachimura and Russell.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: LeBron James, Anthony Davis & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Getting LeBron James and Anthony Davis healthy is important for the Lakers. Both superstars played through serious injuries in the 2023 playoffs. James has a torn tendon in his right foot and the NBA legend may need surgery this summer, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. If James has surgery, he could be sidelined for two months.
“Lakers superstar LeBron James played the last few months with a torn tendon in his foot that could require surgery this offseason, league sources confirmed to The Athletic,” Charania wrote. “James will undergo further evaluations, but a surgery that could sideline him for two months during the offseason is among the possibilities, sources indicated. If surgery is required, James would be expected to recover by the start of training camp next season.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: LeBron James, Anthony Davis & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
James suffered his foot injury on February 26 against the Dallas Mavericks. The four-time MVP was told by two doctors to undergo season-ending surgery, but LeBron opted not to.
LeBron has never undergone surgery during his legendary NBA career. It’s incredible that the future Hall of Famer was able to play so well despite being 38 years old and having a serious foot injury. James averaged 25.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists in eight games to close out the regular season after he came back from his injury. The Akron Hammer then put up 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game in the playoffs.
A 19-time All-Star, James signed a two-year extension with the Lakers last summer. The Chosen One has a player option for the 2024-25 season.
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