The Los Angeles Lakers have prioritized flexibility with their offseason moves, sources told Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
The team’s strategy of not signing free agents past 2027 was previously seen as a path to signing a max free agent, but a source told McMenamin that the true focus is on the ability to pivot throughout a season.
“If you don’t have optionality, you get stuck,” the Lakers source told McMenamin.
With the team unwilling to sign Dorian Finney-Smith past 2027, Finney-Smith instead signed a four-year, $53 million with the Rockets. The team signed Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton, and Marcus Smart to two-year deals this offseason.
The Lakers signed Luka Doncic to a three-year, $165 million max extension on Saturday. The deal includes a player option in the third year.
“This is a team that wants to win championships. That hasn’t changed and it won’t change in the future,” the source added.
Rob Pelinka also discussed LeBron James’ future with the team, saying he would be open to James retiring as a Laker.
