The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for a busy offseason in their quest to become legitimate championship contenders in the 2025-26 season. With free agency set to open on June 30, Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus has released his projections for what the Lakers’ offseason might look like.
Pincus believes the Lakers will bring in Clint Capela using the taxpayer mid-level exception. Capela, who played for the Atlanta Hawks last season, averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game.
Lakers insider Anthony Irwin has also identified Capela as a potential backup center for next season. While the Swiss big man may no longer be in his prime, he still offers strong rebounding and rim protection off the bench.
Capela is likely to be the only major new addition, according to Pincus, who expects LeBron James and Dorian Finney-Smith to re-sign with the Lakers.
James, now 40, averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game last season. He holds a $52.6 million player option for 2025-26, and as Pincus noted, “he is expected to opt into it,” although a two-year deal with a player option remains a possibility. Despite his age, James continues to perform at an elite level, earning All-NBA Second Team honors in 2025.
Finney-Smith, who joined midseason from the Brooklyn Nets, made a strong defensive impact, posting averages of 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.9 steals. He has a $15.4 million player option for the upcoming season, which he is reportedly likely to decline. Notably, “Finney-Smith also hinted that he won’t take a pay cut to remain with the Lakers,” Pincus reported. His next deal could fall in the $12–16 million per year range, depending on contract length.
If the Lakers manage to add a starting-caliber center and a strong wing defender, they’ll have a solid offseason showing. Whether these moves are enough to elevate them to title contention remains to be seen. However, there’s reason to believe they’ll improve upon this year’s disappointing playoff run, where they were eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games.
