To match Adebayo’s $37 million salary for the 2025-26 season, the Lakers — who are operating as a first-apron luxury tax team — could feasibly offer a trade package centered around Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Maxi Kleber, along with a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick swap.
Adebayo’s new three-year, $165 million extension is set to begin in the 2026-27 season and runs through 2028-29, during which he will earn an average of $55 million per year. Any team aiming to trade for him would likely want to act before the extension begins.
Is Miami Willing to Part With Bam?
While trade rumors abound, it remains unlikely that Miami parts ways with their homegrown All-Star.
After the Lakers’ playoff exit, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha discussed how Adebayo could fit alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
“I think he’d be good next to Luka because they’re both All-Star, All-NBA guys, and they’re both smart and they can make it work,” Buha said, via BasketNews.
“I think Bam is not enough of a lob threat for what the Lakers would want. Defensively, he’d be great because he’s a great defender, but I don’t know if they could get him. … From a trade [perspective], I don’t really see LA having enough to offer [to Miami].”
Buha added that even a deal including Reaves, Dalton Knecht, and draft picks might not move the needle for the Heat.
“I don’t think Miami is doing that,” he emphasized
Lakers Urgently Need a True Center
Regardless of whether it’s Adebayo or another option, it’s clear the Lakers need to upgrade at the center position heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
Their lack of size and rim protection was heavily criticized after being eliminated by the Timberwolves in the first round.
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka addressed the issue in his post-season media availability:
“I think in terms of center traits, it would be great to have a center that was a vertical threat, lob threat and someone that could protect the interior defensively. I think those would be keys,” Pelinka said via LakersNation.
“But there’s multiple different types of centers that could be very effective in the league. There’s also spread centers that can protect the rim, we’ll look at those as well. I wouldn’t want to limit the archetype, but we know we need a big man.”
According to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints, rival teams are aware of the Lakers’ urgent need for a center — which may drive up asking prices in trade negotiations.
A former NBA executive told Irwin:
“The whole league knows that not only do the Lakers need a starting center and probably a backup, but they need to bring someone in who Luka is going to want to play with. They basically have to hope someone else reaches their current level of desperation so that the talks can be held on even footing.”
