The Los Angeles Lakers officially signed free agents Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and Jaxson Hayes on Sunday. While these signings likely won’t make them legitimate championship contenders this coming season, it is a solid start to this offseason.
Ayton will be paid $8.1 million this coming season after agreeing to a buyout of his previous contract with the Portland Trail Blazers last Sunday. That previous contract would’ve paid him $35.55 million for the 2025-26 campaign. LaRavia will get the remaining $6 million of the Lakers’ full mid-level exception.
It was expected that Hayes would perhaps sign for the veteran’s minimum salary. However, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Hayes will get $3.45 million this coming season, which is 120% of his six-year minimum.
Therefore, Los Angeles will have just $3.9 million of its bi-annual exception to use on at least one more free agent — but only if it waives guard Shake Milton.
The NBA’s new salary cap structure, which is essentially a hard cap, has changed how teams are making moves across the league. With LeBron James exercising his player option for a mammoth $52.6 million, the Lakers are short on options as far as getting one or two more players to put them over the top.
Most agree the team needs one or two two-way players at the guard and wing spots to become a serious title contender. It could perhaps kill two birds with one stone by executing a trade to bring in a useful player while also shedding a bit of salary in order to open up the full bi-annual exception.
Los Angeles is not necessarily done making moves. In addition to the lingering chance of a trade being made, the team is reportedly expected to sign guard De’Anthony Melton, and it also has interest in guard Ryan Rollins.
For now, fans will likely wonder why Hayes was signed to more than the veteran’s minimum while perhaps criticizing general manager Rob Pelinka for doing so.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Details on Lakers’ free agent signings, salary cap flexibility
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
