The first week of NBA free agency was largely overshadowed by a player who isn`t a free agent at all.
LeBron James deliberately chose not to become a free agent by opting into the final year of his contract.
“We understand the challenge of winning now while building for the future. We want to assess what`s best for LeBron at this point in his life and career,” stated Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul.
So, what`s next for James and the Los Angeles Lakers this summer? We`ll explore the Lakers` ongoing situation and other key news from around the league after the initial days of free agency.
Where Things Stand with LeBron and the Lakers
After prioritizing Jake LaRavia in free agency (reportedly involving a minor bidding war among teams), the Lakers had roughly $8 million remaining from their midlevel exception. They saw potential center targets like Brook Lopez and Clint Capela sign elsewhere.
Teams with available centers reportedly demanded high prices from the Lakers, recalling the amount L.A. was willing to pay for Mark Williams in the rescinded February trade. This price point, indicating the Lakers` desperation for a center to pair with Luka Doncic, included:
- A young player (2024 first-rounder Dalton Knecht)
- L.A.`s unprotected first-round pick in 2031
- L.A.`s unprotected pick swap in 2030
Five months later, the Lakers still lacked a center. This changed on Wednesday when they agreed to sign Deandre Ayton after he cleared waivers following his somewhat unexpected buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers.
Ayton is not a perfect solution; Portland waived him on a max contract for reasons. However, the 2018 No. 1 draft pick is talented and arguably the best available center this summer after Myles Turner.
Reports suggest Ayton could be a beneficial addition for the Lakers, offering a notable improvement over last year`s center, Jaxson Hayes, who the Lakers reportedly re-signed as Ayton`s backup Thursday evening.
All these roster moves remain secondary as the league awaits further indication of James` feelings, about which nothing public has emerged since Paul`s cryptic comment.
The situation appears to be a confusing exchange of passive-aggressive actions. James could have created a truly chaotic scenario by opting out of his final contract year to become a free agent, as one executive noted.
Instead, James chose to receive his salary and, perhaps more significantly, keep his no-trade clause. This decision seemed to imply his intention to play his eighth season with the Lakers.
However, Paul`s statement was open to interpretation. Since then, there has been no public comment from James, Paul, or anyone in the Lakers organization, including general manager Rob Pelinka, coach JJ Redick, governor Jeanie Buss, or Mark Walter, the recent multi-billion dollar investor who acquired ownership rights from Buss.
Even the Lakers` lack of a formal announcement about James picking up his option, given his status as an all-time great, conveyed a nonverbal message.
What Happens Next?
This is a major point of discussion across the league. A trade isn`t impossible (especially after the Doncic trade), but it`s improbable given James` large salary and no-trade clause.
Some teams reportedly made tentative inquiries to see if the situation was significant or not. Currently, there`s no active trade talk, but it`s certainly being watched.
The idea of buying out James` contract, even with a partial salary return, doesn`t seem logical. This isn`t comparable to the Milwaukee Bucks` situation with Damian Lillard, a future Hall of Famer sidelined by a torn Achilles.
James was a second-team All-NBA selection last season for the Western Conference`s third seed, achieved with a less-than-fully-fit Doncic. Why would the Lakers simply let such a player leave?
In a league accustomed to unusual circumstances, this situation is uniquely perplexing. However, speculation about James playing elsewhere next season will persist until either he or the Lakers definitively rule it out.
How Much Have the Denver Nuggets Improved?
The past week has been busy for the Nuggets and their new executive leadership under Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace.
The Nuggets completed one of the summer`s significant trades, sending Michael Porter Jr. and their unprotected 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson. They also acquired Jonas Valanciunas for Dario Saric and signed Tim Hardaway Jr. and former Nugget Bruce Brown to bolster their bench depth.
The trade involving Porter and Johnson is expected to save Denver $34 million over the next two seasons and move them out of the luxury tax penalties for the upcoming season. This marks their most active offseason since 2022, prior to winning the championship, when they acquired Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and initially signed Bruce Brown.
According to one general manager, Denver`s 2032 pick was a “prized asset” that teams were watching to see if the Nuggets would use it.
One league executive commented that while Cam Johnson has a history of health issues, Porter`s chronic back and knee problems justify the trade. They believe Johnson and Jokic will complement each other well on the court due to similar basketball IQ.
This influx of veteran talent strengthens the bench, a need former coach Michael Malone frequently highlighted, often being encouraged by former GM Calvin Booth to prioritize developing younger draft picks instead.
“They`ve improved shooting. Jonas is a capable backup, Hardaway Jr. is great off the bench, and Bruce Brown is a good project. The previous approach was overly focused on youth. The main goal is simply supporting Jokic,” observed one scout.
Despite addressing key weaknesses, opinions vary on whether the Nuggets are closer to winning another championship. As one rival GM put it, “Only one person needs to be impressed with their offseason: Jokic. The most effective moves often energize your superstar. If Jokic is motivated by these changes, then it was a successful summer.”
A potential complication for Denver is the report from BasketNews suggesting Jonas Valanciunas might return to Europe next season, potentially joining Greek club Panathinaikos.
Several steps would be necessary: Denver would likely need to waive him and buy out his $10 million contract, and the NBA would need to issue a letter of clearance for Valanciunas.
While not unprecedented (Sasha Vezenkov had a similar buyout with the Toronto Raptors last year), this differs significantly. Vezenkov was a minor player on a lottery team, whereas Valanciunas was recently acquired to address a need for a championship contender.
Therefore, it`s highly uncertain whether the Nuggets would agree to facilitate this move.
Eastern Conference Landscape After Injuries and Offseason Changes
Entering the playoffs, the Boston Celtics were widely favored to reach the NBA Finals again. By the start of Game 7 of those Finals, the Indiana Pacers, after an impressive East playoff run, were not only contending for their first title but also seen as early favorites for the next season.
However, Achilles tendon tears sustained by Olympic gold medalists Jayson Tatum (Celtics forward) and Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers guard) have significantly altered the Eastern Conference outlook. As one assistant coach put it, “It`s as messy as it`s ever been – again.”
The consensus view places the East teams into three tiers: The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks are considered top contenders, followed by the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic, with the remaining teams forming a less distinct group.
The Philadelphia 76ers receiving votes highlights their potential ceiling if they can field a healthy roster. However, the injury histories of Joel Embiid and Paul George, coupled with the team`s difficult 2024-25 season, reduce the likelihood of reaching that potential.
Notably, Boston, Indiana, and Miami Heat, teams with a combined seven of the last eight conference finals appearances, received no votes among the top four contenders.
“Working in this league teaches you the fragility of everything, even for seemingly invincible top teams with star players,” an East GM commented.
“The past few months have certainly reinforced that,” they added.
Middle-Tier Players Benefiting in Free Agency
As 2025 free agency unfolded, criticism arose (including from Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors) suggesting the collective bargaining agreement negatively affects players while benefiting the league.
Green criticized the deal on his podcast, saying, “Before the deal was even signed, I said this was ridiculous. It will ultimately harm players. Nobody listened, and everyone pretended the NBPA was securing a great deal…”
“Every year, the revenue grows, the business thrives, and players get increasingly disadvantaged. That`s just how this business operates,” he added.
However, it`s also true that in an offseason where initially only the Brooklyn Nets had significant cap space (before the Bucks freed up space for Myles Turner), many `middle-class` players have secured lucrative contracts.
Players like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dennis Schroder, Dorian Finney-Smith, Caris LeVert, Duncan Robinson, Luke Kornet, and Luke Kennard signed contracts worth over $10 million annually with new teams. Others, including Brook Lopez, Clint Capela, Kevon Looney, Ty Jerome, Ayton, LaRavia, Guerschon Yabusele, and Tyus Jones, received at least the taxpayer`s midlevel exception ($5.7 million). Additionally, players such as Naz Reid, Santi Aldama, Sam Merrill, Davion Mitchell, Tre Jones, Tre Mann, and Jaylin Williams signed significant deals to remain with their current teams.
A common concern under the new CBA was that lower-tier players would struggle. However, this summer demonstrates that even with limited team cap space, these players are finding opportunities.
“The middle class is definitely thriving,” remarked one executive.
The CBA`s Second Apron: Functioning as Designed
The CBA, particularly the restrictive second apron, significantly impacts roster construction. This offseason, both the Phoenix Suns and Celtics moved below the second apron, leaving only the Cavaliers projected to be above it by the end of the 2025-26 season.
Historically, few teams consistently operate at that spending level.
Since the 2013-14 season and the introduction of new repeater tax penalties, 37 teams have finished a season far enough above the salary cap (approximately 134%) to reach the spending level corresponding to the second apron.
In the first six seasons (up to the 2019-20 season affected by COVID), only 14 teams crossed this threshold, with a maximum of three in any single season. However, since the league concluded its season in the Orlando bubble, 23 teams have exceeded this level, including 17 between 2021-22 and 2023-24. This increase was primarily driven by the salary cap stagnation caused by the pandemic`s aftermath.
Last season saw the number drop back to three teams (Minnesota, Phoenix, and Boston) above the second apron. As the salary cap resumes regular growth, the increased flexibility for teams with lower salary structures will become more significant, unlike recent years where limited cap space restricted movement.
“This CBA is beneficial for the NBA,” stated one executive, “as it rewards effective management and leadership. Without it, teams risk becoming poor performers.”
