Brooklyn Nets Waive Malachi Smith

Jalen Duren Reportedly Schedules Second Meeting With Lakers After ‘Productive’ First Call

At the start of free agency on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers’ focus was on young restricted free agent big men as they reportedly met with both Walker Kessler in person and Jalen Duren on a call. It remains to be seen if they can get either to leave their current teams, but according to []

Rui Hachimura Could Return If Lakers Clear Jarred Vanderbilt Or Deandre Ayton

The Los Angeles Lakers do not currently have any remaining cap space to re-sign Rui Hachimura, with 13 roster spots filled and only veteran minimum contracts available for outside additions. Hachimura earned 18.3 million last season and posted 17.5 points per game on 54.9 shooting, including 56.9 from three-point range, to go with 4.0 rebounds during the playoffs. Hachimura's unsigned status has prompted speculation among league sources about a possible trade or use of the stretch provision that the Lakers could make to free up space involving Jarred Vanderbilt or Deandre Ayton. Vanderbilt is on a 12.43 million expiring contract as he wraps his four-year, 48 million deal. Ayton picked up his 8.1 million option for the 2026-27 season. The Lakers signed Sandro Mamukelashvili to a four-year, 52 million contract and shot 38.9 from three on a career-high 3.7 attempts per game last season, providing similar size and shooting to Hachimura. The San Antonio Spurs had emerged as a possible destination for Hachimura in free agency, but went inandother direction on Wednesday by reaching agreement with Tobias Harris.

LeBron James, 41, to Leave Lakers as He Eyes Next Chapter

Jason Miller / Getty ImagesLeBron James is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons. The NBA superstar informed the team that he plans to continue his career elsewhere and will enter free agency this summer. Despite retirement rumors, the 41-year-old is expected to return for a record 24th NBA season. During his time in Los Angeles, he helped lead the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship, earned Finals MVP honors, and became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. He averaged 25.9 points, 7.9 assists, and 7.7 rebounds during his Lakers tenure while earning multiple All-Star and All-NBA selections. The Lakers reportedly remained interested in bringing James back, but the franchise has increasingly shifted its focus toward building around Luka Dončić, who joined in a 161,000,000 trade in 2025. James has not announced where he will play next, but the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are among the teams already being mentioned as potential landing spots.Read it at ESPNRead more at The Daily Beast.

Ex-Arizona center Deandre Ayton exercises player option to remain with Lakers

Deandre Ayton is opting to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers, though it’s to be seen whether the Lakers will opt to keep with the former Arizona big man. Ayton has exercised his player option to return to the Lakers for a second year, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday. Ayton will make 8.1 million in []