The Lakers have a busy summer in 2024 that could see many players leave which would result in a major rebuild.
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The Los Angeles Lakers (36-30) are currently 9th in the Western Conference mainly due to LeBron James and Anthony Davis playing at All-Star levels. The King is averaging 25.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game while Davis is chipping in 24.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game so far, and that is the main reason the Lakers are looking to sneak into the postseason through the play-in tournament yet again.
That still means this summer is extremely important. The Lakers likely won’t win the NBA championship since the Denver Nuggets are the favorites in the West, without even mentioning the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks in the East. The Lakers’ contract status in the summer of 2024 is very interesting, and there could be a host of players who will leave the team.
Austin Reaves – Via Trade
Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Contract Status: $12,976,362 In 2024-25, $13,937,574 In 2025-26, $14,898,786 Player Option In 2026-27
2023-24 Season Statistics: 15.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 5.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Austin Reaves has been somewhat of a revelation for the Lakers after earning major minutes in the 2021-22 season as an undrafted rookie. His offensive skills have massively improved but there are doubts about his ability to be a long-term third option behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Reaves is effective at handling the ball and also creating offense, but is he untouchable?
The answer is no. The Lakers need to go all-in this summer to acquire a third bonafide All-Star and waiting for the nearly 26-year-old to somehow develop into one is not the right approach. The Purple and Gold will be ruthless this summer and Reaves will be the player opposing teams will be asking for, quite rightly.
A package that could be of use for the Lakers includes Austin Reaves heading over to the Atlanta Hawks in a package centered around All-Star point guard, Trae Young. The Lakers need a third star, and even if Young isn’t quite available, other options include trading for Dejounte Murray or DeMar DeRozan. Reaves is the Lakers’ hottest trade commodity and he could be leveraged to create a Big Three.
Rui Hachimura – Via Trade
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Contract Status: $17,000,000 In 2024-25, $18,259,259 In 2025-26
2023-24 Season Statistics: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Rui Hachimura is another interesting player who seems to be plateauing right now. His numbers haven’t improved as a member of the Lakers despite his talent which is easy to see. The Japanese forward has a consistent mid-range jumper and can also battle down low, making him a versatile offensive threat.
At 26 years old, Hachimura also has plenty of time to develop his game even more although he might never reach All-Star status. That is exactly why the Lakers will look to trade him this summer and why he isn’t untouchable because rebuilding teams with star players will happily take back a young scorer if it means heading toward the tanking process.
Rui could probably be included in any huge blockbuster deal this summer, and the Lakers would look to find a third star such as Trae Young, Zach LaVine, Dejounte Murray, or DeMar DeRozan (sign-and-trade scenario). These are the most readily available stars who could come to the Lakers, meaning Hachimura could be sacrificed for the right player.
Jarred Vanderbilt – Via Trade
Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Contract Status: $10,714,286 In 2024-25, $11,571,429 In 2025-26, $12,428,571 In 2026-27, $13,285,714 Player Option In 2027-28
2023-24 Season Statistics: 5.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Jarred Vanderbilt went from being untouchable last season to one of the Lakers’ most valuable trade assets. At nearly 25 years old, Vanderbilt is on a team-friendly deal that pays him under $13 million per season until 2026-27. He is an above-average defender, has size and athleticism at 6’8”, and could start for a few NBA teams right now. The Lakers probably don’t want to use athletes, but they need to do what it takes to create a Big Three and the youngster could be used for the right price.
Gabe Vincent – Via Trade
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Contract Status: $11,000,000 In 2024-25, $11,500,000 In 2025-26
2023-24 Season Statistics: 5.4 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.0 BPG
The Lakers fell into the “Kendrick Nunn” trap when they opted to sign the starting point guard for an over-performing Miami Heat team that made the NBA Finals. Vincent certainly had an important role last season, but he has struggled mightily with his health with the Lakers this season. Only posting 5.4 points and 3.0 assists per game over five appearances this season, the Lakers cannot afford to pray that Vincent is healthy and will hope to use his contract that pays him $11,000,000 and $11,500,000 over the next two seasons to sign an All-Star player. Will there be any buyers for Vincent’s contract? That is the question.
Jaxson Hayes – Reject Player Option
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Contract Status: $2,463,946 Player Option In 2024-25
2023-24 Season Statistics: 3.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG
As we will come to see, Jaxson Hayes will be one of the few Lakers players who will almost certainly reject his player option in an effort to secure a longer-term deal from any NBA team out there. Hayes is only 23 years old and stands 7’0” tall, so his potential is still there to see. It would be very surprising if no NBA team strikes a deal for the big man because he can certainly be paid more than what his $2,463,946 player option entails. Acquiring Hayes was a good move at the start of the year, but it just hasn’t materialized on the stat sheet or wins column.
Cam Reddish – Reject Player Option
Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Contract Status: $2,463,946 Player Option In 2024-25
2023-24 Season Statistics: 6.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Cam Reddish is not reaching his potential and something isn’t right with him. He has all the athleticism in the world, is only 24 years old, and was a former No. 10 overall pick. However, he hasn’t found a home yet and it doesn’t seem to be with the Lakers. Reddish will still reject his $2,463,946 player option and look for a long-term deal that pays him the most money this summer. There was nothing wrong with Rob Pelinka’s gamble on him, but it just hasn’t paid off and it could be time to part ways with each other.
Christian Wood – Reject Player Option
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Contract Status: $3,036,040 Player Option In 2024-25
2023-24 Season Statistics: 6.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Some Lakers fans were excited about the Christian Wood signing but the big man hasn’t exactly proven to be untouchable. There is a reason he has bounced around the league over the past few seasons, and the Lakers have come to know why. He loves the three-pointer a little too much, can’t defend well, and rumors about his attitude continue to show up. That isn’t to say Wood is a bad player, because he isn’t, but the big man will probably find a way to get a longer-term deal from another team instead of accepting his $3,036,040 player option this summer.
Jalen Hood-Schifino – Via Trade
Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
Contract Status: $3,879,830 Player Option In 2024-25
2023-24 Season Statistics: 1.6 PPG, 0.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Jalen Hood-Schifino will likely be included in any potential deals that see an All-Star coming to the Lakers. The No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 Draft has potential because he is 6’6” and 215 lbs in the mold of somebody like Taurean Prince, but the Lakers will need to do whatever it takes to improve the roster next season. He is only making $3,879,830 next season so his contract will be a filler beyond anything else this summer.
Free Agents This Summer
Spencer Dinwiddie
Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
2023-24 Season Statistics: 4.9 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Spender Dinwiddie was brought in in the buyout market and he has not exactly lit the Lakers team on fire. There were already doubts about Dinwiddie’s fit with the Lakers because rumors of age and attrition catching up with the guard seem to be weighing him down. He is only averaging 4.9 points and 3.1 assists per game with the Lakers through 12 games, and he will likely leave in free agency if he gets a longer-term deal beyond the minimum elsewhere.
Taurean Prince
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
2023-24 Season Statistics: 9.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Taurean Prince has been one of the standout performers for the Lakers this season, posting 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game on 38.7% from three. Prince has proven to be a very capable starter or bench player, making corner threes and running the floor. At 6’6” and 218 lbs, Prince has the size to be an impact wing player and he has started 49 out of 63 games for the Lakers this season which could see him earn a multi-year deal somewhere else.
Max Christie
Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
2023-24 Season Statistics: 4.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Max Christie, drafted No. 35 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Lakers, has not grown as fast as Lakers Nation would have liked. He is only 21 years old which means there is still plenty of time for him to prove he can play major minutes on an NBA team, but it might not be with the Lakers after this summer. His numbers are unspectacular, he has only played 15.8 minutes per game this season, and the Lakers will have bigger priorities than re-signing the youngster to a long-term deal.
