Lakers Have Multiple Roster Decisions to Make Soon

The Los Angeles Lakers finished fourth in the Western Conference this past season, earning a first-round series win over Houston before getting swept by Oklahoma City in the Conference Semifinals.

It was a year that proved the roster has talent but still needs work, and now the front office has a full plate of decisions heading into the offseason.

Five of them all come due on the same date, June 29, when player and team options across the league need to be settled.

The most important decision belongs to Austin Reaves, who holds a $14.9 million player option for next season.

Reaves posted 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game across 51 games while putting up career-best numbers before an injury slowed him late in the year.

At 28, he is widely expected to decline the option and hit free agency, where multiple teams are reportedly ready to throw max-level money at him.

The Lakers will almost certainly pay enough to keep him, but it will not come cheap.

DeAndre Ayton holds an $8.1 million player option after averaging 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds on 67.1 percent shooting in 72 games.

The former No. 1 overall pick started at center, but the Lakers have been vocal about wanting a frontcourt upgrade to better fit Luka Doncic's play style.

Ayton likely picks up the option since his market value probably does not exceed that number right now, giving the Lakers flexibility to explore a trade or keep him in a smaller role.

Marcus Smart sits on a $5.4 million player option and is reportedly hoping for a new deal and a raise rather than simply picking up the option.

Smart averaged 9.3 points and 3.0 assists in 62 games with a plus-8.2 net rating, proving himself as a defensive anchor next to Doncic and Reaves.

The Lakers want him back, and his fit on this roster gives both sides reason to work something out.

Bronny James carries a fully guaranteed $2.5 million salary for next season, though the Lakers could save roughly $1.2 million by waiving him before the deadline and only owing $1.3 million.

Given the organization's ties to LeBron James and the bigger questions facing this franchise, waiving Bronny seems highly unlikely.

The expectation is that he stays.

Nick Smith Jr. has a $2.5 million team option that is non-guaranteed until January 10, 2027, and he cannot be traded until July 12.

After averaging 6.0 points on 40.0 percent three-point shooting in 29 games off the bench, the 22-year-old showed enough to justify picking up the option with almost no financial risk attached.