The Los Angeles Lakers are making it clear who they see as the foundation of their future Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
The front office is prioritizing both young guards over LeBron James as they shape their long-term roster, according to a new report.
Doncic and Reaves are entering the primes of their careers, while James, now at 40 years old, has been the leagues oldest active player for two straight seasons.
Though James remains one of the most skilled players in the game, his age, mileage, and contract demands have made the Lakers rethink their path forward.
The Lakers are more or less married to their current roster for the next two years, with the biggest factor being LeBron James, Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron detailed. They could bring him back on a one-year maximum-level contract in 2026-27 as they wait out their cap space plans. But Doncic and Reaves are the two priorities in their quest for a star.
That quest for a star may involve chasing some of the leagues biggest names. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo could both hit unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2027, creating a potential opening for the Lakers to make a run.
The fascinating aspect of the 2026 cap space possibility is that the Lakers could use Reavess small $26.5 million cap hold as a placeholder to maximize their space, then go over the cap to re-sign him, Gozlan explained. That wont be the case for 2027 since hell already be re-signed. That makes projecting 2027 cap space tricky since it requires an estimate for his salary.
For now, the Lakers future is clear: build around Doncic and Reaves while LeBrons situation becomes more fluid. James could still return on a short-term deal, but its no longer his team alone.
READ MORE: LeBrons Role Shifts as Lakers Hand Franchise to Luka Doncic
