The Lakers are holding their big moves for the free market in 2026. James blocks the Lakers way? The new three giants?

Recently, LeBron James finally chose the player option to execute $52.6 million and continue to compete for the Lakers next season. At the age of 41, he is about to usher in his 23rd season in his career, surpassing Vince Carter to become the player in the NBA for the longest time. Last season, James was still vigorous, with averaging 24+7+8 per game, not like a 40-year-old veteran, and he also led the Lakers into the playoffs.

However, the Lakers management is having a headache now. The team's salary is exploding, and the reinforcement can only rely on the 5.7 million yuan special case of the middle class, and the inside loopholes are still waiting to be filled. What's more subtle is that as Doncic takes the lead as the core, James' role in the Lakers is quietly changing. Whether this last season is "tour mode" or "tour mode" depends on how Pelinka operates it.

LeBron James is now like a shrewd old captain, knowing that his ship is about to dock, but he still wants to catch a net of big fish in the end, the championship. The 40-year-old James knows better than anyone else. Time doesn't wait for anyone, and he can't wait for the Lakers to slowly train Doncic and Rivers. Although the Lakers offered him a three-year maximum salary renewal of 260 million yuan, the team's current mind is obviously not "winning in the present", but thinking about how to build a team around Doncic in the future. In contrast, Antetokounmpo is still in his peak period, and the Bucks can slowly adjust their lineup, but James does not have this luxury.

The Lakers are really a chance to get a bargain this time! After Ayton was cut by the Trail Blazers, he became a "hot commodity" in the free market, while the Lakers were worried that no one would use it in the inside - last season's rebounds were third and fifth from the inside score, Hays topped the center, and protecting the basket was like a piece of paper. Although Ayton was criticized for being "soft-minded", the data is not bad: he averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, shooting percentage of 56.6%, scoring at the basket, and rebounding percentage of 17.3%, which is definitely the right to fight. More importantly, he and Doncic belong to the Excel Sports agency, and Pelinka can play the "favor card" and use the middle class special case (about 12.9 million) to buy the bottom and sign people, which is much more cost-effective than smashing the first round of Capela. If it works, the Lakers' insider will immediately turn from a "couple" into an iron gate, and Doncic's feeding cakes can make Ayton full! The

Rockets' operation is fast, accurate and ruthless! As soon as the free market opened, it immediately grabbed the "electric fan" Finney Smith for 4 years and directly intercepted the Lakers. This guy was very tough and wanted to choose a player of 15.4 million, so he bet on the free market to get a big contract. As a result, the Rockets really got it in place. He also brought the player option in the last year, and he made a sure profit without losing money.

Last season, his three-pointers were outrageously accurate (41% career high), and his defense was even more ruthless, pushing his half-time shooting percentage against the All-Stars to 47%, and his hardcore data in the top ten defense list of the league. The Lakers originally planned to use 54 million to retain players in three years, but as soon as the Rockets took action, the Lakers management could only stare at them. The "loan players" that came in three rotations completely flew away, and even the 14.1 million middle-class exception was too late to use.

Fenny Smith first refused the option of 15.4 million players and turned around to sign a four-year, 53 million deal with the Rockets. What's even more heartbreaking is that the two centers that the Lakers are interested in were intercepted. Capela returned to the Rockets as a substitute for 21.5 million in three years, and Lopez joined the Clippers in the same city for 18 million in two years, and Zubac. Now the Lakers only have two cards left in their hands: 14.1 million middle class and 5.1 million biennium special case, but any one of them will trigger the hard salary cap, and the management is so worried that their hair will be bald. Seeing the Western Conference opponents crazy strengthening, the Lakers still count on Hayes and Wood, the two "temporary workers" in the center position, may be hit by various insiders in the new season.

On July 1, Lakers team reporter Dan Woike revealed that the Lakers are holding their big moves for the free market in 2026, with their goal directly targeting super giants like Antetokounmpo. However, James has implemented the 52.6 million player option, and his salary is directly stuck. The Lakers can only make careful calculations and would rather give up the long contract. Even the renewal of their own "village Mamba" Reeves, for fear of affecting the 2026 money-spending plan. To put it bluntly, the Lakers are now "strengthening their belts and waiting for big fish". They bet that superstars like Antetokounmpo can form the Big Three in two years, otherwise Doncic will be in a single-core lead.