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Arthur Kaluma Earns Two-Way Deal From Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are signing forward Arthur Kaluma to a two-way contract, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The 24-year-old just finished an impressive Summer League stint, averaging 18.6 points on 61.0 percent efficiency in Las Vegas. Kaluma made 50.0 percent of his three-point attempts. After going undrafted, Kaluma started his pro career last season with the South Bay Lakers. He notched 14.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in the G League. It's likely Kaluma will also spend most of the upcoming campaign in the minors.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Matisse Thybulle Signs a One-Year Deal With the Lakers
The Lakers have signed free agent guard/forward Matisse Thybulle to a one-year, $3.3 million deal, per Shams Charania of ESPN, adding perimeter defense next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Thybulle averaged 5.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals in 16.0 minutes across 30 games with Portland last season while shooting 39.8 percent from deep. His fantasy case is narrow but specific: a two-time All-Defensive wing who ranks among the league's steals leaders and now spaces the floor at a respectable clip. Standard league managers can pass given the low scoring and modest minutes, but deep leaguers chasing steals and threes can stream him if the role holds. He appeared in just 45 games over his last two Portland seasons, though, a durability flag on top of a low-minute role behind a crowded Lakers wing group.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Cameron Carr Notches 23 Points in Lakers' Win Over the Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Cameron Carr notched 23 points on 8-for-18 shooting with three triples, adding two assists, one rebound, and one block in 29 minutes during Tuesday's 99-85 Las Vegas Summer League win over the Clippers. The No. 24 pick has been the story of Los Angeles' summer, and he closed this one with eight straight points to break the game open. He's playing through a right thumb contusion that cost him a game against Dallas last week. The one rebound in 29 minutes is the tell. Carr is a pure scorer right now, and on a Lakers team that runs its offense through Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, a rookie wing earns minutes by defending and rebounding, not by getting shots. The scoring alone won't put him on the floor.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Ziaire Williams Lands With Lakers on One-Year Deal
Free-agent forward Ziaire Williams has agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The 24-year-old spent last season with Brooklyn, averaging 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.4 steals in 22.9 minutes while shooting 42.5% from the field and 34.3% from three-point range. Williams gives Los Angeles another long wing, but his fantasy case is thin unless the shooting improvement sticks and he earns enough bench minutes to keep the steals coming.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Adou Thiero Leads Lakers With 20 Points Against Thunder
Los Angeles Lakers forward Adou Thiero finished with 20 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks across 30 minutes in Friday's 96-84 Summer League win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The second-year wing returned to the lineup after missing Monday's California Classic finale and gave Los Angeles a strong two-way performance. Thiero shot 8-for-14 from the field but missed all five three-point attempts and went 2-for-5 at the line. Thiero's steals, blocks, and rim pressure give him a strong Summer League foundation, but his jumper still needs to catch up before his role can grow.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
AK Okereke Lands a Two-Way Deal With the Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers have made official their two-way signing of undrafted forward AK Okereke, Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation reports, filling the last of their three two-way slots. Okereke is a 6-7 floor-spacer who spent his final college season as a graduate transfer at Vanderbilt, averaging 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 40.0 percent from three. The stroke is real, but the fantasy path isn't. Okereke is an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract, which caps his active games, and he's buried on a win-now roster built around Luka Doncic. Expect most of his season to come with the South Bay Lakers.
Source: Ryan Ward
Source: Ryan Ward
Adou Thiero Stuffs the Box Score in Sunday's California Classic Victory
Los Angeles Lakers forward Adou Thiero delivered a strong all-around performance Sunday in the California Classic Summer League. He finished with 13 points, three rebounds, three steals, and two assists across 28 minutes during a 93-91 double-overtime win over the Miami Heat. The second-year forward made an impact with his activity on both ends, but his shooting remains a concern after he went 3-for-9 from the field, 0-for-2 from three-point range, and 4-for-7 at the line. Thiero's defense and downhill scoring are useful, but he needs a more reliable jumper to carve out steady fantasy value on a veteran-heavy Lakers roster.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
LeBron James Gets Free-Agent Call From Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets reached out to free-agent forward LeBron James to express interest, according to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. ESPN's Shams Charania reported earlier that James plans to leave the Lakers after eight seasons, and the 41-year-old still produced 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in his 23rd NBA season. A James-Nikola Jokić pairing would likely boost efficiency and assists while lowering pure usage, with Jamal Murray losing some on-ball volume but gaining cleaner looks. Aaron Gordon would be the likeliest starter squeezed if Denver actually landed James, while Peyton Watson and Cameron Johnson would face tighter forward-minute paths.
Source: Bennett Durando
Source: Bennett Durando
LeBron James Draws Surprise Interest From the 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers have emerged as a surprise suitor for free agent LeBron James, reaching out to gauge his interest, Tony Jones of The Athletic reports. The opening stems from Wednesday's blockbuster, as Philadelphia flipped Paul George to Boston for Jaylen Brown, leaving a gap at power forward between Brown and Joel Embiid that the 41-year-old could fill. James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds across 60 games and remains a multi-category anchor, though slotting behind Tyrese Maxey and Brown would trim the usage that drives his playmaking. The real fantasy variable isn't talent at this point. Entering a record 24th season, his rest schedule and games played will swing his value more than any change of address.
Source: Tony Jones
Source: Tony Jones
LeBron James Prioritizes Title Chase in Free Agency
Free-agent forward LeBron James will be patient and open-minded while choosing his next team, but Chris Haynes reports that his priority is finding a realistic path to a championship. The 41-year-old is still producing at a strong fantasy level, averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across 60 games for the Lakers last season. The landing spot matters more than the name value now. A contender could protect his minutes or lower his usage, but James still brings enough scoring, passing, and efficiency to hold fantasy value if he remains a central offensive piece. Durability and rest risk will be the bigger concerns.
Source: Chris Haynes
Source: Chris Haynes
Cavaliers Could Move Max Strus to Clear Room for LeBron James
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Max Strus has been discussed in ongoing trade conversations, according to Jake Fischer, as the Cavaliers look for ways to create space for LeBron James and improve their chances of retaining Dean Wade. Strus averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists last season, but he was limited to 12 regular-season games before rejoining the rotation in the playoffs. His $16.7 million expiring salary makes him a logical trade chip, though a move away from Cleveland could cut either way for fantasy. Strus needs steady minutes and high-volume perimeter work to matter, so landing spot would be everything.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Brandon Ingram Shipped To Los Angeles
The Toronto Raptors are sending forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, and multiple draft picks to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Ingram, who has averaged 20+ points per game in every season since 2019, should assume primary scoring duties for the new-look Clippers squad. The 29-year-old did just that in his lone season with the Raptors, leading the team with 21.5 points and an All-Star nod. Ingram's assist numbers dropped from 5+ per game in New Orleans to 3.7 up north, as more offensive threats in Toronto surrounded him. Now on a less impressive roster, he could be called upon to do more playmaking in Southern California.
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
LeBron James Leaving the Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will play for a new team in the 2026-2027 season, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 41-year-old will play an unprecedented 24th season in the NBA, but it will be his first in colors other than purple and gold since 2018. James averaged 25.9 points per game in his eight seasons with the Lakers, leading the team to a championship in 2020. The NBA's all-time leading scorer has been linked to Golden State to team up with Stephen Curry, and possibly Anthony Davis, if the Warriors trade for the Washington big man. To do so, he'd likely take a significant pay cut. A decision could come as soon as this evening when the free agency window opens.
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
LeBron James Fields Interest From 10-12 Teams Before Free Agency
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is drawing interest from about 10-12 teams ahead of free agency, agent Rich Paul said on the Pat McAfee Show, while insisting no decision is near. Paul stressed he has not spoken with James about next season, urging fans to "believe nothing that's out there." James, an impending unrestricted free agent at 41, is coming off a season of 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games, with a return to the Lakers widely believed to be the expected fit. Take the team count with a grain of salt, since inflating it serves Paul's leverage. For fantasy managers, James remains a top-tier multi-category producer when healthy, but his destination and games-played history are the variables. If he stays beside Luka Doncic, his usage could dip even as his per-game value holds.
Source: NBA on ESPN
Source: NBA on ESPN
Adou Thiero Remains a Lakers Development Project
Los Angeles Lakers forward Adou Thiero had a quiet rookie season, but Silver Screen and Roll's Edwin Garcia wrote that the team should keep him in its long-term plans. The 22-year-old missed training camp and the start of the regular season while recovering from left knee surgery and later lost time to an MCL sprain. He logged only 25 regular-season games, averaging 1.9 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 6.0 minutes while shooting 51.6% from the field. There were still fantasy-relevant flashes, including a 25-point South Bay outing on 10-for-12 shooting and 5-for-5 from deep. Thiero needs a steadier jumper and a real rotation lane, but his rim pressure and defensive tools make him a summer watchlist name.
Source: Edwin Garcia
Source: Edwin Garcia
