RADIO
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
Jonathan Kuminga Remains Lakers Target in Free Agency
Free-agent forward Jonathan Kuminga remains a top target for the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN's Anthony Slater. The 23-year-old hit the open market after Atlanta declined his $24.3 million team option following a season split between the Warriors and Hawks, where he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 36 games. A potential sign-and-trade to Los Angeles would create a highly favorable fantasy environment. With LeBron James and Rui Hachimura departing this summer, the Lakers desperately need athletic scoring on the wing. Kuminga would immediately step into heavy minutes alongside Luka Doncic, whose elite playmaking could easily fuel a career year. While his lack of blocked shots and steals keeps his ceiling in check, securing a featured role in coach JJ Redick's offense would make him a reliable source of points and rebounds.
Source: Anthony Slater
Source: Anthony Slater
Kevon Looney Joins Lakers on One-Year, $3.9 Million Deal
Free-agent center Kevon Looney agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 30-year-old spent last season with New Orleans, averaging 2.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 21 games after 10 seasons with Golden State. Looney is expected to back up Walker Kessler, which limits his fantasy ceiling unless Kessler misses time. He can help the Lakers with rebounding, screening, and interior defense, but his low-usage role makes him more of a situational big than a steady fantasy option.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Chris Manon Delivers 24 Points and Full Stat Line in Lakers Win
Los Angeles Lakers guard Chris Manon supplied 24 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and two steals across 27 minutes in Monday's 88-84 California Classic win over the San Antonio Spurs. Manon stepped into the starting lineup with Adou Thiero (wrist) scratched and responded with the Lakers' best all-around line of the night. The 24-year-old is back on a two-way deal after earning G League All-Defensive Team honors last season, so the defensive stats are the real fantasy hook. Manon still faces a tough climb toward regular-season relevance, but his defensive activity gives him a useful Summer League calling card.
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
Cameron Carr Impresses with 26-Point Outing
Los Angeles Lakers guard Cameron Carr came ready to play during Sunday's Summer League matchup against the Miami Heat. Carr was all over the place as he finished with 26 points, eight rebounds, and connected on four three-pointers during the overtime victory. The Lakers selected Carr in the first-round out of Baylor this year. The 21-year-old has looked impressive early in camp, but there's still a lot of time between now and the beginning of the regular season. Clearly, the Lakers believe in Carr, which is why they selected him in the first round. He might struggle to get consistent minutes right away, but he could force his way into the conversation if he keeps playing like this.
Source: nba.com
Source: nba.com
Jaden Hardy Heading to the Lakers
Washington Wizards guard Jaden Hardy was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, according to Shams Charania. The Wizards have traded Hardy and two second-round picks in exchange for center Deandre Ayton. The big man became expendable for the Lakers after they acquired Walker Kessler. Ayton figures to serve as the primary backup center to Alexandre Sarr. As for Hardy, he'll likely be a rotational piece for the Lakers. In 23 games with Washington, Hardy averaged 12.6 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.7 rebounds across 20.4 minutes per game. The 23-year-old has some scoring upside, but is unlikely to be a big part of the Lakers rotation.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Deandre Ayton Dealt to Washington
Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was traded to the Washington Wizards on Friday, according to Shams Charania. Ayton will head to Washington in exchange for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks. The Lakers recently acquired Walker Kessler to be the starting center, so Ayton became movable. The big man recently picked up his player option for $8 million for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. This past season, Ayton averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks across 27.2 minutes per game in 72 contests with the Lakers. The expectation is that Ayton is going to be the primary backup to Alexandre Sarr in Washington. This move to Washington will likely decrease his fantasy value unless Sarr or Anthony Davis suffers an injury.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Lakers Explore Jonathan Kuminga as Free-Agent Wing Target
The Los Angeles Lakers continue to explore the feasibility of adding free-agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Stein also reports that Cleveland and Milwaukee have expressed interest, while a return to Atlanta has not been ruled out. Kuminga became an unrestricted free agent after the Hawks declined his team option, and he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists last season. The Lakers need athletic wing depth and perimeter defense, but their financial constraints make this far from simple. Kuminga's fantasy value would depend heavily on his landing spot, with Los Angeles offering defensive minutes but not necessarily a high-usage role.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
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
Jaxson Hayes Joining the Jazz
Free-agent center Jaxson Hayes is signing a two-year, $12 million contract with the Utah Jazz, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. Hayes moves from the Los Angeles Lakers, who just added former Jazz center Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade, to a crowded frontcourt rotation in Utah. Jusuf Nurkic, Jaren Jackson Jr., Kyle Filipowski, and Lauri Markkanen are returning, and everyone in that quartet can stretch the floor, something Hayes has not added to his game since entering the NBA. He's strictly a rim-running big that provides depth for the Jazz. Hayes averaged 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 18.3 minutes per game last season.
Source: Tim MacMahon - ESPN
Source: Tim MacMahon - ESPN
Collin Sexton Finds New Backup Role With Los Angeles
Free-agent guard Collin Sexton has agreed to a two-year, $19 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The combo guard has mostly come off the bench for his last two teams, Charlotte and Chicago, and will be the first guard off the bench in Los Angeles as well. It's a role he's thrived in, averaging 15.4 points per game last season while shooting 40.1% from three-point land. The Sexton acquisition is one of a flurry of moves by the Lakers today. The team also traded for center Walker Kessler and signed forward Sandro Mamukelashvili and wing Quentin Grimes.
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
