Following their Game 5 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which ended their season, the Los Angeles Lakers are now confronted with several key questions regarding their roster and future direction.
One immediate uncertainty revolves around LeBron James, who, as relayed by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, expressed hesitancy about his long-term playing plans. “I don’t know,” James stated. “I don’t have an answer to that. Something I’ll sit down with my family, my wife, and my support group, and kind of just talk through it and see what happens. And just have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play. I don’t know the answer to that right now, to be honest. So we’ll see.”
James clarified that his uncertainty pertains to his overall playing career, not his commitment to Los Angeles: “Just continuing to play, I don’t know where I’m at. That’s what that is. Not coming back to play here. Just playing, period.”
James holds a player option for the 2025/26 season, valued at approximately $52.6MM, and acknowledged he’ll have “a lot to think about myself” regarding the team’s future roster.
Los Angeles Lakers Roster Beyond LeBron James
Luka Doncic, who becomes fully extension-eligible on August 2, also indicated he will need time to consider his contract options, though he expressed being “really glad” to be in L.A. (via a Twitter video link from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto). Forward Dorian Finney-Smith, a midseason acquisition who bolstered the Lakers’ defense, will have to decide on his $15.4MM player option this offseason, a decision he hasn’t yet contemplated, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha (Twitter link).
Beyond these individual contract decisions, the Lakers face a significant roster challenge: addressing their lack of size in the center position. This issue was starkly evident in Game 5, where the Timberwolves exploited the Lakers’ undersized lineup. Head coach J.J. Redick started Dorian Finney-Smith over Jaxson Hayes (who received a DNP-CD), and Maxi Kleber, returning from foot surgery, played only five minutes.
The Timberwolves capitalized on this, scoring with remarkable efficiency in the restricted area, converting 20 of 22 shots (90.9%), according to Jack Borman of Locked on Sports Minnesota (Twitter link). Minnesota also dominated the boards, out-rebounding Los Angeles 54-37. Rudy Gobert alone grabbed 24 rebounds, including nine offensive boards, which surpassed the Lakers’ team total of eight. This rebounding disparity contributed to the Timberwolves attempting 11 more field goals and eight more free throws.
The Lakers’ need for a center was underscored by their failed attempt to acquire Mark Williams from Charlotte at the trade deadline. The team voided the trade due to concerns about Williams’ physical condition. In a notable post-elimination reaction, Williams published a single smiley-face emoji on Twitter.
When questioned about the impact of playing without a traditional center, James offered a wry response, referencing Anthony Davis’s past injury situation. “My guy A.D. said what he needed, and he was gone the following week. So I got no comment,” James said with a smile, per The Los Angeles Times’ Dan Woike. “With that uniform on every night, I gave everything I had. And that’s all that matters.”