Keon Ellis
Getty
Cavaliers guard Keon Ellis during a game against the Sacramento Kings in February 2026
As the trade deadline approached, it became increasingly clear that the Los Angeles Lakers were unwilling to compromise their projected $55 million in cap space this summer.
General manager Rob Pelinka reportedly avoided taking on long-term salary, instead acquiring Luke Kennard on an expiring contract to address a long-standing need for perimeter shooting.
Upgrading the wing has been a consistent priority for Los Angeles. Pelinka was said to be surveying the market for a young, reliable 3-and-D addition.
Several names surfaced, including Herbert Jones, Trey Murphy III, Miles Bridges, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, DeAndre Hunter, and Keon Ellis.
None ultimately materialized. Kennard was the lone move.
Still, the broader strategy appears unchanged. The Lakers preserved flexibility with the expectation that they will revisit the market more aggressively this summer.
Lakers Could Revisit Keon Ellis in Free Agency
Two of the Lakers’ reported targets, Hunter and Ellis, were involved in a three-team trade between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, and Chicago Bulls.
Ellis, in particular, had long been linked to Los Angeles, and while a deadline deal never came together, the pursuit may not be over.
According to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, Ellis is a name to monitor once he hits unrestricted free agency this offseason.
“The Lakers also could make a run at guard Keon Ellis, who was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Cleveland Cavaliers before the deadline,” Pelton wrote. “The Cavs’ tax bill might make them reluctant to match a strong offer to Ellis.”
Through 47 games this season, 43 with Sacramento and four with Cleveland, Ellis is averaging 5.5 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 39.7% from the field and 36.8% from three-point range.
He is coming off a career-best 2024-25 campaign, averaging 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and nearly one block per contest while shooting an efficient 48.9% from the field and 43.3% from deep.
Across 200 career NBA games, the 6-foot-4 guard is a 41.4% three-point shooter on 3.3 attempts per game, a profile that aligns neatly with what the Lakers have lacked.
Cap Flexibility Opens Multiple Paths
Ellis is in the final year of a three-year, $5.1 million contract and is earning $2.3 million this season.
Even if he commands a raise in free agency, he projects as a relatively affordable, low-usage, defensive-minded complement alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Importantly, signing Ellis would not significantly dent the Lakers’ cap space, allowing the front office to address other roster needs simultaneously.
Pelton also pointed to restricted free agent Peyton Watson as a potential target. Beyond the wing, he identified the center position as a primary area of focus.
“The unrestricted free agent market seems most likely to yield a center, with Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks and Robert Williams III of the Portland Trail Blazers realistic possibilities,” Pelton added.
For a Lakers team that has struggled with physicality and interior presence all season, both players stand out.
Los Angeles ranks near the bottom of the league in multiple rebounding and interior defensive metrics, areas where either Robinson or Williams could provide an immediate boost.
With Ellis, Robinson, and Williams all potentially available as unrestricted free agents, the Lakers’ preserved cap flexibility could prove pivotal.
If LeBron James comes off the books as widely anticipated, Los Angeles would enter the offseason with significant financial freedom and a clear runway to reshape its roster.
This summer may not simply be about adding complementary pieces. It could represent a rare opportunity to recalibrate the roster and correct the shortcomings that have lingered over the past few years.