The Los Angeles Lakers still have an open roster spot, but they can’t use it. At least, not yet. Thanks to salary cap restrictions, they are unable to sign even a minimum-salary player until January 18.
As ESPN reported on a recently published article: “For the most part, [teams] have completed their rosters for next season or cannot sign a player due to the apron. For example, the Lakers have an open roster spot but cannot sign a player until Jan. 18.”
Lakers are being patient with their final roster decision
That puts a hard pause on any roster tweaks in the short term. This is not some sort of a misstep; it is actually the result of a calculated offseason approach.
Rob Pelinka and the front office prioritized keeping key rotational players and adding proven talent. That was showcased with the likes of Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia.
Rather than blowing up the roster, the Lakers chose structure over chaos. Dorian Finney-Smith left to go to the Houston Rockets, and the team waived Jordan Goodwin, Shake Milton, and Trey Jamison III, opening up roster spots and financial breathing room, though not enough to fully reload just yet.
The decision to leave one slot open may prove valuable down the line. The first few months of the season will give the Lakers a real sense of what they are missing.
Maybe it is shooting. Maybe it is another wing defender. Maybe it is just a depth piece. By January 18, the team can reassess and target someone who fits the exact need rather than guessing now.
In the meantime, the most important box was already checked. The Lakers got Luka Doncic to sign a new three-year contract extension. That move alone is good enough to grade their offseason as an “A.”
This is Doncic’s team now. Everything being built, roster included, is designed around his presence.
Sure, the roster is not perfect. Losing Finney-Smith obviously hurts. The shooting still needs some definite work.
But there is more clarity in direction than we have seen in years. With LeBron James nearing the twilight of his career and Doncic stepping fully into the spotlight, the Lakers are slowly reshaping who they are and how they play.
Come January, the Lakers will have a chance to plug in a missing piece. And if they play things right until then, that final addition could matter more than anyone expects.