NBA Rumors: The 3 players who will leave the Lakers this summer

The season of Los Angeles Lakers ended in the worst possible way. The reigning champion, Oklahoma City Thunder, swept past the Angelino team in the second round of the playoffs with a convincing 4-0, forcing the franchise to reconsider many things for the upcoming season.

The full recovery of Luka Doncic will be one of the main reasons for optimism in Los Angeles, but the truth is that the team faces numerous uncertainties this summer. Among them, the future of several key players in the squad.

LeBron James keeps the mystery alive

The big question revolves around LeBron James. Following the elimination, the player himself publicly admitted that he still does not know what decision he will make about his future. “Regarding my future, I don't know, honestly,” James declared after being eliminated. “Everything is still very fresh after the defeat, and I don't know what the future holds for me.”

At 41 years old, LeBron has just completed his 23rd season in the NBA, and according to Dan Woike of The Athletic, any scenario is still possible. League sources state that the player is still uncertain about whether he wants to continue competing.

Various options are on the table: retirement, a potential return to Cleveland, or even the possibility of joining Stephen Curry in Golden State. In any case, there is a feeling that James may have already played his final game wearing the Lakers jersey.

Deandre Ayton, between criticism and doubt

Another standout name is that of Deandre Ayton. Throughout the season, the center has been constantly questioned both for his inconsistency and his level of involvement on the court.

The player alternated dominant performances with other games marked by low intensity, which led to his coach's anger on several occasions throughout the season.

Ayton ended the campaign with the worst stats of his career: 12.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Although he has an eight-million-dollar player option for the 2026-27 season, everything indicates that he may reject it in search of a better contract elsewhere.

Dalton Knecht, almost out the door

The situation of Dalton Knecht also does not bode well for Los Angeles. The Lakers attempted to trade him during the closing of his rookie season, and this second year has not improved his situation much.

The 25-year-old shooting guard saw both his minutes and offensive production decrease by almost half compared to the previous season.

The franchise has already exercised its 4.2 million dollar option for next season, but everything indicates that the Lakers will seek a trade to move him and offer him a fresh start with another team.