Rumor: Lakers Won’t Make Any Trades Before 2025-26 NBA Season Starts

August 11, 2025

NBA, Lakers — Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Lakers will not make any trades before the 2025-26 NBA season starts.

The Lakers “have not been attacking the trade market” this offseason, according to an NBA executive who spoke to Sean Deveney of Athlon Sports.

“They have not been attacking the trade market by any stretch of the imagination,” a Western Conference executive told Deveney. “Most teams now are in a sort of wait-and-see mode, and I would include the Lakers in that. They want to give it some time before they make a trade.”

The Lakers were the third seed in the West last season. They lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs in five games.

Los Angeles made three moves in free agency, signing Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart. Luka Dončić recruited Ayton and Smart after the two veterans were bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards, respectively.

The Lakers signed Dončić to a three-year, $165 million extension on August 2. The NBA superstar lost weight this offseason by going on a gluten-free, low-sugar diet, according to Men’s Health. He also does an intermittent fasting plan designed to limit inflammation and help his body recover better.

Los Angeles head coach JJ Redick will likely start Dončić, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Ayton next season. That’s a solid starting lineup featuring two stars, Dončić and James.

The leading scorer in NBA history, James turns 41 in December. He’s the oldest active player in the league. The Akron native made the All-NBA Second Team and finished sixth in MVP voting last season at the age of 40. He has seemingly beaten Father Time.

James becomes an unrestricted free agent next offseason for the first time since 2018. He’ll make $52.6 million next season in the final year of his contract with the Lakers.