Rob Pelinka will get a proper opportunity to build around the newest Los Angeles Lakers superstar during the 2025 offseason. The premature first-round exit from this year's NBA Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves signaled to everyone just how much work is left to be done with this roster.
JJ Redick and his staff started the process of shifting to a playing style that is better-suited to having Luka Doncic at the forefront. What comes next is filling out the pieces around the Slovenian superstar who are capable of executing that brand of basketball as intended.
With plenty of holes to be filled, the Lakers will need to create space on the roster. Whether it be via trade or failing to renew the contracts of impending free agents, there are a handful of Lakers whose days with the team are as good as over.
Alex Len
Let's start with one which is abundantly obvious. Alex Len does not have a spot on the Lakers in the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Len was brought in as a free agent addition following this year's NBA trade deadline. The Lakers made a desperate play to add center depth after the rescinded Mark Williams trade. The move missed the mark entirely.
The veteran big man appeared in 10 games for Los Angeles in the regular season, starting four of them, and averaged 2.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 0.3 blocks per game, while looking as stiff as a center possibly could. With Len set to his free agency in the offseason, it is quite questionable if the former top five pick still has a place in the NBA.
Jaxson Hayes
Sticking with the theme of renewal at the center position, Jaxson Hayes quickly undid a lot of good will in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. The athletic big man went from a pleasant surprise to downright unplayable.
Despite only playing 7.8 minutes per game in his four appearances during the postseason, Hayes managed to rack up 2.0 personal fouls a night during that minimal time. For those keeping track at home, that would put him on pace for 9.3 per game when adjusting for 36 minutes a night.
Redick not putting his trust in Hayes for extended playoff minutes was the kiss of death for a player set to hit unrestricted free agency.
Gabe Vincent
This one is less obvious than the previous two, but should still be expected. Gabe Vincent's terrible postseason play should prove to be the nail in the coffin for him being a member of the Lakers.
Vincent is still under contract for one more season through the end of 2025-26. His expiring deal valued at $11.5 million makes him a prime candidate to be salary filler in an offseason trade to bolster the roster. That will likely be all she wrote with regard to a disappointing stint in Los Angeles for the backup guard.