Should not run it back: Deandre Ayton
Relative to the money owed, one could argue Deandre Ayton was fine in his role as the starting center. However, that assessment would ignore the obvious nuances of why the Lakers cannot afford to bring him back in that same role next season.
Ayton was a rollercoaster throughout all of 2025-26. Even down the stretch, after the Lakers center publicly admitted his shortcomings and promised to focus, there was still a lot left to be desired.
Doncic deserves a better long-term partner in the frontcourt as his starting five. If Ayton decides to pick up his player option, the Lakers should immediately put plans in motion to trade him. Should the former first overall pick simply opt out and explore the open market, Los Angeles should just lose his number.
Ugly contract that needs to go: Jarred Vanderbilt
When the Lakers were healthy and at their best in the month of March, Jarred Vanderbilt was not regularly touching the floor. Considering the depth of the roster was anything but spectacular, that is pretty telling of his long-term value to the franchise.
More than that, Vanderbilt is currently a detriment. That all has to do with the bloated contract of the Lakers forward.
Vanderbilt is still owed around $25.7 million on the two remaining years of his deal. At $12.4 million next season, the Lakers should not just sit tight and swallow that financial hit. This is the offseason to package him as a cap dump out of town.
Retirement could coming calling: Maxi Kleber
Maxi Kleber is 34 years old and set to have his $11 million cap hit come off the books for the Lakers. The instances of him playing in 2025-26 showed a guy who was still willing to give effort, particularly on defense, but was far from the capable role player he once was.
Kleber has been around Doncic dating back to their days in Dallas. That is still unlikely to truly prevent him from seeing the exit door.
In the efforts to push for a championship contender in Los Angeles, there just may not be enough roster spots to go around. Given his age, it would not surprise anyone to simply see the German big call it a career.
It's time for a fresh start: Dalton Knecht
Despite watching his role deteriorate over two years, Dalton Knecht somehow managed to survive the trade deadline in February. It would be shocking to see that happen again during the offseason.
The story is well-known to all: the failed Mark Williams trade hurt. Whether you think that experience largely shattered Knecht's psyche or not, it is still easy to mark that as a pivotal turning point in his time with the Lakers.
Knecht fell out of the rotation by the end of his rookie year. The Tennessee product barely had any real impact to speak of this season. That is all trending toward him being in a home that is not Los Angeles when the summer arrives.
Gone at the earliest convenience: Nick Smith Jr.
The Lakers elevated Nick Smith Jr. from a two-way contract to a standard deal ahead of the NBA Playoffs to have a player capable of helping the backcourt in absence of Doncic and Reaves. JJ Redick did not really look his way beyond garbage time.
Smith has a $2.5 million player option for the 2026-27 season. With that money not being guaranteed and his upside as a depth player being limited, it points to the former draft bust being kicked to the curb as soon as the Lakers deem it necessary.
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