Signed contractsAn over-the-cap team can't spend cap space, but the CBA still gives it tools: exceptions. The Lakers' current tools are Non-Taxpayer MLE ($15.1M), Bi-Annual Exception ($5.4M), plus Bird rights to re-sign their own free agents. How do teams build over the cap? → |
| Luka Doncic | F | PO$49.5M | $53.5M | PO$57.4M | – | – |
Luka Doncic holds a player option for $49.5M this season; he decides whether it's exercised. What is a player option? → |
| Austin Reaves | G | PO$14.9M | – | – | – | – |
Austin Reaves holds a player option for $14.9M this season; he decides whether it's exercised. What is a player option? → |
| Jarred Vanderbilt | F | $12.4M | $13.3M | – | – | – |
| Deandre Ayton | C | PO$8.1M | – | – | – | – |
Deandre Ayton holds a player option for $8.1M this season; he decides whether it's exercised. What is a player option? → |
| Jake LaRavia | F | $6.0M | – | – | – | – |
| Marcus Smart | G | PO$5.4M | – | – | – | – |
Marcus Smart holds a player option for $5.4M this season; he decides whether it's exercised. What is a player option? → |
| Dalton Knecht | F | TO$4.2M | $6.5M | – | – | – |
Dalton Knecht holds a team option for $4.2M this season; the Lakers decide whether it's exercised. What is a team option? → |
| Kobe Bufkin | G | TO$2.5M | – | – | – | – |
Kobe Bufkin holds a team option for $2.5M this season; the Lakers decide whether it's exercised. What is a team option? → |
| Nick Smith Jr. | G | TO$2.5M | – | – | – | – |
Nick Smith Jr. holds a team option for $2.5M this season; the Lakers decide whether it's exercised. What is a team option? → |
| Bronny James | G | $2.3M | TO$2.5M | – | – | – |
| Adou Thiero | G | $2.2M | TO$2.5M | – | – | – |
| Signed contracts subtotal | | $110.0M | $78.2M | $57.4M | $0.0M | $0.0M |
Cap holdsplaceholders, not paidA cap hold is a placeholder charge for a team's own free agent, sized by his Bird bracket. The Lakers carry $127.7M in free-agent holds plus $3.2M in draft-pick holds; these count against the cap only, never the tax or aprons. What is the cap hold? → |
| Free agents · Bird % of prior salary, renounce to clear |
| LeBron James130% | F | $57.8M | – | – | – | – |
LeBron James carries a 130% cap hold: 130% of his $52.6M prior salary = $57.8M against the Lakers' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are Early Bird rights? → |
| Rui Hachimura150% | F | $27.4M | – | – | – | – |
Rui Hachimura carries a 150% cap hold: 150% of his $18.3M prior salary = $27.4M against the Lakers' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are Bird rights? → |
| Maxi Kleber190% | F | $20.9M | – | – | – | – |
Maxi Kleber carries a 190% cap hold: 190% of his $11.0M prior salary = $20.9M against the Lakers' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are Bird rights? → |
| Luke Kennard120% | F | $13.2M | – | – | – | – |
Luke Kennard carries a 120% cap hold: 120% of his $11.0M prior salary = $13.2M against the Lakers' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are non-Bird rights? → |
| Jaxson Hayes120% | F | $4.1M | – | – | – | – |
Jaxson Hayes carries a 120% cap hold: 120% of his $3.4M prior salary = $4.1M against the Lakers' cap until he re-signs, is renounced, or signs elsewhere. What are non-Bird rights? → |
| Drew TimmeMIN | F | $2.2M | – | – | – | – |
Players on the roster without a standard contract (two-way, Exhibit-10) carry a flat minimum hold of $2.2M (projected) each against the Lakers' cap. What is the minimum cap hold? → |
| Chris MañonMIN | F | $2.2M | – | – | – | – |
Players on the roster without a standard contract (two-way, Exhibit-10) carry a flat minimum hold of $2.2M (projected) each against the Lakers' cap. What is the minimum cap hold? → |
| Luka Doncic150% | F | – | – | – | $70.7M | – |
Bird rights let the Lakers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Jarred Vanderbilt190% | F | – | – | $25.2M | – | – |
Bird rights let the Lakers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Austin Reaves150% | F | – | $22.3M | – | – | – |
Bird rights let the Lakers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Dalton Knecht300% | F | – | – | $19.4M | – | – |
Bird rights let the Lakers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Deandre Ayton130% | F | – | $10.5M | – | – | – |
Early Bird rights (after two seasons with the team) let the Lakers re-sign a player up to 175% of his prior salary or 105% of the league average; his cap hold is 130% of prior salary. What are Early Bird rights? → |
| Jake LaRavia130% | F | – | $7.8M | – | – | – |
Early Bird rights (after two seasons with the team) let the Lakers re-sign a player up to 175% of his prior salary or 105% of the league average; his cap hold is 130% of prior salary. What are Early Bird rights? → |
| Adou Thiero300% | F | – | – | $7.6M | – | – |
Bird rights let the Lakers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Bronny James300% | F | – | – | $7.5M | – | – |
Bird rights let the Lakers re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? → |
| Marcus Smart130% | F | – | $7.0M | – | – | – |
Early Bird rights (after two seasons with the team) let the Lakers re-sign a player up to 175% of his prior salary or 105% of the league average; his cap hold is 130% of prior salary. What are Early Bird rights? → |
| Kobe Bufkin120% | F | – | $3.0M | – | – | – |
Non-Bird rights (after one season) only allow a raise to 120% of prior salary; the cap hold is likewise 120% of prior salary. What are non-Bird rights? → |
| Nick Smith Jr.120% | F | – | $3.0M | – | – | – |
Non-Bird rights (after one season) only allow a raise to 120% of prior salary; the cap hold is likewise 120% of prior salary. What are non-Bird rights? → |
Unsigned first-rounders · 120% of rookie scaleUnsigned first-round picks count 120% of their rookie-scale slot against the cap. The Lakers carry $3.2M in pick holds. What is the draft pick hold? → |
| 2026 first round (No. 25) | – | $3.2M | – | – | – | – |
| Cap holds subtotal | | $130.9M | $53.7M | $59.6M | $70.7M | $0.0M |
| Counts against the cap | | $240.9M | $133.3M | $127.7M | $88.6M | $20.9M |
Capmath