LOS ANGELES -- The Oklahoma City Thunder are champions for the first time ever, Kevin Durant is a Houston Rocket, and the Los Angeles Lakers still have Luka Dončić on their team. This season was one for the books as one of the more dramatic in recent times, and now we have a new season to look forward to as we head into the offseason.
The Lakers head into the summer coming off an underwhelming first-round exit (gentlemen's sweep) to the Timberwolves after finishing the regular season 50-32 for third seed in the West. The hype was high around the new-look Lakers with Dončić and LeBron James, but a young and athletic Minnesota team pounced on an L.A. team that was still adjusting to the Dončić experience.
They got an All-NBA season from James, becoming the oldest player (40) in NBA history to make an All-NBA team (second team) on 24, eight and seven a night.
But can he sustain that going in year 23?
The Lakers have an incomplete roster and building the right one around their big three is vital to a championship run and we are in for an active summer piecing together this squad. So here are important dates heading into the 2025-26 season.
Important Off-Season Dates
June 25 & 26 – The NBA Draft!
Day one of the 2025 NBA draft will be on Wednesday, June 25, and day two on Thursday, June 26. Day two is important for the Lakers, who only have a second-round pick (55th overall) in the draft, having lost this year's first-round pick to the Pelicans—who deferred last year's first-round pick—for Anthony Davis back in 2019.
June 29 – Last day for Contracts and Options
June 29 is a key date in the NBA offseason. It’s the deadline for teams to extend qualifying offers to restricted free agents. It’s also the last day for players and teams to pick up contract options.
LeBron James and Dorian Finney-Smith are the only two with player options, and Jordan Goodwin has a team option. James will make $52.6 million this season—four more Ms than last season—if he were to pick up his player option.
Finney-Smith will make $15.3 million next season if he picks up his contract, while Goodwin will make $2.3 million if the team decides to pick up his contract by Sunday.
June 30 – Negotiating Begins…
This is technically the last day of the 2024-25 season and teams can officially begin negotiating with upcoming free agents from other teams starting at 3 p.m. PT.
Lakers players from last season's roster headed to free agency:
Jaxson Hayes
Markieff Morris
Alex Len
Christian Koloko
Trey Jemison
What stands out most from this list? A LOT of bigmans.
July 1 – Free Agency & Moratorium Begins
The 2025-26 NBA league year officially kicks off. Teams can start signing players to minimum and two-way contracts, and restricted free agents can sign offer sheets.
Rookie contracts for first- and second-round picks can also be finalized. Which will be the Lakers’ second-rounder.
July 5–6, 8 – California Classic
The Lakers will join the Warriors, Heat, and Spurs at the Chase Center in San Francisco for the seventh annual California Classic Summer League. We will get to see Bronny James along with drafted and undrafted prospects in the first action of the summer league.
July 5, 7–8 – Salt Lake City Summer League (Utah)
The Lakers will unfortunately not be in the Salt Lake City Summer League, but the Jazz, Grizzlies, Thunder, and Sixers will face off at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in another early Summer League event.
July 6 – Moratorium Ends
At 9:01 a.m. PT, teams can officially sign free agents, make trades, and extend contracts. The 24-hour window to match RFA offer sheets begins.
July 10–20 – Las Vegas Summer League
The NBA’s iconic Summer League tips off in Vegas with all 30 teams. The game schedules will be released at a later time closer to the date.
July 13 – Last Day to Withdraw Qualifying Offers
Teams have until this date to pull qualifying offers from restricted free agents.
July 31 – Second-Round Contracts Hit the Cap
Second-round picks signed using the league's new exception begin counting against the salary cap.
August 5 – Tender Deadline for Unsigned Second-Round Picks
August 29 – Stretch Provision Deadline
Last day to waive a player and stretch their 2025–26 salary over three seasons.
Late September – Training Camps Open
Training camps begin league-wide before preseason, which will be a key time for the Lakers roster, more importantly, Dončić and James, in building a stronger chemistry and learning each other's tendencies as well as head coach JJ Redick’s year two playbook.