The Los Angeles Lakers have been busy in free agency, but their roster is not yet fully set. Despite entering the offseason above the salary cap, they managed to sign Marcus Smart to a two-year deal and carve out space under the first apron. However, with only $1.1 million below the hard cap, they need to wait for the buyout market to heat up before filling their last open roster spot.
The Lakers’ current roster will face challenges as Bronny James and rookie Adou Thiero are among the 14 players on standard contracts. Depth could become a major issue if injuries pile up. The team’s ability to navigate tight apron margins was evident in their offseason moves, which allowed them to aggregate contracts and make a move for Smart.
The NBA’s salary cap rules dictate that teams above the first apron can’t sign anyone. Since the Lakers are only $1.1 million under the hard cap, they need to shed salary before making another free-agent signing. A recent analysis suggests that the Lakers will be able to fill their last open roster spot in mid-January, pending further roster moves.
While the Lakers’ roster is now likely set for the rest of the offseason, there are still potential trade opportunities to free up more space under the first apron. With the regular season starting on October 21 and ending on April 12, teams like the Lakers will need to navigate these tight cap margins carefully to stay competitive.
Source: https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2025/7/21/24471275/lakers-nba-free-agency-marcus-smart-shake-milton-jordan-goodwin