The Los Angeles Lakers are always at least near the center of the NBA universe.
As free agency opens and the new league year begins, nothing has changed.
The Lakers made big news when it was announced that the Buss family was selling their majority stake in the team to Mark Walter, who also owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, among several other sports investments. With new ownership, many believe the Lakers, much like the Dodgers, will be even more aggressive in trying to put a winner on the floor.
While the Lakers have been mired in trade rumors, LeBron James opted into his $52.6 million player option with the Lakers, and Rich Paul’s comments prompted trade rumors. Although a deal is unlikely, it was just another situation that put the Lakers in the news.
Now, the Lakers have finally made a move we can discuss, agreeing to a two-year deal with former Sacramento Kings forward Jake LaRavia on a two-year, $12 million deal.
That, of course, immediately led to questions about who else the Lakers could acquire and what kind of money they have left to spend. The NBA officially announced a salary cap of $154.647 million on Monday.
How Much Cap Space Do the Los Angeles Lakers Have to Spend After Agreeing to a Deal With Jake LaRavia?
According to Yossi Gozlan, an NBA salary cap expert from CapSheets.com, the Lakers still should have a portion of their mid-level exception to spend and remain nearly $14 million below the first apron hard cap.
“Two years, $12 million for Jake LaRavia would be slightly above the taxpayer portion (two years, $11.7 million) of the mid-level exception,” Gozlan explains. “This would officially hard cap the Lakers to the $195.9 million first apron. Bi-annual is two years, $10.5 million, which also hard caps.”
That leaves them with about $8.3 million left of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception, provided that is what LaRavia was signed with, and that seems like a safe bet.
“Lakers would have $8.3 million remaining of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception if Jake LaRavia is signed with it.”
Lakers would have $8.3 million remaining of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception if Jake LaRavia is signed with it. https://t.co/jXm4p34E1g
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 30, 2025
“Los Angeles Lakers’ salary cap and apron situation after signing Jake LaRavia, presumably with a portion of their mid-level exception. They have $8.3 million remaining of their mid-level. $13.9 million below the first apron hard cap with 12 players,” says Gozlan.
Los Angeles Lakers salary cap and apron situation after signing Jake LaRavia, presumably with a portion of their mid-level exception.
They have $8.3 million remaining of their mid-level.
$13.9 million below the first apron hard cap with 12 players. pic.twitter.com/JwYojvaowl
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 30, 2025
The signing of LaRavia is for what in the current day NBA is considered a very small deal and shouldn’t have too big of an impact on the Lakers’ offseason. Plus, they still have tradable assets, including several future first-round picks and the expiring deals of Rui Hachimura ($18.25 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.50 million), and Maxi Kleber ($11.00 million), as well as younger prospects like Dalton Knecht.
In other words, the Lakers will continue to be at the forefront of the NBA offseason.
