The Los Angeles Lakers have formally renounced the free agent rights to LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and 11 other players, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto of Hoopshype. The move, reported via X (formerly Twitter), also includes Dion Waiters, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber, Nick Smith Jr., Jared Dudley, Avery Bradley, Jaxson Hayes, Markieff Morris, and Wayne Ellington. Spotrac added Drew Timme to that list.
Some of these names are no surprise. Dudley, Howard, and Anthony are retired. They haven’t played in the NBA for a while. But the list also includes players who were on last year’s Lakers roster. Smart signed with the Houston Rockets this summer. Hayes went to the Utah Jazz. Smith Jr. and James are still out there.
A New Era for the Lakers
This isn’t just paperwork. It’s the end of a chapter. LeBron James wore purple and gold for nearly a decade. He brought the franchise a championship in 2020. Now the Lakers are moving on. They’re building around Luka Doncic, acquired in a blockbuster trade last season. Renouncing James’s rights clears cap space and officially signals the shift.
Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ general manager, has been busy. He traded for center Walker Kessler. He signed Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton in free agency. The roster is taking shape but it’s not exactly a contender. Not yet anyway.
Fan Reactions Are Split
Lakers fans have had mixed reactions to the spending spree. Some applaud the front office for trying to put a competent team around Doncic. Others think it’s a waste. They see a roster that’s still a long way from competing in the Western Conference. The criticism is fair. This team has holes. Depth issues. Defense questions.
But the Lakers have a star in Doncic. They have assets. They can make more moves before the trade deadline. For now, the franchise is leaning into the Doncic era. It’s going to be strange watching them take the floor without LeBron for the first time since 2018. But strange doesn’t mean bad. It just means different.
The Lakers have officially turned the page. The rest of the league is watching to see what comes next.
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