Now that the 2023-24 NBA regular season is over, we're turning our attention to how each team should approach the offseason, including the draft and free agency. It starts with the 10 teams that have been jockeying for lottery position and the best chance of making the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft. Four more teams joined them after losing in the play-in tournament, and they'll be followed by the 16 teams who participate in the 2024 NBA playoffs.
We're breaking down the potential moves for each franchise, including a look at the state of each roster, finances, priorities for each front office, extension candidates to watch, team needs and future draft assets.
Key: ETO= Early Termination Option | P= Player Option | R=Restricted | T=Team Option
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WSH
Eliminated in first round
Los Angeles Lakers
2023-24 record: 47-35
Draft picks in June: No. 17* (own) and No. 55 (via LAC)
Note: The Lakers owe a first-round pick to the Pelicans. New Orleans can take this year's pick or defer it to 2025. The deadline to defer is June 1.
Free agents: LeBron James (P), D'Angelo Russell (P), Max Christie (R), Spencer Dinwiddie, Jaxson Hayes (P), Cam Reddish (P), Taurean Prince, Christian Wood (P), Colin Castleton (R), Skylar Mays (R) and Harry Giles III
State of the roster: Inconsistent.
Let's start with the positives. The Lakers had the NBA's fifth-most wins after Feb. 1 and an offensive rating that ranked third. LeBron James and Anthony Davis played at an All-NBA level and both played more than 70 games. They had 24 wins in games decided in the clutch, tied for third most in the league. The Lakers used 20 fewer lineups than last season and the starting group of D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, James, Rui Hachimura and Davis had a net rating of plus-6.3 points per 100 possessions.
The positives, however, are overshadowed by a second consecutive playoff loss at the hands of the Denver Nuggets.
Where the Lakers go from here resides with the options and eventual decisions by Lakers GM Rob Pelinka.