Why free agents showed less interest in Lakers this offseason than usual

Something curious is happening with the Lakers. 

They’re the second-winningest franchise in the NBA with 17 championships. They have a top-four player in the league in Luka Dončić. They’re located in one of the premier cities in the league in Los Angeles. 

But a curious pattern has repeated itself this offseason. 

The league’s top available players didn’t show interest in Los Angeles. 

After eight years with the Lakers, LeBron James chose to leave in free agency. Jonathan Kuminga took his talents to Minnesota. Klay Thompson decided to go to Miami. Bruce Brown decided to sign with the Knicks. 

The Lakers weren’t at the top of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s list of top destinations when it became clear the Bucks were going to trade him. Peyton Watson, who was a restricted free agent, opted for a sign-and-trade deal with the Cavaliers, where he could earn much more money than with the Lakers. 

Sure, the Lakers were hamstrung monetarily after re-signing Austin Reaves to a four-year, $180 million deal, the richest contract for a player who went undrafted in NBA history. 

And they emptied their treasure trove for Walker Kessler, whom they acquired via a sign-and-trade from Utah on a four-year, $130 million deal, including giving up first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. 

They also largely emptied their pockets on Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Ziaire Williams and Jaden Hardy.

But money only tells part of the story. 

James chose to sign a veteran-minimum deal with the 76ers (two years, $8 million) instead of potentially earning much more in Los Angeles, with some estimates placing him in the ballpark of earning $25 million per year with the Lakers after single-handedly leading them past the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. 

Kuminga opted to sign a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Timberwolves even though the Lakers had initially offered him a two-year deal worth $20 million. 

Thompson, who went to high school in Southern California, grew up a Lakers fan and whose father is a radio analyst for the Lakers, chose to sign with the Heat on a two-year, $13 million deal. 

Most recently, Brown signed an Exhibit 9 training camp contract with the Knicks. 

Sure, the Lakers have 16 players on standard guaranteed contracts, as well as three two-way contracts. They’re going to need to shed players before Opening Night. 

But availability and money are only pieces of this story. 

There’s a larger question to be raised. 

Why aren’t players clamoring to join the Lakers, as they have in past seasons? 

Why wasn’t Los Angeles at the top of Antetokounmpo’s list? Imagine him playing alongside Dončić. Why did Kuminga take less money to join the Timberwolves? His athleticism and perimeter defense could’ve really helped the Lakers. 

What’s happening here? 

As for James, he clearly felt undervalued by the Lakers toward the end of his tenure with the team. He also felt as though he had his best chance to win his fifth ring in Philly. 

Still, his decision to leave Los Angeles and move across the country from his family sent shockwaves throughout the NBA. Nearly every team clamored to acquire the 41-year-old — who’s arguably the greatest player of all time — at a bargain price. 

It all makes you wonder …

Did the Lakers’ treatment of James at the end of his career give other players’ pause, especially considering the team’s past history of revering their superstars? Did the team’s transition from James to Dončić make other players want to see how things play out before buying in? Did the Lakers being sold twice in 14 months make other players feel iffy about coming to Los Angeles? Did the Buss family drama impact things?

There was a lot going on around the Lakers this offseason. 

So much change. So many shocking moments. 

Maybe players simply wanted to join an organization where they stood to make more money down the line. Maybe they just didn’t feel comfortable joining the Lakers, who are clearly undergoing multiple major transitions. 

Either way, it makes sense that eyebrows are raised a bit here. 

The Lakers have long been one of the NBA’s top destinations.

But this summer told a different story.