For those nestled under a rock, James picked up his $52.6 million player option Sunday, and his agent, Rich Paul, paired that announcement with some words designed to pressure the Lakers into improving their roster as much as possible.

All is not lost for the Lakers, however, as the surprise addition to the free agent market, Deandre Ayton, will not clear waivers until Wednesday. The Lakers are one of the teams with interest in signing Ayton, as per Dan Woike of The Athletic.

The Los Angeles Lakers are entering the NBA offseason with a few major needs. Number one on the need list is likely going to be adding an upgrade at the center position. During the 2024-25 season, it was clear that the Lakers needed help in that area.