The Lakers just took a risk, which is difficult when dealing with undrafted free agents.
Following the 2025 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers made a number of roster changes that left fans giddy. Exhibit 10 contracts and undrafted free agents are generally of little interest to fans. Fans, however, get enthusiastic when you have the Lakers’ record.
However, the most noteworthy signing was not part of the initial rush of roster changes. As part of their ongoing practice of signing the relatives of well-known professional basketball players, the Lakers decided to save that for the weekend.
Julian Reese, a forward from Maryland, signed an undrafted free-agent contract with the Lakers to play in the Summer League after being signed by general manager Rob Pelinka. Because of his sister, Angel Reese, Reese will undoubtedly be one of the most watched players in the whole Summer League.
Angel Reese’s brother is added to the Lakers’ Summer League squad.
Angel Reese has become one of the most famous basketball players in the United States thanks to her rivalry with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. Clark is already the most famous WNBA player of all time and her rivalry with Reese has reached even the most casual of sports fans.
Reese is not as beloved as Clark as many have given her the villain label in the rivalry. Love her or hate her, she is one of the most famous basketball players in the world. As a result, all eyes are going to be on her brother during Summer League.
Julian Reese averaged 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game last season for Maryland. Like her sister, three-point shooting is not a strength for Reese. He’s attempted just one three-point shot in the last three seasons for Maryland. He missed it.
That does not bode well for his chances of making any kind of roster in the NBA (or the G League, for that matter). It would be one thing if he was a seven-footer who was protecting the rim. He’s not. He is six-foot-nine and is a forward who cannot shoot. That is unplayable in the NBA.
Still, the Lakers have made it a habit out of bringing in players with basketball bloodlines. Bronny James is the most notable example but he is not alone. Back in 2022, the Lakers signed both Scotty Pippen Jr. and Shareef O’Neal to the team’s Summer League roster.
Pippen ended up turning into a viable NBA rotation player and is now on the Memphis Grizzlies. It didn’t quite pan out for O’Neal, who never played a game at the NBA level.
Reese is much more likely to follow in O’Neal’s footsteps than he is Pippen’s. But either way, the former Maryland forward will have plenty of eyes on him because of his sister.
Lakers’ savvy UDFA signing compared to polarizing LA lottery pick
Eric Dixon comes built in a familiar mold to the Los Angeles Lakers after the NBA Draft’s conclusion…
Utah Jazz v Los Angeles Lakers | John McCoy/GettyImages
The Los Angeles Lakers’ evening did not end after pick 59 concluded the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Shams Charania revealed they had another move up their sleeve that immediately followed the proceedings.
Charania reported on Twitter/X, “Villanova star Eric Dixon has agreed to a two-way NBA contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. Dixon was the No. 1 scorer in college basketball last season, shooting 41% from 3-point range.”
Dixon comes in with a strong build of 6-feet-8-inches and 259 pounds, according to Yahoo Sports. The big man drew two comparisons for NBA Draft expert Kevin O’Connor. One was well-known Boston Celtics’ role player Glen Davis. The other was polarizing Lakers draft pick Julius Randle.
Randle-like ceiling would be a dream for Lakers
Randle was selected seventh overall by the Lakers in the 2014 NBA Draft. After four seasons in Los Angeles, and the arrival of LeBron James in free agency, the Lakers decided to let the power forward pursue opportunities elsewhere.
The burly four-man spent one season with the New Orleans Pelicans before really hitting his stride in the NBA with the New York Knicks. Randle blossomed into a multi-time All-Star and All-NBA player as a result.
For a player like Dixon, who did not hear his name called at all on either of the two draft nights, a ceiling anywhere near that would be a massive win for both him and the Lakers. Any shred of that type of potential could give JJ Redick a serious option in the frontcourt rotation.
O’Connor highlighted Dixon’s shooting, drive game, and offensive versatility as the main strengths of his game. The concerns come from his defensive versatility, athleticism, and playmaking.
At 24 years old, it is fair to question how much room for growth there is for the undrafted free-agent signing. However, Redick has promised an environment where his players can improve and develop in the past.
If Dixon can erase some of the bigger concerns, like athleticism and defense, around his game at the NBA level, the Lakers could have a spot for him in 2025-26. Summer League should offer the opportunity for him to make a strong impression.
After being bullied by Randle in the 2025 postseason, perhaps the Lakers wanted a player like that in their own locker room once more. Considering Dixon arrives to Los Angeles undrafted, they would happily settle for a Glen Davis as well.
Los Angeles Lakers, Rob Pelinka | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported on Thursday morning that the Los Angeles Lakers sent the No. 55 pick and cash to the Bulls in exchange for the No. 45 pick. The front office is eyeing a player it wants to snag off the board earlier than 55, and it could be center Vladislav Goldin.
The 24-year-old spent the 2024-25 season with the Wolverines, averaging a career-high 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 assists per game, shooting 60.7% from the field and 73.1% from the free-throw line. Goldin was named first-team All-Big Ten by the media and second team by the coaches, won Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and was a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award.
Not only do the Lakers need to add to their frontcourt, but Goldin and Rob Pelinka share a Michigan connection, which could play in the center’s favor tonight.
Lakers acquire No. 45 draft pick from the Bulls, could go after Vlad Goldin
The center is seven feet tall with a 7’5.25″ wingspan and a 9’3″ standing reach, so he has the build to go toe-to-toe with other NBA bigs. He’s a good rim protector who can score down low at will, but he is slow and struggles to defend outside the paint.
Goldin turned 24 in May, so he’s older than most other draft picks, which is why he’s a second-round prospect. Still, his force and physicality could be enough for the Lakers to select him at No. 45, giving them a center who is more ready to make an impact at the next level after spending five seasons playing in college.
Los Angeles needs to add a starting-caliber center via trade or free agency, with a few more potential options popping up after the first round of the draft. The Lakers want to make a championship run next season with LeBron James and Luka Doncic in what could be the former’s final season in the NBA, although it seems likely he’ll hang around a little longer. There is added pressure on LA’s shoulders to nail the offseason, beginning with the No. 45 pick after the team didn’t have a first-round selection.
Will Goldin hear his name called on Thursday to join the Lakers? Or will it be another center? Fans don’t have to wait long to find out.
5th Anniversary Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Blue Diamond Gala – Show | Frazer Harrison/GettyImages
After decades of ownership, the Buss family sold their principal share in the Los Angeles Lakers to Los Angeles Dodgers primary owner and chairman, Mark Walter. With the Dodgers being one of the biggest spenders in all of sports, Lakers fans (many of whom are Dodgers fans) are thrilled about what the team might look like with more financial strength.
The Lakers won’t have the same financial freedom in the NBA as the Dodgers have in the MLB due to the structure of both salary caps. However, there are still plenty of other areas the Lakers can benefit from more resources, and fans have already seen the effects of that.
The main selling point? Some extra cash thrown in.
New Lakers’ owner is already throwing cash into trades
It’s clear the Chicago Bulls had no interest in staying put with the No. 45 pick and all the team needed was some of that good Dodgers money to move down 10 spots. How much cash was involved is undisclosed, but it was obviously enough to get Jerry Reinsdorf interested.
Ironically enough, while this trade does flex some of the cash flow muscles the Lakers have, it also keeps the team from being one of the biggest spenders in the league next season.
Teams over the second tax apron cannot include cash in any trades. By making this move, the Lakers have hard-capped themselves at the second apron for the 2025-26 season. As it stands right now, the Lakers are projected to be $16.2 million under the second tax apron.
This isn’t overtly surprising as the second tax apron has essentially become a hard cap in the NBA. Teams with title aspirations have been aggressive in going over the second apron, but the success usually doesn’t last long. After all, the Boston Celtics just had to have a massive fire sale to get back under the second apron next season.
Walter may not be able to raise the second tax apron for the Lakers, but the added cash flow still has intrinsic value in many other areas. Now the Lakers have more cash to throw into trades to outbid other teams and more money to invest in the development and health of the players on the team.
The Dodgers have become the gold standard in MLB thanks to the investments made by Walter and Guggenheim Baseball Management. It won’t be long until the Lakers become the same standard, and this is just the first small step.
Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Nico Harrison | Justin Ford/GettyImages
The Mavericks didn’t pull off the second ultimate surprise move of a lifetime after trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers a few months ago, drafting Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick. While it isn’t ideal for Lakers fans to know Flagg is with one of their rivals in the West, LA can still benefit from the top pick landing in Dallas.
Flagg joining the Mavericks could lead to PJ Washington hitting the trade block, giving the Lakers an ideal trade target. The frontcourt is more crowded in Dallas with Flagg, which is a problem the Mavs aren’t worried about now, as they’re celebrating drafting a generational talent. Landing Flagg was a dream come true, even if it does lead to Washington’s departure.
Dallas traded for Washington before the 2024 deadline in a move that helped propel the team to the NBA Finals. He averaged 13 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game for the Mavs in the postseason, shooting 42.7% from the field and 34.8% from three. He was everything Dallas needed (and more) in the playoffs.
Washington averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game in his first full season in Dallas, shooting 45.3% from the field and 38.1% from deep. He will be eligible to sign an extension this summer, as he has one more season left on his current contract. As much as the Mavs may want to keep Washington, Anthony Davis’ wish to play the four could lead to Dallas listening to offers for the forward.
PJ Washington could emerge as the ideal Lakers trade target
Los Angeles should jump at the opportunity to add a 3-and-D wing to the roster for a relatively low cost, given his contract situation. The Lakers don’t have the draft capital to make a significant splash on the trade market, but landing Washington would be an ideal scenario.
Time is ticking for LA to win another title with LeBron, and it doesn’t help that the Western Conference is growing stronger by the season. Oklahoma City isn’t going anywhere after winning the title. Dallas was supposed to take a fall after trading Luka, and it did, but it also led the team to Flagg. Houston got Kevin Durant a few days ago. The Lakers improved their future title odds when Luka landed in their lap, but a run to a title won’t be easy.
What would make it a little easier? A player like Washington, who could slide in and make an immediate impact in LA. Nico can do another favor for the Lakers, right?
