The Lakers had a disappointingly quiet offseason this summer in large part because of what they did last summer. After handing out multi-year deals to Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt and Austin Reaves, most of their roster spots were already filled by the time free agency began on June 30.
If James picks up his player option and the Lakers pick up their $4.1 million team option on Jalen Hood-Schifino, they'll have 11 players under contract for nearly $182 million. Even if the salary cap goes up by 10 percent, it will be roughly $154.6 million.
Barring drastic changes between now and next summer, the second apron doesn't loom as a major concern for the Lakers in 2025-26. However, they'd be less than $14 million below the first apron if James picks up his player option.
Teams that exceed the first apron aren't allowed to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which projects to be $14.1 million in 2025-26, or the $5.1 million bi-annual exception. Unless the Lakers salary-dump Vincent or Vanderbilt, they won't have enough room under the first apron to maintain access to the NTMLE.
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