NBA Trade Deadline Shakes Up Rosters, Lakers Face Buyout Market Challenges

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The NBA trade deadline on Feb. 6, 2025, delivered a flurry of moves, reshaping rosters across the league. The Los Angeles Lakers emerged with an open roster spot, but new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) rules could complicate their ability to sign buyout players.

The Lakers traded away Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish, acquiring only one player in return. This leaves them with flexibility heading into the buyout market, a strategy they have frequently employed under vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka. Past signings like Markieff Morris, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Andre Drummond have yielded mixed results.

However, the new CBA introduces restrictions for teams above the first apron, limiting their ability to sign buyout players whose previous contracts exceeded $12.8 million. This rule affects players like Dennis Schröder, who earns $13 million, and Bruce Brown, who makes $23 million this season. Both are ineligible for the Lakers under the new guidelines.

“The new CBA is a gift that keeps on giving,” said a league insider. “It’s going to really limit who the top teams can buy.”

The Lakers may consider shedding contracts to create flexibility, but their limited assets—only one tradeable second-round pick and two pick swaps—make such moves risky. Players like Maxi Kleber, earning $11 million this season, could be potential trade candidates, but the team must weigh the cost of their remaining draft capital against the potential reward.

As the buyout market unfolds, the Lakers face tough decisions. Their ability to navigate these challenges could determine their success in the postseason.