• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

On 4th-Highest Payroll, Lakers Are Out of Play-In Spot

  • Los Angeles (31-44) fell out of the play-in spot with seven games remaining.
  • It’s a new low for a team that’s already committed $129.5 million to its Big Three next season.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula

Two years removed from a title, the Lakers are spiraling to the point where they no longer control their own destiny.

As LeBron James and Anthony Davis watched from the sidelines, Luka Doncic registered a 34-point triple-double to knock L.A. out of a play-in spot. Afterward, the team’s highest-paid player, Russell Westbrook, awkwardly confronted a reporter in his postgame press conference.

Even if the Lakers (31-44) make the play-in, they’d have to win two consecutive games — which they haven’t done since Jan. 7. 

  • James (30.1 PPG) could become the 10th player to win the scoring title but miss the playoffs.
  • Davis (foot) is “hoping” to return Friday. He hasn’t played since Feb. 17 — the Lakers are 4-13 over that span.
  • This offseason, they traded key role players Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for Westbrook — who is registering a career-worst PER.
  • Instead of re-signing veteran glue guy Alex Caruso, L.A. signed 21-year-old Talen Horton-Tucker (9.4 PPG).

The Lakers have the fourth-highest payroll ($164.4M) in the NBA this season — but have committed $129.5 million to James, Davis, and Westbrook alone in 2022-23.

Even making the play-in is far from guaranteed — five of their remaining seven games are against the top six teams in the West.

The biggest winner in all of this: the Pelicans, who are ahead of L.A. for a play-in spot and own all of its first-round picks through 2025.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 10, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) dunks against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first quarter of their game at Thomas & Mack Center.

Cooper Flagg Makes Mavericks, New Balance Debut in Win Over Bronny

Thursday marked Flagg’s first game donning New Balance shoes.
Jun 27, 2025; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks first overall pick Cooper Flagg speaks to the media during a press conference at the Dallas Mavericks Practice Facility.

Cooper Flagg–Bronny James Summer League Tickets Average $201

The average purchase price on resale platform TickPick is $201.
Shai

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Becomes NBA’s First $70 Million Player

The superstar could’ve waited for an even bigger deal next year.

Nuggets, Rockets Make Aggressive Moves to Challenge Thunder

Denver took the Thunder to seven games in the conference semifinals.

Featured Today

Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
July 9, 2025

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
Alex Sarr

Wizards Pushing Limits of Youth With 11 Players on Rookie Deals

Washington’s 2025 first-round pick is top-eight protected.
Chelsea
July 8, 2025

Chelsea Club World Cup Run Banks at Least $100M for Mark Walter..

The Blues will likely take home between $100 million and $120 million.
July 9, 2025

From Dynasty to Disarray: Red Bull Fires Christian Horner

He served as Red Bull team principal for more than two decades.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 8, 2025

Texas Sports Teams, Leagues Donate Over $5M to Flood Relief

NFL, MLB, and NBA teams in Texas donate to flood recovery efforts.
Chelsea
July 8, 2025

Club World Cup Semis Are Battle to Make Richest Soccer Final Ever

Semifinalists have each earned at least $60 million from the tournament so far.
July 7, 2025

Nationals Hit Reset Button, Oust Rizzo and Martinez Before Draft

The MLB club made major leadership changes just days before the draft.
July 6, 2025

Liverpool to Pay Diogo Jota’s $20M Contract to His Widow

Jota had two years remaining on his contract.