Bill Simmons did not hold back on the latest episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, taking a blowtorch to the Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason and calling it nothing short of a “capital f**king soap opera.” With just weeks remaining in free agency, Simmons expressed grave concern about the Lakers’ roster construction, direction, and overall chaos that seems to define the franchise’s current state.
“The Lakers are going to be a capital f***ing soap opera. The Finney-Smith thing, I think the Lakers thought he was coming back and that they were going to get a center, and that was going to be their summer plan. Instead, they lose him.”
“They have to pivot to LaRavia, who they probably could have gotten anyway. This is a disaster for them because they’re just not, they’re not even close to the top four in the West now, I don’t think.”
Simmons’ frustration echoes what many in the league are whispering behind closed doors. The Lakers entered the offseason with the expectation that Dorian Finney-Smith would opt in and return as their defensive anchor on the wing.
Instead, Finney-Smith declined his player option and signed with the Houston Rockets, a blow that caught the Lakers off guard.
In response, the Lakers signed Jake LaRavia, a 22-year-old former first-round pick from the Memphis Grizzlies. While LaRavia is younger and cheaper than Finney-Smith, he’s far from a like-for-like replacement when it comes to playoff-level experience and elite perimeter defense.
Then came the Deandre Ayton signing, which offered some relief. Ayton, who averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds last season, gives the Lakers a much-needed presence in the paint.
But even with that addition, the roster remains razor-thin in key areas. Aside from the expected starting five of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, and Ayton, the bench features few proven contributors beyond Gabe Vincent.
And hovering over everything? The LeBron James trade rumors.
James opted into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025–26 season, but speculation is growing louder by the day that he could ask out if the Lakers fail to build a contending roster this summer. Rich Paul, James’ longtime agent and confidant, has made it clear: LeBron wants to win now, not later. Not during a rebuild around Luka Doncic. Not as a glorified mentor in the twilight of his career.
Reports initially suggested there was little league-wide interest in James due to his age, massive contract, and no-trade clause. But in the last 48 hours, four teams have reportedly contacted Paul to explore a possible trade, changing the narrative entirely.
That uncertainty, combined with questionable signings and the loss of key free agents, is exactly what led Simmons to slam the Lakers’ front office. In his eyes, the Lakers are not only failing to compete, they’re spiraling into dysfunction.
Unless Rob Pelinka has a few tricks left up his sleeve, it’s hard to argue otherwise.
