The NBA’s MLE sets a baseline for how teams construct their rosters in 2026. With flexibility becoming increasingly important in the new CBA, GMs and executives have to be smart with how and when they spend their money. The mid-level exception is important to consider as it offers high-spending teams the chance to make meaningful adjustments.
For the Lakers, financial flexibility is extremely limited right now, but if they play their cards right, there’s a way they can add a player this summer while still qualifying for next summer’s mid-level exception. The key is staying below the first apron, which covers up to $15 million in salary.
“The Lakers are in a strong position to access the non-taxpayer mid-level exception next summer,” reported Jovan Buha. “As things stand, if they do make a trade for Jonathan Kuminga or PJ Washington, and that salary is coming at the expense of some of some of the salary is coming at the expense of some of the salary coming off their cap sheet, like a Hardy, like a Knecht, like a LaRavia, than that will be additional salary on the books that does push them closer to the first apron. Then they have to figure out a way to clear more salary to access the non-taxpayer MLE, the bi-annual exception, and then to potentially get some minimum values to fill out the roster.”
The Lakers are known to be searching for one last addition, with their sights set on Jonathan Kuminga, Cam Johnson, or P.J. Washington. Any one of those players would be a solid addition for Los Angeles, but the Lakers would have to send back enough salary to stay eligible for the non-taxpayer MLE. That probably means including Jarred Vanderbilt and/or Jake LaRavia in any deal this season. Ultimately, many factors will determine how the process plays out, and much of it is out of their control.
“The swing factors here for LA are: what is the potential outgoing salary in any trade for Kuminga, Washington, or anyone else? Is it the expirings, or is it Vando? Then, it’s what happens with Collin Sexton. Does he opt in, or does he opt out? If they don’t trade Vando, and they keep him on the books, what is the market for Vando? Can the Lakers flip him next summer?”
Since the trade for Luka Doncic, the Lakers have been in full win-now mode, looking for any opportunity to improve the roster. Of course, with most of their money committed to their top three (Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler), the Lakers’ best hope for meaningful change is around the edges, and it started this summer with the addition of key role players like Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jaden Harey, Kevon Looney, and Collin Sexton (among others).
If Rob Pelinka is smart, he’ll build on the momentum by adding someone like Kuminga, who can start at the small forward spot. Then, next summer, they can use the MLE to bring in more reinforcements; potentially someone like Miles Bridges or Cam Johnson. Either way, the Lakers are in a pretty good spot here. Assuming they don’t cross into the first apron, there is an open pathway to improvement, but it requires careful navigation.
