The offseason roster overhaul in Los Angeles is underway as Rob Pelinka continues to seek out free agents and trade opportunities to improve the talent level the Purple and Gold have to work with once the 2025-26 campaign tips off.
With Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes signed on for this coming season, the Lakers should be in a better position on the interior than they were when Hayes was relied upon to be a starter. Given the state of the center position after last year's playoff run, this always had to be the team's top offseason priority.
The addition of Jake LaRavia is a low-risk signing that improves the team's overall depth, but in no way should signal Los Angeles is done making moves on the perimeter. That makes the latest rumor concerning a free agent target of Pelinka's seem that much more realistic. It also all but ends the tenure of one veteran guard in Southern California.
Latest Lakers Free Agency Rumors Telegraph Future Gabe Vincent Trade
The odds of Gabe Vincent having a spot on the Lakers' roster on opening night of the 2025-26 regular season seem slim. For a player eating up nearly 7.5% of Los Angeles' cap number, he really doesn't provide the franchise with much beyond being a volume scorer. Turning Vincent's $11.5 million contract for the 2025-26 campaign into an asset of any kind would be a win for the Purple and Gold.
Shipping Vincent out of town doesn't fully address the issue though. Los Angeles would still need a player to fill that role and the latest free agency rumors indicate that the franchise has locked in on its target. According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, veteran guard De'Anthony Melton is expected to sign with the Lakers this summer.
Signing Melton would be a homecoming of sorts for the veteran guard as he is a North Hollywood native who played his college ball for the USC Trojans. The spotlight that comes with playing in Los Angeles will not be too bright for him as it is all he has ever known. He will also provide more across the board for the Lakers as his rebound and assist per game averages are better than what Vincent has been known to provide.
This past season, Melton was limited to just six appearances for the Golden State Warriors before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in November during a matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. He should be on the verge of being fully healthy once training camp rolls around this fall and, assuming that is the case, Melton's presence will be a boost for Los Angeles on both sides of the ball as the 27-year-old is just as adept at defending as he is shooting from the perimeter.