A Big-Name Team Is Coming To Cameron This Fall
Duke and Illinois will kick off a basketball series this fall!
The Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Thunder after a four-game sweep. Key decisions regarding their roster and fantasy assets are anticipated for next season.

The Los Angeles Lakers, without Luka DonÄiÄ, sent the Rockets home in six games, only to run into an Oklahoma City Thunder squad primed to repeat as champions. The Lakers fought as best they could, but ultimately exited the second round in a four-game sweep. Fantasy-wise, the Lakersā big three carried the load, but some tough decisions are looming ahead of next year.
Hereās what we learned from the Lakers and what to consider going forward.
Luka DonÄiÄ put together a monster season ā leading the league in scoring with 33.5 ppg while also finishing the regular season second overall in High Score and sixth in 9-cat leagues. Heāll continue to be one of the best contributors from the guard spot in terms of points, rebounds and assists.
Heading into next year, DonÄiÄ remains one of the safest first-round investments in fantasy basketball regardless of what this roster looks like around him.
Austin Reaves had his coming-out party this season, outperforming his 47th overall ADP. The soon-to-be-free agent finished 30th in High Score, averaging 43.5 fantasy points per game (FPPG) and 32nd in 9-cat leagues. Reaves was limited to 51 games after dealing with ankle, calf and late-season oblique injuries, but he still posted career-bests in points, rebounds and steals, while maintaining his efficiency on increased volume.
The breakout is real, and now weāll have to see how much the Lakers are willing to pay to retain his services. Lock him in as a third-to-fourth-round fantasy draft pick.
Then thereās Deandre Ayton. A disappointment yet again.
Playing 70 games was the highlight, as his production tapered off for the fourth straight season. He failed to average a double-double for the first time in his career (he averaged 12.5 ppg with 8 rebounds), while playing the fewest minutes per night (27.2). He was very efficient from the field, but it was on low volume, and most nights he was benched for his inconsistent effort on defense and on the glass. Ayton will likely opt out of his $8M contract and test free agency. Thereās enough tape on him to know who he is ā a declining player who carried a 67th overall ADP but finished outside the top-110 in both High Score and 9-cat.
The Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs.
The Lakers' big three were the main fantasy assets, with Luka DonÄiÄ leading the league in scoring.
The Lakers face tough decisions regarding their roster and potential changes ahead of next season.
Luka DonÄiÄ had a standout season, averaging 33.5 points per game and ranking high in various fantasy categories.
Duke and Illinois will kick off a basketball series this fall!
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LeBron James looms over everything as always. On the floor, he still delivered for fantasy managers. His value took a hit relative to his ADP in 9-cat, as he was drafted 27th overall and finished the year as the 52nd-best player. In High Score, though, James was better, ranking 20th, averaging 46.8 FPPG. Jamesā numbers were solid, but there was a considerable drop off in scoring to 20.9 ppg, the lowest of his career. Some of that was because he took fewer shots playing alongside Luka and Reaves.
Now to the important stuff. The King turns 42 in December and his contract situation heading into the offseason will be the biggest storyline of the offseason. He could re-sign with the Lakers, go elsewhere or retire. If Bron returns, Iād pencil him as a fifth-rounder, but the destination and personnel surrounding him matter. A fifth-round grade assumes weāll get the 2025-26 version of LeBron, who was more of a playmaker and less of a scorer.
Does LeBron re-sign? That's the only question that matters in Los Angeles this offseason. If he's back, the Lakers run it back with Luka as the unquestioned engine. If he walks, this becomes Luka's team in full, which frankly isn't the worst outcome for fantasy purposes. Either way, Luka DonÄiÄ and Austin Reaves are locked in as the top fantasy options on this roster across all formats. Build around them and fill in the gaps once the offseason smoke clears.