The Los Angeles Lakers’ roster is going to look at lot different when the 2026-27 season roles around as they are following through with their plan of utilizing max cap space.
That meant they would lose a lot of their own free agents and bring in some fresh faces, with one being Collin Sexton, per Shams Charania of ESPN:
Free agent Collin Sexton has agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/S2MBPxTSH4
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026
Sexton’s Lakers contract is also said to include a player option for the 2027-28 season.
Sexton’s reported agreement with the Lakers came on the heels of the team reaching a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz for Walker Kessler, and deals with Sandro Mamukelashvili and Quentin Grimes.
Sexton began last season with the Charlottes Hornets before getting traded to the Chicago Bulls. He became a potent scorer while primarily coming off the bench for Chicago, averaging 17.5 points per game on 48.2% shooting and 41% behind the arc.
A former first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sexton is now poised to join the fifth team of his career. The longest tenure the 27-year-old has had with one team was four seasons spent on the Cavs. That was followed by Sexton playing three years with the Jazz.
Across his eight-year career, Sexton has averaged 18.3 points per game and 38.9% 3-point shooting despite being an undersized guard.
The signing of Sexton in some regard offsets the Lakers losing Luke Kennard to the Phoenix Suns on a modest two-year, $13 million contract. Marcus Smart is another of the Lakers’ free agents who has moved on as he agreed to a deal with the Houston Rockets.
Lakers turning page from LeBron James era
With LeBron James letting the Lakers know that he would be departing in free agency, the team is beginning a new era where they fully build the roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
That likely means prioritizing young players who can grow together as a unit, and of course some 3-and-D players to surround their two ball-dominant stars.
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