TITLE: Lakers Renounce Free-Agent Rights to LeBron James and 12 Other Players
SLUG: lakers-renounce-free-agent-rights-lebron-james-12-others
CONTENT:
The Los Angeles Lakers have formally relinquished their free-agent rights to 13 players, a group headlined by four-time NBA champion LeBron James, the organization confirmed on July 8, 2026.
The list released by the club includes James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Dion Waiters, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber, Nick Smith Jr., Jared Dudley, Avery Bradley, Jaxson Hayes, Markieff Morris and Wayne Ellington.
Renouncing a player’s rights removes the team’s ability to exceed the salary cap to re-sign that player using Bird or Early Bird exceptions. The move makes each individual an unrestricted free agent, free to negotiate with any franchise.
James became a free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season and, according to ESPN, declined to meet with Lakers executives during the opening days of free agency. His next destination has not yet been determined.
Several players on the list have not appeared in an NBA game for multiple seasons. Howard last played in 2022, while Waiters has been out of the league since 2020.
The transaction was first reported by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto in a social-media post on July 8.
Source: Hoops Wire
