2025-26 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

The slam dunk contest is boring. We’ve seen the high flyers for 40+ years. Human physiology hasn’t changed enough that we can do something new, it’s just more of the same every year.

The 1 on 1 contest would bring a lot of excitement to the weekend. It would be extremely competitive due to fragile egos, and allow for homerism. Imagine Carmelo winning against LeBron and arguments of “Melo’s the better pure basketball player” vs “Bron makes his teammates better and impacts winning more.”

Get Anthony Edwards, Luka, SGA, KD etc in it and it’s guaranteed box office.

 

It would take about 34-35 million for Houston to go over the 2nd apron. But, even then, they could dump a Capela, an Adams, or a DFS to duck under. Yeah, Amen is going to be a RFA in 2027, so this could be a factor. His max is going to be around 43.6 million. They could let FVV and DFS walk. This could put them under the 2nd apron by 11 million, but they sacrifice some depth, but still have a solid 8-man rotation. They have a much higher likelihood of keeping their RFA than Denver does. So their cap situation it, 2026-2027 is tight for matching 35 million for Eason, but it's doable, and Eason getting 32.2 in 27-28 (descending contract) doesn't affect paying Thompson up to a max deal. They benefit from their top paid player making less than 50, and their second highest paid player making less than 40.

 

Yeah but if you bring the stars you bring the luster back.

 

Who did Dort try to injure? I know he had the little jersey pulling thing with LeBron, but Dort is Klutch too, so I don't put anything into that .
.

 

Wemby would beat everybody 1 on 1 you can’t see over him. You can’t shoot over him. He can recover and block your shot.

He can shoot over you. He can dribble around you. And he step back shoot behind you.

I would bet some money on Curry 1 on 1. He’s crafty enough and can shoot anywhere on the court.

 

I don't know bro..We are supposedly interested in Watson from Denver too..now Arenas is also Klutch, so that's including Thiero, and Vando, 4 Rich Paul clients here...throw in Dort....that might start a mini riot on this board.

 

I saw him with my own eyes in real time and then with slo mo replays …. have plenty of time to stop. Seriously. But instead keep going with his momentum aimed right at one of Wemby’s planted legs in the key looking for a rebound or something. One of those semi spread stances with his nearest leg to Dort exposed at 90 degrees to his momentum. Smack right into that leg and it easily could have ended his season. He went down as it was and was grabbing his knee a bit. The next face of the league possibly quality of player and he did that to him. I think Spurs beat them that night.

 

Oh Wemby..I didn't see it..thought I saw him dapping it up with Wemby after their last game tho..not sure

If you are talking about this play...I don't know LT..that's kind of iffy..yeah. he bumped into him, I'm not sure that was a malicious as it's being portrayed tho.

probably why nothing came from the league about it, I'm sure that play got looked at.

 

Breaks hand, sidelined indefinitely
February 21, 2026
Brooks will be sidelined indefinitely after sustaining a broken left hand in Saturday's win over the Magic, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

 

haha lol bro. And if Lebron resigns. Watch out now!!!!

 

Yes that one. What do your eyes say? He didn’t have to make contact like that. Skinny as Wemby is because he’s so long that “could” have really done damage.

 

The players are supposed to take special precautions, because Wemby is skinny as hell, with toothpick legs? I don't see the big deal tbh, again I noticed that the League, didn't think that was some kind of big deal either. Spurs fans, are even more whiny and annoying ,than Rockets fans IMO. Somebody is always out to get them, when they have a decent team.

 

Mark Walter making moves.... I wonder why they are mentioning Lebron?

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47999734/lakers-plan-major-price-hikes-tickets-2026-27-season

 

Do you have a better link? Doesn’t open for me.

 

Lakers plan major price hikes for tickets in 2026-27 season

Dave McMenamin
Feb 21, 2026, 07:25 PM ET
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LOS ANGELES -- The first sign of new Lakers owner Mark Walter seeking a return on his investment after purchasing the franchise at a $10 billion valuation became apparent this week when the team sent out renewal forms to season-ticket holders.

Going into the 2026-27 season, the Lakers have a steep price hike planned for their tickets.

Online basketball personality Rob Perez detailed what it will cost him with a post on X on Friday, writing that there will be a 14% increase on the cost of seats in his section and the team will tack on an additional 3% administrative fee if the invoice is not paid in full at the start.

Another longtime Lakers season-ticket holder, with seats in the 300 level, contacted ESPN and showed documentation of an even more exorbitant price increase to keep his tickets. The season-ticket holder in the 300 level had the price for his seats jump from $6,192 in 2025-26 to $9,035 for 2026-27; the price in 2024-25 was $5,494.

That is a 45.9% hike going into next season compared with a 12.7% hike in the last renewal cycle.



Lakers add Dodgers executive Rosen to front office

Lakers look to model team after champion Dodgers
Dave McMenamin
The Lakers confirmed the planned price increases in a statement provided to ESPN on Saturday.

"We are adjusting season ticket pricing for next season," the statement said. "The updates reflect the current market landscape and demand."

Through the first 26 home games of the 2025-26 season, the Lakers have an average attendance of 18,877, according to ESPN Research.

The Crypto.com Arena's website lists full capacity for a Lakers game at 18,910, meaning their seats have been 99.8% occupied.

Another one of Walter's professional sports teams in L.A., the Dodgers, set a franchise record in attendance last season with 4,012,470 fans passing through their gates in the regular season en route to a second straight World Series championship.

The Lakers ticket price increases were announced on the heels of longtime president of business operations Tim Harris announcing he will step down at the end of the season, with Lon Rosen -- who has been the Dodgers' executive vice president and chief marketing officer for more than a decade -- already tabbed to take Harris' place.

Harris' e-mail to season-ticket holders announcing the price increases, obtained by ESPN, included an introduction, with specific callouts to Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves:

"The Lakers are iconic. Expectations are always high. Every season is about earning another title. Every season is about elite competition and premium basketball because nothing compares to success with the Purple and Gold.

"This legacy of excellence sets the tone for everything the Lakers represent.

"Luka's shaping the present and future of the game in real time with vision, control and impact every night. LeBron continues to define what longevity, excellence and leadership look like in this league. Year after year, the benchmark holds. Austin's star power has no ceiling; his dedication to the game is unmatched.

"With a roster led by JJ Redick's elite basketball mind, the Lakers make every game a show. This is complete basketball. It's the combination of talent and leadership that puts the Lakers at the forefront of sports."

 

The high ticket prices completely changed the environment in NBA Arenas. You have less die hard fans and more businessmen and tourists who may not even see basketball regularly.

It's a pity but it's the modern world

 

The guy played Cardio Gabe relentlessly, I now have trust issues with Rosen

 

cuban was fussing about this the other day, claiming it's a bigger issue than tanking.

 

A scream of anguish from the Borg ..... errrr ..... Bron Collective. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Same from Anti Reaves-ers everywhere!!!!!

Mark Walter's ticket prices increase to go with that.