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

We have Luka and Reaves already for that. You are talking luxuries here, not needs. Who would you rather have on this team, Westbrook or KCP? We saw how that panned out. And we are seeing how having too many players that try to "do things" has affected us this year. You have Lebron trying to create still, even though he has Luka and Reaves. You cant even play those three together. Then, you have Rui trying to iso and shoot middies, and you have Ayton demanding post touches. It's too much. There is only so much ball to go around. Need to establish the 3 and D players that are low-maintenance on offense. Once you do that, if you want to get cute, and get a bench scoring machine, by all means go ahead and maybe get a Cam Thomas on a one-year prove it deal or something.

 

This is exactly the reason I really want Watson and it's also the same reason why I prefer him over Eason. Watson, in the best case scenario, is someone who could wind up being the Lakers' third option after Luka and Austin, and potentially grow into being the second or first option in certain cases in a few years as Luka and Austin start exiting their physical primes.

That said, Eason is generally more of a Stationary Shooter at the perimeter, so he'd probably be easier to just plug and play in the roster for most circumstances than Watson, as @showtime24 is pointing out.

 

You certainly bring up a valuable point here and I think it's likely a big part of why Luke Kennard has been so effective for us since the trade deadline, even if he's not great defensively. Dude can at least contribute in a team defense scheme and he knows his role on the offensive end of the court like the back of his hand to the point where getting shots in is second nature for him.

That said, this raises questions for the Center position IMO. Obviously we all know that the ideal long term starting Center for Luka is not only someone who can be a true defensive anchor as an elite rim protector, but is also a vertical lob threat. But wouldn't it be fair to argue that in today's NBA, it'd be smart for said center to offer more versatility offensively than just catching lobs in the P&R with Luka and offer at least some level of horizontal floor spacing too, even if he isn't a proper 3 point threat?

 

In a vacuum .... yeah. But in real life, OFTEN during a season, one of AR or Luka (hopefully not both ) might be out of a game or group of games for any number of reasons ..... including simple rotations. Would not suck to have one or more additional players that can create a bit as well on offense plus shoot decent %.

 

I hear you, man. But there is a reason 3 and D players are so rare and valuable. Need to make sure we get those players on our roster. The 2020-21 Lakers had Lebron and AD as the bucket getters, and Kuzma, who could kind of do some things. Then little, by little they tried to get too cute. Danny Green was an elite 3 and D player, even with bad knees. They traded that guy for Dennis Schroeder. Also replaced JeVale and Dwight (rim-runners) with Harrell (post-scorer) and Gasol (hub). Then the following year they traded KCP/Kuzma and the 22nd pick (Isiah Jackson) for Westbrook. What the heck were they doing lol?

I'm just hoping we are able to get at least one of those valuable off-ball roles solidified. But you could also argue, what if that guy gets hurt?

 

Yeah, great point on Kennard. It's a breath of fresh air to have a player who knows what his role is. People nit-pick on the guy for passing up on threes, but he does everything in the flow of the offense. He's a high IQ player. Even with his defensive deficiencies, he is looking like a valuable pick up because of that. We need players out there who don't think they are out there to score. There also has been a lot of positives from Rui being replaced in the starting lineup with Smart. Now imagine having TWO better shooting and lower usage versions of Smart in that starting lineup? BTW, Smart could also be one of those extra bucket getters off the bench.

 

IMO the Lakers need four players
1.Obviously the 3&D guy

2.A starting front court guy to help replace LeBron.

3.Another creator. Most likely a veteran who’s been around the league but doesn’t need big minutes.By creator I mean a guy who can run the offense,get others their shot and hit some shots. Just a guy who you can put in for 10-15 games if someone gets hurt.

4.A 3rd center.Probably thru the draft

 

Yeah, exactly. Essentially, a third-string creator IMO.

Role
CREATOR: Luka, Reaves, Clarkson?
CRAFTY SHOOTER: Reaves, Kennard, Bufkin, Knecht (Cut)
POA: Ellis, Smart, Vanderbilt, Bronny
TOUGH WING: Dort, Thiero, LaRavia
LOB-THREAT BIG: Hayes, Cyril?, Williams?, Ayton (Cut)

The front court guy you are referring to is Dort, Thiero, LaRavia. I get, most people might want to shift Dort to POA nd replace Ellis with more of a traditional front-court guy. But, is such a player going to be available and obtainable for 20 million, and are they going to be better than Ellis? Dort has operated on the wing in recent years, not POA. Even Smart has been more 2/3 than 1. It's more of a position less league now. I define it by roles.

 

I get it, everyone likes Austin. But he's not Pau Gasol or Anthony Davis. He's not a Top 15 player in the league that you feel comfortable running your offense through for stretches against any playoff opponent. He's just not at that level. We've seen it all year - he's not matchup proof. And that's fine, that's why he's the 30th-35th best player in the league and not the 15th.

Like I said, it's the same problem that Mavs team had. A younger, quicker Kyrie who could put up 40 against great Warriors defenses made that construction work with LeBron. The older Kyrie couldn't maintain production against Holiday/White/Brown and they lost that series largely because of it. It's the same problem the Wolves currently have. They have Ant, who is awesome, and then a low-end #2 creator in Randle. Everyone else depends on advantages created by those two. But if Randle goes up against a matchup where he can't just bully-ball you, he struggles and then they really don't have any advantage creation besides Ant trying to beat his man off the dribble. It's the same problem the C Bags had before 2024. They had Tatum, who was great, and Brown who at the time was more of a low-end second offensive option. Offense would get really clunky against good playoff defenses. They solved it by swapping out Smart and Williams for KP, Holiday and White - guys who could be release valves in the offense in their own right without sacrificing too much defense.

 

That's some interesting information. Everyone has a different opinion. Luka is averaging what, 35ppg? How much of a second creator does he need before you start to see diminishing returns? I think Reaves is okay as a second creator. Is he Kyrie? No. He's not as good. Maybe 75% of Kyrie. Would i prefer an Edwards, Tatum, Brown, Kahwii, KD, Murray, Maxie, etc. over Reaves? Of course I would. But, players such as Westbrook, SGA, Cade, Mitchell, Fox, Young, LeMelo, Harden, Booker, and arguably Haliburton and Giannis might be bad fits next to Luka. At least Reaves is humble and versatile enough to play some off ball.

 

Politely, I disagree with not needing more creators or that a LeBron level player (current level LeBron) can’t work with Reaves and Luka. The reason we’re having issues currently is on the defensive end, the offensive end will sort itself out.

With this in mind, Watson is a fantastic defender who can guard 2-4 and even the 1 at a pinch (check his defense on Fox). He is a really good help side shot blocker, and a very good on ball defender. Also he is a good rebounder. So just by that alone he is an excellent fit next to Luka and Reaves in a 1-2-3 or 2-3-4 lineup depending on who’s surrounding them.

Offensively he is good as a catch and shoot option. He has additional value as a tertiary creator who can run actions and flashed star level performance when Murray and Jokic were out this year. He seems to be improving as a finisher too. I just see him as an ideal player next to Luka. He is an excellent lob option, catch and shoot option and he can create himself. Sign me up for the athletic two way player who can break out.

He would be my top target and I’d offer him a poison pill contract on day one. Something like 22-22-42-42. That’s 128m/4 year contract and Denver would be forced to match the average which is 32m in year one. That might be enough to prize him away while keeping some extra cap space. I’d then turn my attention to Dort / iHart / Grimes / Eason / Claxton etc which the remaining 20-30 million in cap space.

 

I'm just enjoying the current ride..winning is great! I see some trouble down the road in the playoffs tho..however I'm not going to dwell on that today. The next 6 games are step up playoffs preview types of games. We can huddle up again afterwards, and muse on holes and disadvantages and what not.

Generally speaking on the future..I would be more happy, if we upgraded the 3-4 and 4-5 positions,with some size and athleticism. I trust we'll find more guards later if needed.

 

If you’re using the Dodger motto. Theyre not just gonna pay a guy.

they will take care of thier own Luka and Reaves. And then brining in a bunch of glue guys that support that.

Toni Eason

If he becomes available Cam Johnson a variety of smaller level guys who can come in and do a job around the main guys.

Keon Ellis.

 

LOL you guys must think I'm Darvin Ham or something. I guess I'm a little less sensitive to going with a little bit smaller lineup. The success OKC has had with Wallace/SGA/Dort/JWill/Holmgren made me more comfortable with it. I mean Dort and Wallace are both basically 6-3. Williams is 6-5, and playing the 4. SGA and Chet are both skinny.

 

I don’t see Dort.

I see Payton Watson. I see a huge push for Gianis.

but Reaves and Luka are staying. They’re gonna check in on Jokic.

and do their due diligence.

the great thing about Mark Walters is he’s going to make the smart basketball and financial decision.

Ohtani is a great financial and Baseball decision.

Luka was a great basketball and financial decision. That was the mark Walter decision.

who is that next one. Gianiss is the main prize and piece out there. He offers the most. I think we are the best situation for Gianiss just what we offer with our team.

but if it was up to me I would bring back Ayton at a cheap price. 40 50 million 4 years. He’s not gonna command a lot.

and if you really look at him. When he’s on and into the game He is that Lob threat for Luka and Reaves because I see Lobs to Ayton. I think we just our the best situation for Giannis just what we offer with our team.

 

A lot of different opinions, that's good. Why don't you see Dort? He is 3 and D. I see some value with Ayton too, but he could go to another team and do that. Him being a 20 million dollar player that puts in effort 50% of the time, doesn't make him a good value at 10 million dollars imo. I'll pass on the headache. Give me Hayes for 8 million, and a rookie or two. Lakers would have about 38 million in cap room, about 41 if you include the 1st round pick. Giannis makes about 58 million. So 17 million in salaries need to go out, unless you are doing a double sign and trade. Ayton + LaRavia + Knecht + Thiero + 2026 1st + 2031 1st + 2033 1st gets us there. Would that be enough value for Milwaukee, and would he even want to play on the West Coast?

 

Giannis, Luka and AR are a bad fit. The Greek needs the ball in his hands to be effective and is more of an uptempo offense player. Luka needs the ball even more and is the opposite of up tempo. Reaves could fit with either.
I only want Ayton back if we strike out on other options and if it’s for only two years. He can change my mind if he plays all out during these playoffs.
I like Dort and think he fits well alongside AR and Luka.
I think Watson is a pipe dream because he’s restricted. You can be sitting around, waiting on an answer from him while everyone else is being taken off the board.
Now, if we have an agreement with his agent, day one after his season ends, then that’s another story.
I would try to get Jonathan Isaac from Orlando as our insurance if we strike out on a better starting Center. He’s the springy type Luka loves and can play some D.

 

I'll be frank.

Giannis is not a great basketball decision for the Lakers at this point in time. He'd be a phenomenal financial decision in regards to bringing in blockbuster ticket sales in being paired alongside Luka, yes, but the Lakers trading for him would almost certainly be doomed to fail and in a worst case scenario, set back the franchise for at least another half decade plus, closing Luka and Austin's window at winning a championship as Lakers entirely.

Completely agree with you on the Giannis point.

 

Im not a fan of getting Giannis either. But I could talk myself into it. But then again, I also did that with Westbrook. They did raise ticket prices pretty significantly, so you also have that.

 

Yeah, we need to be careful about getting a player that needs the ball, in general. Clarkson for the vet minimum as a bucket getter off the bench, sure why not. But someone else needing the ball who is playing significant minutes, and making a boat load of money would be bad.