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

I don't care about CJ's minus defense..his offense is excellent. He would make more of an impact in a playoffs series, than any defender that you can name. I remain steadfast..that our number 1 issue in the playoffs, has been a lack of scoring, not perimeter defense. This current series included.

As far as Dallas..They have a young superstar in Flagg. Luka gone, he's not coming back, dumping Washington's contract helps them build for the future, around the new guy.

 

What’s the issue? Dallas traded Luka here because they weren’t giving Luka a Max. The owner said we’re not giving him a max contract. And the GM did his job and traded him and got a good return. Anthony Davis is a champion and Olympian. What am I missing here? That got them more draft capital in their rebuild.

And they got a young 3-D Max Christie to put next to Cooper Flagg their superstar they were gifted after trading Luka. And they got a draft pick from us.

if we want to get NBA real about it. He was traded here after they were turned down from Milwaukee Giannis. And Minnesota Anthony Edwards respectfully.

so why wouldn’t they want to make a trade with us if it didn’t work for them also.

Massai will make a trade.

 

Slick making sense.

 

Well s***, if they want to make a trade, I would definitely try to get Gafford.

 

To a bigger perspective.

Walter makes big splashes. Ohtani changed baseball. And made the Dodgers a Powerhouse on the field and financially.

While the Lakers are the Lakers Wemby coming here would change Basketball. And make the Lakers a huge financial success. Jeanie was filing for PPP Loans.

Luka and Wemby Kobe and Shaq 2.0 would be crazy insane. Against OKC.

I’m just saying. I know it’s fantasy. But I’m watching Wemby. I always say you get the guard first and we got the guard.

until Wemby signs that super max. I’ll be licking my chops like that slick Shaq Meme time to eat. lol.

some of yall OGs in here knew and thought there was no way or possibility we were getting Shaq and we got him. And some of yall really didnt think we were getting Kareem.

Wemby here would be the biggest star in the world. Movies music videos all of it. And I know he doesn’t want any of that. But All Star weekend here you could see his L.A. star growing. He’s a Nike guy right???

 

It’s gonna be a good night for the Lakers tonight.

 

IF Wemby somehow becomes disgruntled and wants to leave, then sure, we might have a chance.
I remember when that Shaq signing went down- I couldn’t believe it.
There are two massive components that make comparing Shaq coming and the possibility of Wemby coming.
Shaq’s personality was made for Hollywood.
Wemby, however, doesn’t need to be the center of attention everywhere he goes.
Second huge difference: Jerry West
We have nobody currently within our FO with half the cache and gravity that Mr Clutch had.
I’m willing to bet Wemby stays a Spur since the NBA literally built a dynasty ready team around him by only his second season.

 

Going to see the Steph tenure through until the very end.

 

His block rate is high, but he needs to improve a lot as a rim protector because he doesn’t understand deterrence and rim positioning. His defensive rebounding is poor. And he isn’t a high quality finisher. I like Missi but I think he is a backup center, and I’m happy with Hayes. If we could get him for not much, no problems. But I’m not sending a first for Missi.

Suggs has his issues for sure, so does Smart. But if you can get him for Jake, Vando and Knecht plus a first, that’s an amazing deal. If his shot comes back, you’re getting a Jrue / White level player as a throw away, our guard rotation would be set for the next 5-7 years.

From a team building perspective, the first apron is 127% of cap, so think of it like this:

30% cap - Creator Wing (Luka)
20% cap - 2nd Creator Guard (Reaves)
17% cap - 3rd Creator POA Def (Suggs)
15% cap - 3&D Wing (Adou)
10% cap - Def Big (Ayton)
10% cap - 6th man (MLE)
10% cap - Shooter Big Wing (Rui)
7% cap - 8th man (Bronny)
8% cap - deep bench

That’s if we think we’ll be building around Luka, Reaves, Suggs, Rui and Ayton moving forward with Bronny and Adou developing. You can probably get a 3&D wing before Adou’s salary slot is required and go over the first apron.

 

Rui has really earned that new contract with his playoff play, our most consistent performer in these playoffs

 

Well you're taking Suggs over Washington ...Ok..I wouldn't cry about it.

 

It’s a freak thing. They said Ohtani didn’t want Hollywood now he’s a Dodger.

But maybe Wemby wants to play on this stage we shall see. You bring up great points on the dynasty they built around him.

Luke and Wemby would be unstoppable.

 

I think this series so far shows that running even most of this roster back is a mistake.

apart from Luka I'd keep Bron, Smart and Rui if they're willing to sign team-friendly deals.

I think it's pretty clear now we can't win building around Luka and Reaves. I'm not sure what to do with Reaves, but that to me is very clear.

This OKC team is going to be good for years to come, and we have no chance to get past them unless we rebuild the entire roster with that in mind.

We are not beating this OKC team unless we surround Luka with a bunch of two-way players who can have a shot at outmuscling and outrebounding them.

 

I’d rather have Rui for the value than AR at this point. AR got absolutely abused tonight defensively. You can’t run it back…

 

I would love to get PJ Washington, but I don't think Dallas trades with us for a decade. We cooked them on the Luka trade and their fans won't forgive that for a generation.

The way this postseason is going, I think we end up operating over the cap. Firstly, the trade targets we had like Watson, probably aren't going to be available now. As an over the cap team, we get to bring back our guys, and access the MLE to add another piece. To improve further, we need to play the trade market.

If we could pick up Suggs for Vando, Jake & Knecht + 1st, we'd be getting a buy low guy. Our team would look something like:

Luka (49.5) / Kennard (11) / Bronny (2.3)
Reaves (34) / Smart (6.5)
Suggs (32) / Adou (2.1)
Lebron (20) / Rui (18)
Ayton (9.7) / Hayes (4.5) / Kleber (2.5)

We'd need to add a solid bench piece for the MLE, maybe Grimes or Coby White in FA? Or we could absorb Bobby Portis or Herb Jones with the MLE and a first? If we pick up one solid ring chaser as a vet min, we'd be in a decent spot. I don't see a better scenario operating under the cap.

 

Watching this Ayton is trying to play himself off the Lakers. You gotta get rebounds.

similarities of 99 swept by the Spurs at the forum.

Jeanie Buss dumb a** wanted to penny pinch and let Caruso walk. She doesn’t know s*** about basketball.

best thing she did was selling to Walter.

they haven’t quit. OKC is just that much better. All of you in here were right.

Id develop Thiero. Get Luka back next season with Lebrons last with his son.

Ajay Mitchel was a second round pick out of UC Santa Barbara.

That’s why I said we need to Reshape and redo the whole scouting department and the whole front office.

So we can start finding guys from UC Irvine and Long Beach State How about that point guard from UC Irvine.???

No Luka no scoring. You can’t play the best team in the league without the leading scorer in the NBA on the bench with a hamstring.

Facts are this season was over after that Hamstring injury by Luka. I don’t know what happened in Spain but obviously it didn’t help.

Reshape the whole roster.

identify what you want on this team.

Reaves will be back. But it’s obvious those guys need to be protected. Rui Thiero athletes.


I don’t know what to do with Ayton, but it’s clear we need a Derek Lively or Nic Claxton.

this series is done.

 

AR at 34??? Not sure about that one. Seems like that would absolutely kill you roster for the next few years

 

I’d start Thiero next season.

 

He should be rotation ready next season