2026-27 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

WHOOO! Get it done Rob so people will get you off the D grade. LMAO.

 

Did Hezonja really improve in Europe the past few years or something? I don’t recall him being particularly impressive in the NBA, so that version of Hezonja I would see more as a fringe rotation player. Maybe your 9th or 10th best player. Don’t quite follow the logic that this means the Cavs would be out on Kuminga?

 

I recall him being athletic, a good defender and rebounder fpr his position. He was a streaky shooter. I thought maybe he improved his shooting, but I looked at his Euro stats and he's still in that 30-32% range, same as when he was in the NBA. That's simialr to Kuminga when you think about it, so some redundency.

 

Fu lebron fu lebron!

 

i think the idea is that, as showtime said, hezonja is taking the role, and he wouldn't have signed up there on a vet min if he knew they were going to bring in kuminga ahead of him. but no, it doesn't like, change their ability to get kuminga. it just might mean they don't want him.

it's also possible that this was a fallback, and kuminga had already decided to go elsewhere, but it hasn't been announced.

 

I was just trying to be helpful...lol. If LeBron ever stops by my cabin I will break out the good stuff. Alaskan Amber and smoke some reds, deep fry beer battered halibut. He will feel like the King for sure. I will even bum a jar of fresh seal oil for dipping. Making myself hungry.

 

OBSESSED

 

That's a good point about him being a fallback option.

I'm probably way off, but I could see the Lakers trading Vando + 2032 1st-round pick swap for Kuminga at 3 years / 65 million (Average AAV 21.6 million). I think Atlanta gets a trade exception out of it?

However, only the first year would be guarenteed at 20 million. So, it's basically a one-year extension of the contract he had last season, if Lakers just use him as a rental. I like the optionality of this contract, it gives the Lakers the leveradge. If Kuminga is a bad fit, we could simply let him walk. If he fits, then he could stay. Lakers could also trade him at the deadline, if needed. Kuminga would have no player option, so he would be locked into the deal for three years, which isn't bad at all for him. The AAV is generous for a player like Kuminga. In exchange, the Lakers get optionality. 20 million is the most the Lakers could pay him, while staying about 1 million under the 1st apron in a trade with only Vando going out. Lakers could cut somebody like Knecht to get to 15 roster spots.

 

Dang man...lol. What did I miss???

 

yeah, it's great...for us. atlanta's TE here is only about 8m, and they have vando's salary both this year and next (right now, they have no salary). they have almost 12 million in first apron space. so eating vando takes them over the first apron. i don't think they're hardcapped there, but it still may be an issue.

this is why i spent time trying to find a way to move salary to third and fourth teams, so atlanta could get a 20m TE out of the deal and remain well below the first apron for now.

 

I mean I get that logic, but I feel like one could argue that same logic with our signings of Thybulle and Williams. I see the Hezonja signing in a similar tier.

 

Look what I replied to. Or you talking about him. He needs no new news …. just hates on LeBron daily.

 

Tell us how you really feel

 

Interesting. Could Knecht or Hardy or LaRavia and Hield be added to the deal? In that case, Lakers would only be able to pay Kuminga about 15-16 million. Which is still more than Cleveland could pay for him. Hield makes $9,658,536. That would save Atlanta an additional 3 to 5 million. Would that get it done?

 

I don’t even know how the Lakers and Hawks can make a deal with each other directly, given that the Hawks currently have 17 players on their roster while the Lakers have 16 players.

I think a 3rd team with cap space and open roster spots need to be involved to take on some players, and in that case would likely cost draft capital that the Lakers don’t have too much of to make a trade work.

 

Yeha, the Hawks actually have some good players from 15-17, so probably in theor best interest to get something for them.

 

this is why i kept saying just send knecht/2nd to sac (or somewhere else that has a spot and a TE big enough), laravia/2nd to wash (ditto), and then a 2nd to atl for helping. that gets kuminga a deal starting near 18, squares our roster, doesn't add any players or salary to atlanta, but they get a 18m TE and a 2nd.

i've never really understood how vando gets involved. i don't think anyone will eat that deal right now unless they're getting basically all of our draft capital, and even then, you're punting that 13m this year AND next.

 

Mario is now a different player, way more efficient and impactful on the single game.
In Europe he has been one of the best 5 players in the last Euroleague seasons, and in the ACB league he has been maybe the best one.
There is always a little problem with his consistency, sometimes he takes a game off despite he could be dominant and the best player on the floor.

But now he's more able to understand the game on both sides, he's more able to use his great physique and athleticism, he's a way more efficient shooter.
I don't know how he'll perform in the NBA, considering that the games in Europe are sometimes more tough but more slow.

 

Hey, a plus counts for something!

 

So what’s up with Kaminga??? Herzonga signed with the Cavs.