2024-25 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Let’s actually break this down piece by piece instead of reacting emotionally.

• Rui is a solid player, but we have duplication at PF. He’s probably 80 percent of Collins’ value to us given our roster.
• Knecht is already 24 and doesn’t seem to have the coach’s full trust.
• In a vacuum, Rui plus Knecht plus lifting the protection on the 2027 pick is a fair price for a player like Collins, who fits Luka’s need for a lob threat and can switch on defense.
• But NBA trades don’t happen in a vacuum. We have to match salary. That’s where Vanderbilt comes in. His contract is rough relative to his role and health. If Utah is in win now mode and not penny pinching, they might prefer taking Vando over Kleber or Gabe. But dumping Vando’s deal isn’t free. That’s why we send the 2031 unprotected first to cover the salary dump aspect of it.
• And in return, we get back pick 21, which is a nice bonus and a way to re-inject value after trading Knecht.

Final takeaway
We consolidate overlapping pieces for one who actually fits, fix our salary structure, and walk away with a rotation rookie. Utah gets younger, upgrades a pick they already own, and adds a future unprotected first. It’s fair all around.

 

We still end up with Kleber, Vincent, and Milton, which s about 26.5 million in expiring contracts. That gives us flexibility. We could use those in other trades to absorb better talent on longer deals from teams trying to shed salary.

 

Nah, that’s a gross mismanagement of our assets. We can’t use the 2031 first to get someone to swallow Vando’s deal, that doesn’t make any sense. Just keep Vando, play him 15 minutes a night in the regular season and glue him to the bench in the playoffs. In this scenario we’ve traded our 4th best player, Knecht, and 2031 1st for Collins…who also doesn’t guard that well in the perimeter.

Collins is a 4, he’s basically Rui with more bounce. Sure you can play him at 5, but he’s not much of a rim protector and doesn’t guard that well on the perimeter. So I’m not sure what you’re really accomplishing with him as the 5. We shouldn’t be looking for switchy defenders, to play a switch-heavy scheme you need to have at least 4 guys out there that can hold up against multiple positions. With Luka and AR out there it’s already a no-go IMO. We need a 5 that can actually protect the rim.

 

Hopefully Utah or Brooklyn drafts a center. If we do, then we could feel good about getting either Kessler or Claxton.

 

Okay, so you are saying just scrap the switching scheme and go with a traditional drop big that covers for the permitter defensive mistakes? I'm down with that, if Reddick is open to that. They need to let us know so we could plan accordingly with these trade ideas lol. FWIW they are supposedly interested in Collins. I don't think it's for him to be a backup 3 or 4.

 

Yeah, scrap it. We just don’t have the personnel for it. I understand JJ wants to play 5-out, switch heavy like the C Bags, but he’s going to have to get over it. The fact that we traded to get Williams and are reportedly interested in Kessler/Claxton/Capela/Lopez/R. Williams tell me we’re planning to play a real center most of the game next year.

 

That's a good point. We already traded for Williams. I wonder if part of the trade being rescinded was JJ telling Rob, "wtf you doing man, im trying to play switch here!"

"You just gave me Luka and Reaves and now you’re handing me a drop big with stone feet?"

 

Claxton is also switchable though. That's why he would be ideal.

 

pretty much all this but the opening part especially.

i don't want knecht, the 31 pick, and rui all gone for one rotation player who's a mild upgrade at best on rui.

 

Lakers get new fans

 

I like that trade. You get scoring and defensive help.

 

Haha he got the Dwight jersey the 39.

 

Thunder blowing out Pacers tomorrow after thinking about it. Thunder.

 

Listened to the full 3+ hours mock offseason, they had us not only trading Knecht + draft capital for Kessler but also LeBron and DFS each taking a little less so we could bring in NAW for the full MLE. That has to be the best-case scenario offseason that's still remotely realistic.

 

that would solve both needs without giving up depth. That would bode well for the lakers.

 

that would be incredible. as in, i don't believe it's possible.

but that's a title-contending roster, imo.

kessler/hayes/kleber
lebron/rui/vando
luka/DFS
reaves/goodwin/bronny
NAW/gabe

throw in cp3 at the vet min, and i might put us as the favorites.

again, not happening, but...

 

So let me get this straight. Utah is just gonna hand over both Collins and Kessler for Rui, Kleber, Knecht, and a lightly protected pick. Alright then. Let me go fire up the trade machine and toss in Lauri while we’re at it. My version is actually grounded in reality. Rui and Knecht have value, Vando or Kleber balances salary, and Utah gets off Collins 29 mil for one bench player, while adding a rotation ready wing at pick 21 plus a future first. It’s balanced, not lopsided. I’m not out here trying to pull a fast one. I like my trades with a little logic and a side of self awareness.

 

All this is possible. Rob’s a** is on the line.

 

Let me give yall a scenario.

I’m tired of this is in my Barry Bonds voice.

I told y’all Robb’s but is on the line. Pay attention to that statement. Mark Walters just bought the Lakers. Robbs gotta prove himself to making a big deal.

y’all aren’t going to agree with this.

but the Suns are getting d***ed by everybody. Houston doesn’t want to give them anything. Doesn’t want to give them toilet tissue.

Miami doesn’t want to give them Kelel Ware.

I’ve watched Jabari Smith he ain’t that good.

why can’t we swoop in and trade Austin Reaves Rui Hachiumura or Vanderbilt the 2031 unprotected 1st round pick. Or We Keep Knect or trade Reaves keep Reaves trade Knect. And make the salaries work trade Gabe Vincent


And get back Kevin Durant and Nic Richard’s? Center issue solved. And Phoenix gets some young talent. Get a splash brother Knect you can put next to Booker or Reaves you get Hachiumura. You get that 2031 first round unprotected pick that can be anything.

and we get Kevin Durant and try to win a championship. Best shooter to put next to Luka. Best in the league. Talk about corner 3’s with Kevin Durant.

F the rivalry we offer the Suns the best trade.
This is a mark Walter’s trade hello I’m the new owner in town.

 

maybe not. you're acting like collins isn't an expiring contract whom they have no interest in keeping long-term, though.

the reality of us getting worse.

exactly. the former more to us than others, the latter more to others than us.

i like my trades not both lateral and squandering future assets. if it's yours or neither, i'm neither, 100% of the time. you just can't move your assets like that. it's fine if utah wouldn't do it. i wouldn't do yours, and i'm pretty sure our FO wouldn't, either, which is good. sometimes nothing is better.