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

I don’t know I looked at Thiero and he looks like a ball player.

just cause their second rounders doesn’t mean they won’t be great. Arenas Jokic.

I get your point it will take time for development. Some mocks had Thiero as a lottery pick but the injury allowed us to swoop him and get him.

same thing with Bronny. Bronny was projected as a lottery pick his freshman year at Campbell hall.

his injuries allowed us to get him and Rich Paul.

Bronny got great development in the d league and averaged 20 points. That’s what you want.

He played up here. So year two he should contribute and I expect him to contribute.

I’ve seen a Vast improvement from last season in summer league. He had 18 points last game and is regularly having 18 points. That’s the improvement I expect to see in second year guys. He’s still young tons of development.

actually to be honest. I’m more impressed with his development year two then Knect and think he’s playing better then Knect overall with his defense ball handling and attention to detail leading the team. Things I’m not seeing out of Knect.

I do expect a lot out of these guys..


As for signings the Ayton signing was huge. Take the hatoraid out this was a fabulous signing but everybody thinks it was bad??? Like what the f*** we got this guy at 2 yrs. 16 million all yall outlets was like the Lakers have to get a center. Are they trading Reaves and we got one for free. But now he’s a bad guy and why would you sign him?

just great and great for Luka. No I didn’t want to do an overpay for Daniel Gafford.

Hey either way a good addition is coming to our team Brogdon Smart Simmons or Melton.

I’m not gonna trip over either one that we didn’t get the other. Melton Brogdon Smart all same things in terms for us. Brogdon is probably the most talented being a former rookie of the year. And his experience playing with Gianiss. He could probably be a 6th man of the year here.

Lebron coming back here and buying in that’s Huge. Once we get to camp yall will see how special this team can be.

 

Finney-Smith was just mediocre as hell against Minnesota. I guess I'm the only person that seems to notice that? He was definitely not the guy from Dallas, I was expecting to show up in that series. Too small for their post guys, and very ineffective, against their perimeter players. I was rather surprised, that he was looking for a 4 year deal, after that playoffs performance.

If Austin is looking for 30M plus, with his next contract, he's going to need to step it up, in the playoffs this season too. (The 3pt shooting especially, he's shooting under 30%, over the last two series)The value in relation to contract, has been outstanding so far, but when it gets into the 30M range, it becomes a different conversation.

The crickets surrounding Rui’s expiring contract situation, is a bit odd, I thought Rui held his own against Minnesota.

 

Very good assessment.

 

I compared Reaves stats to Jaylen Williams on here. And knowing his agent. Hes gonna point to Jalen Williams contract and say see look at that???!!!! That’s what we want.

You can’t pay that. Reaves doesn’t deserve that. Now after we win a championship or after a better performance that’s a different story. It’s not all stats. Williams is a two way player.

Im expecting 23 points a game from Reaves this season 5 rebounds 6 assists a game and 1 steal.

 

I think the general feeling is that Reaves is not good enough to be a #1 or even a #2 option on a contender, and because he's offense only, these players are not valued that much nowadays. He was a nice to have and great value with this contract, but once he signs a much bigger one, I feel he might become untradeable.

 

This part is confusing too. I mean we still have plenty of time, but maybe we're really canvassing the league for trades for anyone apart from Luka (and maybe Lebron).

To me, Rui can be a natural successor to Lebron at PF. He can hit the 3 and is improving defensively. But we really need him to take some steps from a rebounding point of view. I'm hopeful he can increase his averages to 18/7 (this is practically in line with his per 36 numbers) on 50/40/80 - at that point he's a keeper.

Looking at the future, this is how I'd try to build our team:

Luka / POA 3&D Guard (could be Bronny if he develops into Marcus Smart player)
Reaves / POA 3&D Guard (same as above)
3&D Wing / Adou
Rui / Adou
Ayton / Backup C

I'd really want that 3&D player to be high end though, a star in his role.

 

Lebron keeps us viable, as a contender this season IMO. We can still be one with some smaller moves. Post Lebron, the situation becomes a lot murkier, we are going to be, facing some hard decisions with the roster. What worked best, post Lebron with AD, is not going to be the same with Luka. Fwiw I think Ayton would fit both scenarios. Max too TBH.

 

When the same productivity is shown by other players, they are valued as #1 or #2 options, even on a contending team. Again, I point to: how would you view these players, in terms of ability to serve as a #2 or better option on offense? They have relatively similar ages, sizes, positions, and defense, with advanced stats in line with the below regular stats.

Player A: 24.0 pts, 5.0 asts, 4.5 rebs, 3.3 3's, 1.3 stls, 44.3% FG, 36.8% 3P, 82.3% FT

Player B: 25.6 pts, 7.1 asts, 4.1 rebs, 2.4 3's, 0.9 stls, 46.1% FG, 33.2% 3P, 89.4% FT

Player C: 25.9 pts, 7.4 asts, 5.5 rebs, 3.1 3's, 1.5 stls, 46.7% FG, 38.1% 3P, 91.4% FT

 

I agree with this future build. You've listed them by positions on offense, which makes sense. If we listed it by defense, I'd want that starting 3&D wing to instead be a 3&D POA 1-3 defender:

Starting caliber POA 3&D Guard/Backup POA 3&D Guard (could be Bronny or Goodwin if they develop)
Reaves / Backup POA 3&D Guard (same as above)
Luka / 3&D Wing (could be LaRavia if he develops) / Adou
Rui / Adou
Ayton / Backup C

That team is a playoff team, with their potential depending on how good the defenders are. With enough defense, it can be a contender.

Interestingly, right now we have that team PLUS LeBron MINUS a starting caliber 3&D guard. Can that offense/defense tradeoff still be a contender? In the regular season, yes. Good enough to fight for a top 4-5 seed. In the playoffs, it will depend on matchups, development of the bench, and can we find enough defense. Which is why a near starting level POA guard like a healthy Melton could make a big difference, and hopefully someone like that gets added to our roster by the end of summer.

I agree that Herb is a better fit this year, if LeBron and Luka both stay healthy. But what about in a year or 2 when LeBron is gone? At that point, I believe Reaves is the better fit and harder to replace what he does.

 

What does the playoffs stats look like for the above? How much separation is there, positive or negative, from the regular season stats? That's more important on a Championship contender.

 

I really like Thierro. That combination of defense and athleticism is something that we have been severely lacking. I mean, we do also seem to have it on Bronny now too. But when you think about it, when a player gets a steal, and runs down court for a devastating dunk, it really provides energy for their team and kind of deflates the other team a but. Further,, it really gets the crowd going. These are things that are not really measured in numbers per se, maybe there sre some advanced break away dunk stats but nonetheless hard ro track quantitivley. Okogie is similar in this regard. Players like Knecht sort of fo it with thir shooting when they get hot too.

 

How athletic is Okogie?

 

I know what you mean. I haven't seen much of him either. Supposedly, he had a 42 inch max vertical, and 33 inch standing vertical at his draft combine. But also his 0.8 blocks per 36 minutes for a 6-4 guy suggest athleticism as well. But he also gets 1.8 steals per 36 minutes. Combine that with athleticism and you have a similar player to Thierro. Also, his highlights support this. Not just steals, but his blocks igniting fast breaks. Okogie is a better point-of-attack defender than Vando (if you consider screen-navigation) and likely Thierro, who at this point has been mostly regarded as a wing defender. So, Okogie wouldn't really be duplication with this guys per se. I'm not saying they guy is the best thing since sliced bread, but if we just want to sign a guy, he might be the best option.

 

I think that Austin’s playmaking is being extremely underrated. LeBron could easily be gone after this season and if Austin is traded, we will be scrambling for years to find someone half as good at setting up others. Yes, we have Luka, but you need more than one guy who can dish the rock on a Chip Team.
I really like Herb Jones, but I would never trade Austin for him.
Remember, I value defense more than most.

 

Okogie on espn net metrics was positive both on offense and defense (defense being higher) and his rapm was slightly negative on offense but net was positive due to his defense

I don't recall much about his game but he seems to pen out as a potential solid rotational player with a good fit here

 

Apparently, he can’t shoot. I wouldn’t mind adding him, but people will get extremely frustrated with him by mid season, just like they are with Vando.
40% FG, 30% TPFG

 

I’m going to say it like this. Austin Reaves will resign with the Lakers. One thing OKC is doing is keeping their core together.

and I see the Lakers doing that. Laker core Luka 26 Ayton 26 Reaves 26

so the Lakers will set their team around that. And Rui 27

I’m not sure how much Rui will get??? I can’t see them letting him walk away. But I know for a fact Reaves will get resigned. Something probably for a little under what Jalen Williams got.

4 yrs. 150 million. That’s my thinking.

Rui 4 yrs. 89 million

Gotta divey it up.

Lebron retires so that comes off the books.

But I think Austin is definitely back. The guy doesn’t perform in the playoffs. And I hope he has a better playoffs this post season. I think the Lakers will win the championship.


I think Mental health is a big thing. I don’t think Ayton was happy in Portland. I think Ayton was depressed in Portland. Look we just saw with Lillard. But I think Ayton will play a lot better in L.A. because he’s happy and wants to be here.

As for Thiero great kid. great motor. Defense is just effort. I think the Lakers saw something. Saw where they were at. And said let’s just draft the 3-D guy here. Plug him in. I think his Basketball body is way more developed at this point than Christie’s was when he came out of Michigan State.

I’m not expecting a lot out of the kid offensively. But as I’ve stated on here before. We have more than enough guys who can do that.

We need defense . As for Bronny I look at him like I look at Bynum. Everybody was like who’s the Center we need a Center Kobe need help. This is pre Gasol pre Bynum Knee and then he exploded and had a phenomenal season before he had the ACL or Knee hypertension. to end his season and they traded for Gasol.

But Bynum looked slimmer muscular and buff like he was really in the gym. Side note I hope that’s how Luka looks in training camp.

But Bronny came to summer league looking like that. He just looked like a different basketball player. He looked explosive. And he looked like he was getting lift on his jump shot. And you could see particularly the three pointer in the corner. His shot was wet. And I paid attention how he was going on scoring steaks bunches like 4 points in a row. Kobe used to do s*** like that.

I’m not comparing him to Kobe. But the s*** like wanting to guard Cooper Flagg. Guarding Cooper Flagg. The defense the leadership. That’s the attention to detail. Wanting the assignment. Last season Bronny would’ve shied away. He’s stepping up. I’m proud of him. He’s gonna be a force.

I can say he’s earning his money.

Now I hear all all of what you all are saying. The Lakers have to a must add another guard.

Malcolm Brogdon Marcus Smart or Melton.

Gary Payton jr. No that’s Bronnys role.

And come on guys we all liked the Gabe Vincent signing and said okay he’s a professional. He was supposed to be our Melton our Brogdon our smart. He’s gotta step up.

And Vando needs to start stepping up to. It’s time for these guys to earn their money. Don’t let them off the hook.

 

David Purdum
Jul 18, 2025, 03:33 PM ET
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A professional bettor placed 30 wagers in 46 minutes, all involving Terry Rozier in a 2023 NBA game, according to documents obtained by ESPN that reveal new details about the suspicious betting under scrutiny by federal investigators.

On the morning of March 23, 2023, a bettor at a sportsbook in Biloxi, Mississippi, placed $13,759 in bets on the unders on Rozier's statistics in a game that night between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans, according to the documents, which ESPN acquired through an open records request. All 30 bets won, after Rozier, an eight-year veteran with the Hornets at the time, exited 10 minutes into the game, citing a foot issue.

In all, at least six sportsbooks in multiple states detected suspicious betting on Rozier props that day, with the bulk of the activity occurring in Louisiana and Mississippi, according to sources familiar with a report issued by U.S. Integrity, a firm that monitors the betting market for abnormalities.

The NBA investigated the unusual activity in 2023 and found that no league rules were violated. Two years later, Rozier is one of three NBA players known to have been under investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. Rozier has not been charged or accused of any wrongdoing.

The bettor in Biloxi placed the bets at Harrah's Gulf Coast on the under on Rozier's points, rebounds and assists, according to a list of wagers included in the documents. The largest bet, a $2,700 wager on under 5.5 rebounds for Rozier, was made over the counter, using a casino player's card. The other 29 bets were placed on a self-serve betting kiosk, a few hundred dollars at a time, beginning at 9:37 a.m., before the sportsbook counter was open, according to the records.

Attempts to reach the bettor were unsuccessful.

 

We haven't waived Shake Milton yet? WTH is going on here?