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

As currently constructed we’re a good but not elite team. Just off the back of Luka, Reaves and Lebron we’ll be a nightly threat and you mix in some good role players and we’re a tough team.

I’d argue that only OKC is clearly elite. Houston is really good on both sides of the floor, but I do wonder what happens in the playoffs when they’re forced to create in the half court. Denver fixed their depth issues and have an elite offense, but they are also average defensively. SAS aren’t there yet age wise and health will be an issue.

To get into that higher bracket and be a threat to win the title we need a better balance. With the playoffs in mind:

POA D / Smart
Reaves / LaRavia
Luka / Wing Defender
Lebron / Rui
Ayton / Hayes

Upgrading our perimeter D with a POA and a Wing defender that can both his 3’s would really solidify what we’re trying to do.

To make that happen, we have the salaries of Gabe, Knecht, Vando and Kleber which works out to about 40m.

In the meantime, I’d give more playing time to Nick and Adou. One can be an offensive spark and the other can be a solid defender.

 

we can take monk off their hands for salary relief as well. Lakers need someone other than the big 3 who can score in bunches - especially days like last night where the bench outside of Smart couldn't do squat



This is one of my dream realistic scenarios which as been discussed before - 10 man rotation - Hayes, Laravia, Smart, Monk, Ellis. Increase the athleticism and get a mix of defense and offense from the guard spots

 

I like Monk better than Ellis..I'm sorry but I've been trying to see the root, of all this Ellis hype, it hasn't materialized for me yet. Evidently Sacramento isn't convinced either.

Malik can get buckets in a hurry for you tho, that's a valuable skill. From his one year with us, he seemed to give effort on D, especially 1on1, but he seemed to get caught, watching the ball a lot, off the ball. I wouldn't cry about us pulling that trade though.

 

On another note, Gabe was up and down all last season too, but he was solid in the playoffs IMO.

 

I was a big fan of Monk when he was here, and was sad to see him leave for not a lot of money, but paying him close to 20M and trading assets for him, I'm totally out. We can get bench scorers for a lot cheaper than that. Lonnie Walker had a similar output for us and is playing in Israel.

 

sac has come out yet again claiming they don't want to move ellis. i think it's bluster because they've killed his trade value, and he's a UFA this summer. he's the same guy he was a few months ago, when he was unavailable.

monk is very available for a reason, imo. i like him, but how much better than nick smith is he right now? better, but 10X better?

anyway, i'm totally down for the trade suggested above, as i have been for a while. i just don't think it's happening.

i'd keep my eye on expiring guys who can do what we want (e.g., thybulle). we're not going to give up assets AND add salary going forward unless it's an absolute no-brainer.

in the interim, i'll keep banging the "play the young guys" drum. the inexperienced spurs guards just ran circles around our wily veterans.

 

Hey man.. I was floating Thybulle and Williams as trade candidates earlier this season. The injury questions loom large for both of those guys though.

 

I like how is he legimatly a good shooter. Not some defensive project with a broken shot that he kind of fixed. He's been a good shooter since his last season at Alabamba. Hes been around a 40% 3 pt shooter on about 2 makes or so per 36 ever since. He's an excellent defender, but he's not a switchable as someone like Herb, but he is very good and has a 6-9 wing span. Also is quick and athletic. And 70% of his shots are from behind the arc, which is all we need. Very minimal middies.

 

Let’s not get guys who will be “dead” anyway I don’t want to jinx it but it looks like we don’t have a dead guy this season