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

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by TIME, Jun 24, 2025.

  1. Pioneer10

    Pioneer10 - Lakers All Star -

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    f***ing A you put Caruso on this team and lakers would be favorites. Completely change the game for OKC when he's in there
     
  2. 432J

    432J - Lakers All Star -

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    watching these two teams play makes you realize just how flawed this lakers roster is. no way they'd be able to hang with either of these teams in the playoffs
     
  3. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

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    Whoever in our front office didn’t want to retain Caruso doesn’t deserve to be employed here, or anywhere else. I’m sorry that’s inexcusable, it tells me you value the wrong things and don’t get what pushes teams over the edge for title contention. He just doesn’t stop, he almost had a chance to tie the game at the end tonight but was hit with no call, probably got robbed on a call the previous play on defense as well. Anyway, good to see OKC is beatable anyway, but man these 2 teams are on a different level than us, just top level basketball on both ends.
     
  4. Pioneer10

    Pioneer10 - Lakers All Star -

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    The worst part was every Laker fan was like this guy is awesome. Does everything you want from player and most of the stuff he adds doesn't show in the box score.

    I mean didn't him and Lebron have the most insane 2 man lineup data? Sigh he looked like he singlehandedly took away the Spurs advantages

    I'm going to say so far the Brick trade was not as bad as letting Caruso go. KCP had 1 good year with Denver, Kuzma been a bunch of meh, but if you kept Caruso who would have the most valuable roleplayer archetypes in the market: an DPOy caliber guard defender
     
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  5. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

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    Yes, I believe they did, Bron loved Caruso. He also started on a championship team, in a game we blew Miami out to win. And even if he wasn’t a full time starter, he was at worst the 6th best player on a title team. And to be clear I’m not blaming Rob for this, I don’t know if it was his decision, it could have been the whole front office, Kurt, Jeanie, the Buss bros, I have no idea, but it remains baffling. I look forward to the day anyone who doesn’t value what a player like Caruso brings is no longer making personnel decisions and we can employ more people who do get it.
     
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  6. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    I think Caruso had to go in order for the Westbrick trade to be possible, right?
     
  7. 432J

    432J - Lakers All Star -

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    i think they just cheaped out and figured THT would fill the void. caruso was even willing to take less from what i remember and the lakers simply said no

    21 offseason was just pure disaster
     
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  8. Pioneer10

    Pioneer10 - Lakers All Star -

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    no they didn't want to go into the tax to keep THT and Caruso. The thing is they ended up paying Nunn so the difference was marginal
     
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  9. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    Yeah, AR being on a cap friendly deal becomes a problem
     
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  10. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    This is why I’m not on a Gianiss trade. Why give everything up when we’re not there yet.

    I’d like to keep Reaves and all our depth. You gotta match OKC.

    we’re looking at the western conference finals for the next 5 years.

    I get Maximizing your Luka with Gianiss. But these teams look great.


    Gianiss is one player. We gotta add the size and length on the wing. I like getting multiple young guys. Herbert Jones and Kiyan Lewis.

    remember we beat San Antonio with Wembyana. We can beat any of these teams if Luka gets hot and goes on a heater. We could win if we get great production from Reaves also.
     
  11. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    Bro let me help you out. That was Jeanie Buss. She didn’t want to pay more on the tax. It came down to Caruso and THT. Because we’re Klutch and Lebron and Rich Paul. We chose THT so Rich Paul could get the money and commission. Let that sink in.
     
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  12. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    agree on most counts, but we did beat SA earlier in the year when they were at full strength. we played really poorly and barnes and johnson went bananas for a few minutes in the last one. we can beat that team.
     
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  13. VladeD714

    VladeD714 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    In a seven games series while they're hitting their stride? Might be tough, but never know.

    Definitely need some roster changes, and I think we can be right there. But we know that already...
     
  14. VladeD714

    VladeD714 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    On that note, this slow unathletic starting 5 needs a 5th starter, and I'm not throwing in a first rounder for reclamation projects. I don't think we have any second to include, right? Rob is really going to have to nail the trade deadline. Won't be easy.
     
  15. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers MVP -

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    Agreed. Just can’t make mistakes like that.
     
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  16. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers MVP -

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    Yeah. I think most of us agree with this. We’d have to send out a lot for Giannis and I don’t think we’d have enough left.
     
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  17. VladeD714

    VladeD714 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    We did. It's done. Have to move on. Develop Theiro and go trade for another wing, if possible.

    How it goes and hope new ownership pays up when presented with the exact situation.
     
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  18. VladeD714

    VladeD714 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    Not even close. He's going to Miami, IMO.
     
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  19. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers MVP -

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    I agree. I feel like it will give him what he wants and keep him in the east.
     
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  20. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers MVP -

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    Yeah. I don’t think we have to worry about that kind of stuff anymore.
     
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