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

1. wow
2. davonte graham is still in the league?
3. oh, this is from a while back; okc played miami last night.

 

ok, back on topic:

four guys i'm watching at the deadline are keon ellis (of course!), peyton watson, quentin grimes, and benedict mathurin. all because i think they're realistic FA targets AND deadline targets.

none of these teams wants to trade with us (mayyybe philly would be ok), but i feel like we can put it out there--to both teams and agents--that we plan to make offers larger than the mle to these guys using our space, and it might grease the wheels on one or more fronts. like, is dalton knecht, a second, or a lotto-protected first better than your player walking in FA or you paying them 20 million per?

i think we can simultaneously depress the trade market with our FA spending power on any guy we tag as a target, too. what are you going to give up if you know we're going to offer your new player a bunch of money? like gs wants ellis, too. ok. you've got three guys at his position (moody, podziemski, melton) under contract next year. if we show up with a declining 20m per offer are you going to beat that? is he going to want to fight for minutes over walking into playing time here? are you going to offer much for dealing with that?

watson and mathurin are RFAs, so trading for their rights has some value, but still--you better be in good cap position to match those offers.

grimes is a UFA and has some veto power on trades, so he's a great target. i tried a trade with gabe/knecht for grimes and one of philly's ancient vet mins (lowry or gordon), and it missed by 400k, salary-wise. if you sub kleber for gabe, it works, but i don't think philly goes for that. the selling point with gabe is that he's a playable backup guard, and philly is playoff-bound at this point. we could take both lowry and gordon (we have an extra spot), but that limits our ability to sign guys on the buyout market (though we do create 2 million in wiggle room, i think). anyway, i guess if philly thinks they can truly make noise this year, they won't touch this one. or if they think they'll sign grimes next year. but i don't see the latter as likely.

anyway, all of these four players fill needs for us, are in the right age range, and should be available either now or in the summer. i think we have paths to get two of the four, but the easiest way would be to secure one via trade at the deadline and the other using space.

 

Players I would pay an unprotected first for before the deadline:

(1) Dort: Addresses POA problem this season, team option for 18.2 million next season. Might able to sign Ellis and Richards in the offseason. Builds a defensive identity. Dort, elite defense against stronger wings. Ellis, elite ball hawk. Richards, elite rim-runner and good enough defense.

(2) Claxton: Helps indirectly addresses POA problem this season, under contract for 23.1 million next season. Might be able to sign Ellis, and maybe even Richards as a backup.

(3) Suggs: Most unrealistic and expensive on this list. Also, he is the most proven two-way player on this list. Under contract for 32.4 next season. Closes the door on signing Ellis as a free agent. Still could ad Richards in the offseason though. Helps deal with our lack of steals problem. He gets 2.7 per 36 minutes. Orlando does have money concerns.

(4) Gafford: I know, unprotected 1st seems a little much. But Dallas still would want to fleece us. Indirectly addresses POA problem, though not as much as Claxton. Contract only 17.3 million next season, so could still go after Ellis/Richards.

(5) Ellis: Highly unlikely due to Kings hate for us. Like Suggs, he helps directly deal with our POA defense and steals problem. 2.4 steals per 36. His minuscule 2.5 mil or so cap hold provides maximum flexibility. Could have cap space to also sign Grimes, Richards, and Mitchell Robinson.

(6) Watson is very intriguing, but i don't have enough information on him at this point to use the 1st on him. His cap hold is projected to be around 13 million. Also, Denver not likely to trade him to us. I could see it though. So, still provides good flexibility to go after Ellis and Richards. It will require great vision by Lakers. You need to project players and buy before they pop. He hasn't peaked yet.

Some of these deals, I also try to get a 2nd or two back to even out.

 

i'd give a first for anyone but gafford. he's only a marginal upgrade on hayes. the center market is just really tough, imo. not a lot of the guys we could use are available. ayton's slowed down considerably after a good start, but i really wonder if we can do much better without robbing peter to pay paul. also, watching guys like cisse (limited minutes) and queta have some success makes me think we need to be thinking about developing at this position rather than spending assets. we had jay huff just sitting here, and he's probably better than several guys we'd had to have spend a 1st to get.

i just want perimeter athleticism. 2 players there, and i think we're in business, even with just ayton/hayes at center.

i would be interested in a third big who can play pf and smallball c. again, kleber from three years ago is the one i'd want. not this kleber, though.

 

The Athletic


Six Lakers trade ideas — and why they probably wouldn’t work


Dan Woike
Jan. 12, 2026 Updated 6:23 am PST



The Los Angeles Lakers can build momentum over the next three weeks. They can find the right rotations and the right balance, and they can win. They can get healthy. They can perform.

And if they don’t make a trade, a big chunk of their fans won’t be happy.

In a vacuum, trades are incredibly fun. They’re the mechanism that has landed the Lakers so many franchise-altering stars. They’re the way everything can change in a blink, how Anthony Davis can become Luka Dončić. But because trades are also the way Ivica Zubac can become Mike Muscala, trades don’t exist in a vacuum. They exist in an incredibly precarious moment for executives, when they’re all too aware of their current team’s shortcomings. They don’t know, though, how the cost of correcting a roster’s flaws will pan out in either the short or long term.

It’s why most executives move through trade season with caution; the only guaranteed way to not get pantsed in a deal, of course, is not to make one at all.

I’ve been talking to general managers, front office executives, scouts and agents about trades since this Lakers roster was finalized (a few of them will be nodding along as they read this). I haven’t, though, spoken to you, the fans, about what you want to see happen.



A few weeks ago, I asked users on X for the trades they’d like to see the Lakers make. Using the rules I’ve been able to discern from people both in and outside of the Lakers organization, I’ll give you my thoughts on your ideas — and more importantly, where I think the Lakers would stand on it.
First, the rules.

One, the proposed trade must be legal. The Lakers, by rule, could not trade Rui Hachimura and his salary for Kon Knueppel even if the Charlotte Hornets wanted to. Not how it works. And two, it’s got to make sense — and that means for both teams. No one wants to trade a dollar for 15 cents.

I picked six trades that I liked best, mostly shying away from three- and four-team deals just because the more complicated a trade is, the less likely it is to happen. I tried to pick deals that showed the most about what the Lakers might be thinking as they head toward the deadline, and as you’ll see, that’s why many NBA observers don’t expect a huge move from a team that clearly needs defensive and shooting upgrades.

Trade idea No. 1
Lakers get: Herbert Jones, Jordan Hawkins

New Orleans Pelicans get: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, 2031 Lakers’ first-round pick, 2026 Oklahoma City Thunder first-round pick

Thunder get: 2032 pick swap with Lakers

What do I think?
Let’s start by talking about Jones, a player who so obviously would help the Lakers that it makes sense that they’ve checked on his availability. Guess what? So have a bunch of other teams. And whether it’s posturing or genuine, the Pelicans have shown no interest in trading Jones for anything less than a Desmond Bane-level haul. I tend to think this isn’t posturing — New Orleans’ new front office signed Jones to his extension — and why would they want to limit any trade pool to a group of buyers handcuffed by aprons and draft pick limitations? That stuff only opens up more options for New Orleans in the summer (when the Lakers, say, could trade multiple draft picks for Jones if they really want him).

The Thunder would add an interesting wrinkle to this deal. Sources tell me that teams expect Oklahoma City to be looking for deals like this to get future value for some of their 2026 draft assets (they’ve got up to four picks in the first round).

Why won’t it happen?
New Orleans isn’t trading Jones, and Knecht doesn’t have trade value. This, at least compared to most trades featuring just the 2031 pick, is a little closer.

Trade idea No. 2
Lakers get: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, two second-round picks

Memphis Grizzlies get: Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber

What do I think?
I’ve spoken with people around the league about a deal similar to this, with the Lakers sending out expiring money for Caldwell-Pope, who has a proven past as a postseason difference-maker. At this stage, he’s more solid than anything else, and because of the $21 million player option he has for next season, a team might grab an asset or two if it helps Memphis get off some cash. I like the general idea of a trade like this, with one big caveat: I’m not sure a second or two is worth eating into the cap space I’d preserved for the summer, when I’d have up to three first-round picks to acquire a player into that space.

Why won’t it happen?
Unless a deal like this yields a player the Lakers view as a multi-season fit, I don’t think they’d take on money beyond this year. And that stance makes their expiring contracts basically valueless as trade chips this season.


Would the Bulls consider dealing Ayo Dosunmu to L.A.?Bobby Goddin / Getty Images
Trade idea No. 3
Lakers get: Patrick Williams, Ayo Dosunmu

Chicago Bulls get: Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent

What do I think?
An issue that comes up in many of my conversations is the Lakers’ future cap space. In a trade like this, that would be the primary issue. Williams looks like a 3-and-D wing, but he doesn’t play like one. He spends more time guarding bigs because of his lack of foot speed, and he shoots too infrequently to stretch defenses on the perimeter. He is also under contract for three more seasons. Dosunmu has some of the skills that would really help the Lakers, but as an unrestricted free agent, he’s going to be looking for a raise in the mid-level exception range. And while this proposal would have no draft capital going out, a lot of other potential deals for Dosunmu do. One thing to remember with trades for players entering free agency: Teams are hesitant to give up as much for players they can simply sign in the summer.

Why won’t it happen?
The Lakers would have to believe that their style of play would unlock Williams to take on his multi-year deal, and I can’t imagine they do. Also, I won’t believe the Bulls are trading Dosunmu until I see it. Chicago seems to really value him.

Trade idea No. 4
Lakers get: Saddiq Bey, Devin Carter and Keon Ellis

Pelicans get: Knecht, Doug McDermott, two future second-round picks

Sacramento Kings get: Kleber, Lakers 2031 first-round pick (top-10 protected)

What do I think?
These are the kinds of players the Lakers could be realistically targeting, minus Carter, who would be a buy-low candidate with defensive upside. Bey is on a good contract, and Ellis has several admirers around the league. Would you trust either of them to play big minutes as a primary defender in a playoff series?

Why won’t it happen?
This trade is the biggest issue the Lakers face before the Feb. 5 deadline. Potential trade partners want young players and picks in deals, and L.A.’s young players don’t have value. That leaves them with one first-round pick to dangle. And if they’re going to trade that pick, they cannot take back a collection of bench players who probably won’t get the team meaningfully closer to winning this year. Yeah, a trade like this would likely make the Lakers better. No, it probably wouldn’t be enough to convince the franchise to kneecap its ability to trade three firsts this summer.

Trade idea No. 5
Lakers get: Andrew Wiggins

Miami Heat get: Hachimura, Kleber, Knecht, Lakers’ 2032 first-round pick.

What do I think?
If we’re speaking in a technical sense, the Lakers’ 2032 first-round pick is probably their most valuable trade asset. However, trading that pick would lock the team’s ability to trade the 2031 pick now and the 2033 pick this summer. So, yeah, the 2032 pick probably isn’t going anywhere. With Wiggins, I don’t know if he’s really available or if he’s worth it at this price point. Again, would adding Wiggins make the Lakers so much better that they’d decide to ignore their plans?

Why won’t it happen?
I think the Lakers’ front office could convince itself that Wiggins is an athletic upgrade, and for what the team would lose in shooting, it would gain back in on-ball defense. But Wiggins has never been quite the defender people thought he’d be in the league.

Trade idea No. 6
Lakers get: Justin Champagnie

Washington Wizards get: Knecht, 2032 Lakers second-round pick

What do I think?
Finally, let’s get down and dirty on a tiny deal. Knecht, as we noted during the preseason, hasn’t established any real trade value, meaning the Lakers would functionally be punting on their former first-rounder for a role player who’s shooting less than 32 percent from 3 this season. I like Champagnie because I think he knows how to make positive plays, but he’s not the perimeter defender his brother, San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie, is.

Why won’t it happen?
Maybe it could? I haven’t heard much about Champagnie from my sources other than he’s the kind of player people wonder about when they talk about winning on the margins. Maybe a hard-playing wing with size and a nose for rebounding nudges the Lakers in the right direction. But maybe a future second isn’t worth it to Washington to move off of Champagnie, who is on a great contract.


Dan Woike
By Dan Woike
Senior Writer, Lakers
Tagged To:
NBA trade deadline

 

So basically, Woike doesn't think we're making any trades before the deadline. Wouldn't be surprising.

The one that annoys me is the explanation of why we wouldn't do #4. Completely agree that our young players have zero value. But this idea that we can't trade 1 first now because that means we can't trade all three this summer...so what? Why not make a trade that gives us some incremental improvements (Bey, Carter, Ellis) now and then another one with two picks over the summer? There's value in bringing in guys like that now, even if they don't give us championship upside this season, so we can slot our existing guys better and assess exactly how far away we are.

 

Bring back KCP! - reasonable trade for both teams. Save some money, help the tank, Lakers get a vet

 

Mathurin I like..Id give up a FRP for him, at slightly under 10M his contract is also very attractive to add this season. This would be my first choice, 24 years old, nice length and athleticism, has some moxy and grit to him
He stepped up in the playoffs last season, and played without fear. You gotta love young guys like that, especially at a position of need. I think he'd fit in nicely next to Luka and Austin.

Grimes..local Houston kid..so I love that..as a player..He's aggressive, he'll compete, he'll make some dumb plays on occasion too. At 25 on a 9M contract, he's also a reasonable option, I just like Mathurin a bit more. However Grimes could work, with Austin and Luka too.

Ellis the best bargain contract of the lot. Thoroughly unimpressed with his play this season tho. He just dies on screens, entirely too frequently, (he's light in the a**, and plays like it a lot)and he kind of runs around a lot , without really doing s*** IMO. I'm not getting perimeter stopper vibes from him. He doesn't bring enough physical toughness IMO, that's just the eye test for me, not sure what his advanced stats are saying. Maybe he just played better last season? At under 3M tho, I wouldn't cry about swapping him for Dalton, but No, I'm not giving up an unprotected FRP for him, I wouldn't gift him, a 20M contract immediately either. I like the other two kids a lot more.

Dort is the more expensive option. He's a bull now..a bigger, younger version of Smart at 26, with playoffs experience, a chip, and an All-Defense team on his resume. He also shoots like s*** from the field, and 3 pt stripe though. All just like Smart! Dort will cost Rui and a FRP? I could live with it I guess, I'd be more comfortable with it, if we flipped our remaining expirings, for another player with some size and scoring ability.

Mathurin and Wiggins works for me. Wiggins will be expiring next season, and we could use that contract to make a move post Lebron.

I think we could go in a lot of different directions with another big. Watson, Claxton,Gafford, Vucevic..different skill sets, but all could make an impact here.

I like Grimes and Bona, best bang for our buck at under 10M, and useful young players.

Kcp over Gabe but at 32 with a PO..Not one of my first choices.

 

If we do get those two wing defenders, I would be okay with signing Ayton to a very tradeable contract. This way, we at least have a mediocre C moving forward that can be traded at next season’s deadline.

 

i give up the first here because bey's contract is small and doesn't hurt space too much, and we get ellis's bird rights and low cap hold. you do this, and you have room to do a big offer for peyton watson as an RFA while having filled some holes.

i struggle to see why NO takes knecht and mcdermott and a couple seconds for bey. unless they think knecht can be the guy who started last year, i guess.

i've wondered whether kcp might opt out of his contract in the summer to sign a smaller deal. like, say 2/25? that gives us an extra 8-9 million in cap space and makes kcp an expiring the following year (also gives kcp an additional 4m guaranteed than he has now, could maybe make the second year a PO?). in that case, we'd still have nearly 30 million her to make an offer in FA. picking up a couple seconds is nice, too.

 

Some rumors that Memphis might also look to trade JJJ after they've traded Morant. That's surprising to me. We don't have the ammo to get him before the deadline, but if it drags into the summer that's someone I'm willing to empty the clip for.

 

What do we have to trade in the summer? We need an in season trade, while we still have the salary filler. I don't expect the free agent market to be robust, like who are the top UFA's this summer, that we can realistically target?

 

Fischer thinks we're interested in Kuminga and the local Warriors guys seem to think Kuminga will be traded promptly after his restriction lifts on 1/15. Rui/Dalton works salary wise. I can kind of see it tbh, Kuminga is probably the best talent we can bring in on the wing for one FRP even if the fit is iffy.

 

i totally get the theory of jjj, but imo, it's never really played out fully on the court. even when he won dpoy...i didn't think he was actually that impactful. offensively, he can't pass and is inefficient as a post guy. he kills smaller guys, but not similarly-sized guys. and he doesn't blow by bulky bigs in isolation, nor does he have a midrange game. he's kind of like the worst version of AD, or maybe a rich man's myles turner (and only slightly so).

all this to say...i actually am not super interested in him. and we'd have to move reaves to even get in the conversation, which is a non-starter for me, as i think they're similarly valuable.

i share the pessimists' take about "well in the summer we'll have more". i mean, it's true, but to me that's not why you wait. you wait only if you can't get something for what you have now. only not to make a mistake. that's frustrating, but after westbrook, i think people need to think about how the best moves can be those you don't make.

anyway, i listed my top targets earlier: watson, ellis, grimes, mathurin, probably in that order. if lebron just walks, we probably have enough to sign two of them.

but yeah, the market's not teeming with names you know. it's up to management to be clever with the space. maybe you take on guys with a year left on their contract to harvest picks and be ready for when the next luka situation arrives.

 

Watson is quickly becoming THE offseason free agent target. Really checks all the boxes we're looking for.

I mentioned it the other day but I do think there could be an Ayton/Mathurin possibility. The Pacers have liked Ayton and their salaries work for each other straight up. But I'd need to have another trade lined up to bring in a starting-caliber center. I don't like Ayton as the long-terms starter for us, but I also don't want to just start Hayes for the rest of the season.

 

Mathurin, Grimes and Bona. Checks a lot of boxes and only cost 20M.

 

this is a play in team at best

 

You got two stars, a good center combination and then just whole lot of woah things looks bad. If two starters score 1 and 2 points respectively you're not going to win many games like that.