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

This series against Houston might show how important it is to have a Large size 4. KD and jabari Smith are tall.
Need to try our best to get Watson or Eason. If we are not able to get them do you guys have any other suggestions?

 

Yeah, it's really refreshing how Smart has essentially returned back to his old form, after dealing with injuries. He is probably going to opt out now. At this rate, he's going to get paid, and deservedly so. I'm thinking 10-12 million would be about right for him. So, at least we have one fixture at the POA spot. We could get by with a center by committee thing for a while, perhaps Ayton, Hayes, and a big from the draft. It's that wing defender spot that seems to be the most glaring need right now. Vando is an elite defender, but is unplayable on offense. LaRavia is a good defender, but below average on offense. Thiero seems to project as a potential future star, but he is a bit of a mystery right now, so can't particularly pencil him in as our 4 at this time. Lebron and Rui are probably gone. Lebron is still an excellent offensive player, but can't defend much these days. Rui is an overall good offensive player, but his shot diet is not ideal, and he is a bad defender. So, we need definitely need a two-way 4. I'm also in favor of getting a POA that is more of a clean fit offensively than Smart, and have Smart come off the bench and close games. I'm thinking someone more accurate from three, and lower usage. Someone like Dort or Ellis. But, I would say 4 is the primary need. I'll shoot names off the top of my head: Watson, Eason, Smith (pipe?), McDaniels (pipe), Grant, Wiggins, Wade, Bridges, Bridges, Reschaser, Herb, Bey, Barnes, Harris, Zaire Williams, Maxine Prosper, Achiuwa, Hendricks, Collins, etc. But an elite rim-protector would also solve a lot of problems. A lot of those type of players are also good lob-catchers, so we could get a player who double counts in those two areas, likely in the draft. Mara would be ideal, but there may be quite a few if these types of players in the draft.

 

I'm not sure tbh. I still feel like Eason is more doable than some folks give credit for personally, but if neither him or Watson wind up being gettable this summer, I'm iffy on who to target. I think a lot of the names you suggested would work to varying degrees.

This is also a good reason for why it'd be smart for the Lakers to try and draft Mara/Krivas/Whoever earlier by getting one of OKC's earlier Firsts and then use our own First later in the Draft too. That way we can either draft two Big prospects or we can draft a Big and a Wing. Say we draft Mara with OKC's pick and then we draft either Dailyn Swain or Karem Lopez with our own pick if either of those guys are still available. Or for that matter, Yaxel Lendeborg if he somehow falls significantly down the Draft.

 

I think Smart could easily just as come back on his current deal and we get early bird rights the year after. Winning seems important to him. I’m hoping he does, but if it’s between him and Kennard for the room mle, it’s a really tough choice. But I’m not signing either to cap space, just using the exception.

Lebron just can’t play both sides of the field for extended periods anymore. He is still a positive on both sides of the floor. But more so for >28 mins. I’d bring him back if he’d be interested in a small 1 year deal.


It’ll be interesting to see what happens. I’m still in the favour of weaken Denver by stealing Watson, weaken OKC by taking one of Dort/Caruso/iHart and then trade for another piece.

 

I'm hoping Smart just opts in too. If we had to chose one for the room exception, it would have to be Smart. His skillset is just more rare.

 

Let’s hear it slick. Round em up!!! All yall talking about the 3-D. f*** next season. We got this season. Let’s win the championship this season. 6 game winning streak. Beat Nuggets and Rockets. So what’s the excuse now????

We shut Durant down to 2 second half points. What’s the excuse now? Somebody had to play defense. We didn’t. So who was it?

Ayton Ayton Ayton rebound put back Dunk lay in. Strong.

see that’s what Lebron can do break down the defense and go to the basket when you blitz Luka. That’s Lebron playing the Draymond role that’s what I was talking about.

and Ayton is at the basket because everybody blitzes Lebron and Luka that’s what you do. That’s what Ayton. Does he’s at the basket. He scores at the basket. He finishes at the rim.

 

Lukas special.

 

What a gameplan by JJ.

 

I believe. I believe in this team.!!!!!!!

 

I really think Luka could get 200 against Washington. Porzingis could barely play. Comes back and gets 30 points and 15 rebounds. What a joke.

 

Love to see it haha

 

Brutal!

 

Tari Eason who has been a bit of a hot topic here has been horrible the last 15 games. Rocket fans aren't happy. He might be cheaper than we think.

 

john collins? lol, rui? tobias harris? could also absorb someone in trade.

i think he may be right. if they had sengun, they could have set him up in the middle of the floor and had durant as a release valve option. but without sengun, you're depending on reed sheppard (not really a pg) and amen thompson (ditto) to make plays for themselves and others. durant's never been a great passer/playmaker. he's a play finisher and iso scorer extraordinaire.

 

he's had a down year (though still pretty good) at a bad time. add in his injury issues, and i'm actually quite hesitant to even make an offer, much less one that would make houston--who, again, doesn't have major salary issues--balk. houston can sign him to 30 per (he won't get that), and they'd still be under the first apron for next year. the following year thompson will get his payday, but DFS is fully non-guaranteed. they're just not in position to be poached, imo.

 

They need VanVleet