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

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

  1. 52years

    52years - Rookie -

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    Whatever money they are/were planning to use on Kennard should be funneled towards CJ McCollum
     
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  2. VincePT

    VincePT - Lakers 6th Man -

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    He is still a great player, he probably wouldn't be okay with being a 3rd string PG/bench scorer. In the unlikely event we trade Reaves, then it makes much more sense.
     
  3. 52years

    52years - Rookie -

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    He’s getting older so that kind of role could prolong his career.I would approach it though because when Luka or Austin need some management he would get his starts
     
  4. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

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    Really sad. Another death today as well

     
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  5. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    The coaching staff have done a great job of bringing new modern defensive principles into our way of play. But most of those revolve around switching, doubling, zones and help defense. Claxton excels in these.

    The other side of the leaf is, Luka benefits from verticality at the rim and gets a lot of assists that way. Adding Claxton and Adou into the frame helps with this tremendously. I really like Claxton as the 5. It does mean that Wemby is going to crush us offensively. But to be honest, he spends half his time at the 3pt line anyway, he isn’t a modern day Shaq. As for his defense, it might just mean we have to find ways to force him into guarding on the perimeter as opposed to at the rim. And if he doesn’t, we have to be able to punish them with wide open shots from Luke, Rui, Reaves, Lebron, Thybulle, Smart and Luka with his step back 3’s.

    If they’re interested, I’d go for the second rebounder and offer two firsts (second one heavily protected) if they take Vando and Ayton.
     
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  6. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    I actually thought this wasn’t much of a problem with how many FA’s we had. The team, to me - and from what I can tell via exit interviews, to them as well, was very much together and playing for one another. The culture was good this season minus Ayton’s weird mopping and the JJ/Vando flare ups.
     
  7. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    I do reject the idea that our defense sucks. We were excellent against Houston and also excellent against OKC which is one of the better offensive teams.

    I’m not sure if they would do drop coverage, they seem to be working with lots of interesting coverages. Like the soft but aggressive doubling of SGA, you can’t do that with Kessler. Or the hybrid zone we played. Maybe they just go with a simpler defense if they have the bigs, but I did enjoy our defensive principles because it also meant we had interesting offensive players on the floor.
     
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  8. 432J

    432J - Lakers All Star -

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    crazy

    TMZ reporting overdose. guy had major potential but injuries derailed his career + recent legal issues. have to wonder how much the injuries and not being able to stay healthy contributed to his downfall
     
  9. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    this is actually a really good team. the big IF is thybulle's and smart's health. either guy is out in the playoffs, and it's trouble. which is weird for back end rotation guys.
     
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  10. Garren04

    Garren04 - Rookie -

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    Absolutely agree. Too much money as well and limits your flexibility. Can you get some nice value for AR in an athletic wing that can shoot would be my question. I love the idea of trying to get CJ McCollum run the 2nd unit.
     
  11. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    I also think it’s an achievable team. Thybulle is a UFA, Claxton is an older piece on a team that wants to bottom out and the rest are our own FA’s.

    The only caveat I can give is, we have Jake left that should be improved enough to cover for one of Smart and Thybulle. If both are out, you’re back to a 9 man rotation missing your best defensive guys. But the same rings true for other defensive players like Suggs or Herb. At least these guys are gettable.

    Or Knicks go for Giannis and we also pick up Hart miraculously for Jake, Knecht and draft picks. But that’s a dream.
     
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  12. VincePT

    VincePT - Lakers 6th Man -

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    I thought Kleber's contract is up this summer?

    Also doesn't make sense to keep Knecht if we're only going to play him trash minutes. The kid is 25, let him go be happy somewhere else where he can have a bigger role and develop. I still think he can have a meaningful NBA career if he ends up with the right team.
     
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  13. ldawg

    ldawg - Rookie -

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    Yeah if they can get another playmaker ball handling pg and a bench scorer like CJ would help. Also get some scrappy 3/d players that plays well without the ball.
     
  14. LALakersFan4Life

    LALakersFan4Life - Rookie -

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    ALL Of The TOP NBA Free Agents This Summer EXPLAINED

     
  15. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    Kleber’s contract is up. I’m saying we bring him back for the vet min. He’s decent as a 3rd stringer but I think he has value as a Jared Dudley culture piece, the team likes him and he comes in and throws his weight around when we need hard fouls or screens.

    I’m happy to let Knecht go, but we need to find a trade for him. Otherwise he is an expiring next season.
     
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  16. 432J

    432J - Lakers All Star -

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    what's with so many lakers fans rooting for the spurs to take out okc?

    must be a bunch of kids who didn't live through the duncan years. C Bags aside, there's no team i want to lose more than the spurs. not to mention how pop would try his best to sabotage the lakers every chance he got. and their recent draft lottery luck has made me despise them even more

    no lakers fan should ever root for the spurs unless it's against boston
     
  17. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Lakers Starter -

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    Thiero is similar to Thyblsee. So that can work.

    I would even float starting Thiero. He’s gonna get heavy rotation minutes. We have to see how he looks in Summer league.

    I really like Anfernee Simmons. I keep floating his name. If you want the ball handler who can shoot next to Luka like Jalen Brunson and Kyrie who really can’t defend that would be Simmons I mean he makes too much sense. He crushed us. But that’s a guy who can get 25 off the bench.
     
  18. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    The bow of Titanic … first Ham and Prince, then JJ and Gabe …. but this is enduring …. @svtzr and Maxi!

    :Laugh:
     
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  19. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Lakers Starter -

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    f*** the Spurs!!!!!!!!
     
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  20. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    f*** the cheating Thunder!
     
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