2026-27 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Some Kuminga stuff he's heard:
- we're reluctant to part with the swap
- Kuminga is looking for north of $15m


and this is what it sounds like has transpired timeline wise from his reporting and matching that up with the other reports:

- we reached out to him early, after Kessler and Grimes. We didn't wait around on him but circled back after our other moves.
- we offered the min (and that's when the Monk contract comp that Dave mentioned probably comes into play)
- they balked and we've upped the offer as we've created some additional room (the $10m a year report) and have continued to look for pathways to clear more.

 

I never figured we would bring Clarkson back, but the fact that he signed for the Vet Min is something that is a bit of a bummer.

 

I will say that it sort of sucks to part with the SWAP, but I also wonder if it's that big of a deal right now too? Like, I feel like the win now tactic is worth it, but I agree it still sucks. I mean, whoever decided to trade away 4 picks to Utah, that is why we are here now. If we could have done 3, this wouldn't be an issue.

It is what it is, and also it sounds like the Lakers are willing to move on to someone else if Kuminga doesn't take it....which is fine too.

I am not sure what is smart, but like........we are here now because of previous decisions. We can't get hung up on stuff now, it seems..............

 

I'd also do it because I think it's worth getting Kuminga's bird rights in order to possibly retain him long term if he improves, and get rid of Vando, so basically we're killing 2 birds with one stone.

with that said I'm extremely worried about our lack of any assets to get out of any bad contracts that may come out of this offseason.

I feel most people are only looking at this Summer moves from the lens of "does this make us better?" and completely ignoring the risk portion.

I manage risk for a living, and the one rule that lives above all is whether in business, the stock market, etc is always having an out, having a defined stop loss, etc

We don't have any. We'll basically be giving out any new asset we acquire if we need to dump players, instead of using it to improve the team.

 

Does it also feel like NOTHING has happened because now we are all waiting on LeBron?

I know Bronny isn't going to get us a First Rounder, and he never would have, but like...I feel like Kuminga is waiting to see if Cleveland will get LeBron or not, because if they do...he really only has the Lakers and Hawks at that rate, so then the money conversation changes. But if they don't get LeBron, then Cleveland might be willing to offer more to Kuminga, so then there is all that business.

But also, if Cleveland DOES take LeBron and we can trade Bronny for capital and what not, I wonder if then the Lakers might have an easier time offering that SWAP with other things too.....

Like it just feels like everyone wants to see who LeBron chooses first before they let something like this happen.

 

We have 2 swaps and 3 second round picks, so we're not completely depleted.

 

Your first paragraph kind of answers and overrides the worries IF the Lakers, as wanted forever around here, are actually going “all in” for the Luka timeline now that he’s here and we’ve made big steps with him and for him to give the team best chance to compete. Sure we can worry and worry about any and everything. One or more don’t work out, injuries, etc. Then again new owner noted for HIS impressive skill of setting a sports team up to succeed with everything in house, and hiring best minds for player evaluation. Very likely Tony Bennett’s input as Mark’s scouting and player consultant has played a big role in the personnel decisions too.

 

While we wait... here's a time machine sliding doors story

 

I think almost everyone is thinking this. The hold up has got to be that they are trying to work out the deal with Kuminga's agent/or perhaps trying to fit something else into the trade????

 

pants are nothing new that style design used to be a hoodie.

 

f*** the spurs.

 

it wouldn’t mean anything now. The man’s 42.

 

Mark Cuban Hollering DuPont is freezing him out. Dude you sold your team. I’ve never seen a guy complain so much after selling his team.