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

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

  1. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Rookie -

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    I’m not worried about Denver.


    Michael Porter Jr. gone.

    you guys forget seem to forget how he torched us in the playoffs what he did for that offense.

    one bad postseason erases what he did for them.

    he was hurt.

    Aaron Gordon is old hurt

    Jamal Murray is on the other side and since he got paid is a different player.

    Jokic hasn’t committed to a contract.

    the so called prized pickup Bruce Brown looks washed. Yeah I’ll say the quiet part out loud.

    Jokic and the guys.

    have you watched Valenchuniz on the kings?? He hasn’t been relevant since the Pelicans.

    I know they got Jokic but we boat raced these guys when we got Luka.

    I know Houston is better okay.

    Golden state can be an issue with Curry and Butler.


    My only real concern is OKC. Us getting Ayton really solved a lot. Put all our guys in proper places and now we have a Center who can be what formidable on defense and get rebounds. I like our squad. And I don’t see all the fuss with some of these teams.
     
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  2. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers Starter -

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    I really like Rui, but he is probably best suited as a 6th man. He can shoot, play PF and small ball C. It’s a shame he isn’t a great rebounder because he does a lot else well. But to be elite defensively I don’t believe we can have all 3 of Reaves, Luka and Rui starting. We’d literally need a 1-4 elite defender and a center that can switch and protect the rim. Something like Camara and Bam Adebayo.

    I also think Bronny could develop into a good 1-2 defender. It wouldn’t shock me if he becomes a rotation player. Same with Adou, I think he could become a pretty good 3-4 defender.
     
  3. pika1708

    pika1708 - Lakers Starter -

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    Yeah I'm warming up for that.
    Do you think a core of Luka, AR, Ayton, Rui and a couple defensive stoppers (Herb, Dort, Thybulle types and similar level) is enough? I'm still not sure but there's a path it can work. Ayton really opens up things if he's a double-double machine that gets 20ish long term contract
     
  4. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers Starter -

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    To be fair, you aren’t worried about anyone though.
     
  5. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers Starter -

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    I’d say we have an excellent chance to contend this year. Lebron is still a handful on both sides of the ball when he is healthy. Smart is a considerable addition that helps losing Max Christie. Ayton is a huge improvement on Hayes and is definitely a lob threat - if he buys in and protects the rim, we’ll be a hard team to beat in a best of 7.

    If we could jsut turn Gabe, Vando, Kleber and Knecht into a 1-3 POA defender, I think we’d be in the top tier of contenders.
     
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  6. showtime24

    showtime24 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    Yeah, I agree with you about Bronny. He gets criticism for his height, buy I think he looks shorter than he really is due to his bulk. He also has a long 6-7.25 wingspan and is very athletic, so he definitely is bigger then his 6-1 height suggests. Bronny at Thierro filling in the other two spots would add string defense and athleticism.
     
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  7. showtime24

    showtime24 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    Bronny could be am Eric Bledsoe type
     
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  8. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    yeah, the only notable loss is DFS, who really did help turn the season around with his grit and energy. not sure we have that replaced fully, though smart, in theory also does that.

    i'm hopeful an athletic perimeter defender shakes loose sometime during the season. if not, my guess is it will be priority #1 next offseason.

    i really think djj was an underrated addition to that mavs team, and he was unremarkable in other stops before that (remarkable as an athlete, but nobody saw him as a useful rotation piece until luka). we need to be looking for the next djj. there's some athletic wing out there whose shot isn't reliable or can't handle but can defend 1-3, finish in the paint, and knock down a shot if given all day. just need to find them.
     
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  9. pika1708

    pika1708 - Lakers Starter -

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    Thiero much?
     
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  10. Panko

    Panko - Rookie -

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    If Smart is fully healthy and rejuvenated (still only 31, not ancient yet), and if Ayton improves and focuses on defense, we are "almost close" to this. Still not close close, but since you're talking about the future, we would hope that at least 1 of them improves, and that we can upgrade the other defensively.

    We still might not be "elite" defensively, but we could be very good, combined with being elite offensively. A top 3 offense plus top 5-10 defense would still be a strong contender.

    Abeer/Carlisle's "play hard" point applies too. At one point last season, the Lakers had a top 3 defense even without AD.


    Totally agree. Wet dreams about unrealistically trading for Thybulle and RW3.
     
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  11. showtime24

    showtime24 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    This kid really does look the part. Just needs to improve his three-ball. But compared to a Vanderbilt, Thierro is much more advanced on offense. He averaged 21.5 ppg per 40 minutes last season, and 15 ppg. He has a knack for scoring in traffic, and he doesn't have bad hands like Vando. Also, his shot is not broken. It's not perfect, but it doesn't have a crazy hitch to it. I think he could improve it. He has shown flashes. He's shot 71% from the FT line in his three-year college career which indicates he is not a terrible shooter. It was on solid volume too. I think this was a good bet by the Lakers front office. The kid could jump out of the gym, and he is a dog on defense. He might be in the dunk contest. He might develop a lot faster than expected.
     
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  12. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    He’s 6’1.5” in socks so 6’3” can we stop talking like he’s a midget (not you specifically). Lots of guys have been and are now effective in the league around that height. Oh lookie here we have another one on our team just 1/2” taller who’s done “semi OK” in his career and undoubtedly will be mentoring Bronny.

    “NBA player Marcus Smart's height with shoes on is officially listed as 6 feet 3.25 inches
    . His height without shoes is 6 feet 2 inches.
    This information is based on official scouting reports and is slightly more precise than the more commonly listed height of 6 feet 3 inches.”

    #TellEmAI
     
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  13. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    i see thiero as more of a 3/4. again, i just keep seeing anunoby there as the extreme upside, poor man's anunoby as the likely outcome. but he's more power than speed/agility. looking for more of a mikal bridges body type/athleticism than anunoby.

    aj lawson--a guy who's been bouncing around the bottom of rosters--is the type i'm thinking of. not him, specifically, as i think he's had a few shots in good situations without quite getting there (including with luka). but guys with sg/sf length but pg/sg quickness and speed. generally, these will be guys who don't pop offensively, because if they do, they're stars (e.g., SGA).

    jordan miller?

    maybe that fudge guy we keep around in southbay?
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2025 at 8:01 AM

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