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

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I think a lot of us actually agree with this. Like, I think we'd all live with the addition should it happen but would prefer a different direction.

 

lol

 

Oh I completely agree. Flat-out Giannis is a better player than Westbrook IMO. The comparison is more in regards to both being poor fits for the existing team and how steep a cost the price of entry to get Giannis would be for the Lakers.

Bingo.

Exactly. There's no realistic move(s) that we can make in the next 80 minutes and in the coming days post-buyouts that'd suddenly turn us into top championship contenders for this season.

Instead, the best course of action right now IMO is to make moves that address our various key needs in rebuilding around Luka over the next several trade cycles, so that we can be truly competitive for a chip either next season or the season after.

Take Kennard, for example. Currently, he's a rental for us for the rest of this season and I'd wager the front office are probably hoping to use the free cap space of his expiring contract to go after Giannis. But if instead we were to opt to keep Kennard and re-sign him to a cheaper deal moving forward as a regular rotation piece to add offensive firepower coming off the bench every night, that's a net positive for us and helps to address one of the big issues that's been plaguing the Lakers for a few years now.

Likewise, say we sign players like Haywood Highsmith, Josh Okogie and/or Precious Achiuwa in free agency this summer? Those guys individually aren't top tier players, but they're great bench pieces and inject the Lakers with a more balanced two way talent. We can't solve everything in free agency this summer, but if the Lakers opt to put aside their lust for pursuing more star power and giant names and look for more talent on the margins, the free agency market this summer can help us a lot in addressing some of our roster issues.

Obviously there's also been a lot of talk about the RFA names we could try to go after, like Peyton Watson, Walker Kessler or Tari Eason. Realistically, we probably can't poach any of those guys that way... save for maybe Watson, but that'd run the risk of being a huge overpay. But if we opt to try and approach the Nuggets with a Sign & Trade for Watson with our Draft Capital and free cap space instead, I think that might work.

 

So do we currently have a spot for a buyout guy?

Klay is the one I'd keep an eye on. Similar to what we just did with Kennard, it's not solving our perimeter defense problem but he can at least shoot the ball:

Reaves / Kennard
Smart / Klay
Luka / Jake
LeBron / Rui
Ayton / Hayes

Won't be able to stop anyone but can put up 130 points on anyone lol.

 

Kennard? I don't really think he'll help. I'm hoping I'm wrong, though.

Either way, Rob, I know you're not reading this, but please for the love of all Lakers fans, nail this summer, please. You'll have all the extra time you need when we get bounced out of the first round. Ok?

 

My thing with Wiggins is that if you look at just bringing him in, I get why it doesn't wow people. But I agree with the thought that he could be a part of a series of moves that made us better and put us in a position to be a true championship contender

 

would be fun - maybe the worst defensive "great" team of all time lol but I'd watch.

Ja as the lob threat for Lebron/AR/Luka lol

 

An actual contender doing contender things.

Smart.

 

at least we wouldn't suck at 3pt shooting anymore with Klay/Kennard

 

...yet another reason I'm not a GM because I'd probably do this. lol

 

We're a ways a way from a championship contender. I'm really hoping we get swept this year & really puts into focus build an actual roster. Please!

 

Yeah. We need a real balanced roster.

 

How good has Eric Gordon been these days? I know he’s old.

 

Which Eric Gordon? That Eric Gordon?

 

he's about as washed as about Kennard, but don't worry, if Kennard has any life, Lakersball will say he's the next "Ray Allen" or some s***