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

at some point, we might want to stop chalking a former agent using agent relations to make things happen as "luck".

 

He's from the Bahamas, but his mom is part Jamaican. Dude was 6'5 at 12 years old. Damn.

 

i'm more concerned about our remaining money not covering his buyout than i am getting outbid. the reason is that if we knew he was coming, we should have known the buyout and made our other signing accordingly.

he'll pick the situation that he thinks best positions him for a future payday. i think that's us, but we'll see. he's starting on a top-level team in either case, but one of them has cap space next summer and...isn't in wisconsin.

 

This is the nice thing about Ayton buyout
Trade assets are there to get a nice wing now as well.

Really need another playable guard other then just AR

 

Been quietly beating the Ben Simmons drum for awhile now. 6’10 guy who can defend 2-5. We need to stockpile as much talent as possible and let the rest work itself out in training camp.

 

A little over 30 hours left before Ayton can choose his new team…

 

Ayton, Melton, LaRavia, Theiro is a good offseason.

 

True. I just noticed that the Clarkson news leaked quickly so I’m optimistic we may hear something today

 

Clarkson chose his team pretty quickly, the lack of Ayton news might mean its not a done deal he is coming just yet.

 

I'd take a run at Mathurin too. Myles Turner is going to get paid,( he hopes) this summer, and Mathurin can become a FA next summer.

 

just to set the stage.

so we could sign ayton for 8 and melton for 5. or we could do s&t for melton (in theory). we could even take back more salary this way, as we have that room under the apron.

still can't square why we didn't leave ayton's buyout number open.

 

It's not that complicated. It just takes people a while to consider that possibility—if they ever do. Some just don’t want to admit it because they can’t stand Rob and would rather run with the usual narratives. And honestly, that’s easy to do because Rob hasn’t exactly helped himself with some of his moves (or lack thereof), and I totally get that. Two things can be true at the same time—shoutout to Jorge Sedano.

Duffy and Pelinka likely had a conversation about Ayton’s situation, the Lakers' obvious need, and how both sides could benefit. Duffy, Ayton’s agent, initiates the buyout, Ayton gives up $10 million, Dorian walks—and now here we are. It’s not that deep.

That said, and I know a lot of fans won’t like hearing this (and I hope I’m wrong), this could very well come at the expense of bringing back Hayes on a minimum deal.

Regarding those expiring contracts: holding onto them does nothing for us long-term. I’d expect Rob to flip them either this summer or by the trade deadline.

Also, some of you are confusing me about this 2027 stuff?. Our books are clean next year, right? That means we’re likely positioning ourselves for a max free agent in the summer of 2026.

Lastly, I think this will be LeBron’s last year here—or at least I hope it is. I’m honestly tired of building everything around someone who’s about to be 41. Time to move on.

 

Ayton is going want what he gave up for his buyout. This is the hold up

 

WOW, did not see that coming! How is Milwaukee affording that? Wish we could have gotten him

At least there should go some main competition for Ayton…

 

Well so bucks upgraded

 

That takes them out of the Ayton sweepstakes. Now we're just waiting.

Great move for Miluwaukee.

 

Turner is getting older though they are going to regret that in a few years but I understand it when you have Giannis

 

Myles Turner really should've been a Laker years ago. Nice move Bucks and this seemingly clears the way for Ayton.