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

This is a big ask. Not likely. Not on the realistic side. By the way, the build was with the reports in mind that the Lakers supposedly don't want to run it back. The starting 3 is really a starting 1, because Luka guards the 3's. So, we are talking about a point guard to shooting guard sized person here that could guard 1's.

 

The depth build was with the multiple reports that came out recently in mind, and the Lakers recent press conference. My take aways from these:

• Lakers don't want to run it back

This contradicts what you said about bringing everyone back.

• Lakers promised Luka replicants of the 24 Mavs team

This team had a 3 man rotation of lob threat bigs in Gafford, Lively, and Powell, a 2nd ball handler/shooter in Kyrie, and 2 way players mostly every where else. Not Ayton, Rui and Kennard.

• Luka wants Reaves back

Not a surprise. He has a good relationship with him, and Reaves fits into that Kyrie role.

• Rob wants to honor Lebron

He should and probably would be back. So Lebron and Reaves are exclusions to "not running it back".

• Redick emphasized depth

Tracks with stacking 2-way players at reasonable deals, instead of like 30 million on players like Watson.

• Lakers are building a bio mechanics lab

Tracks with obtaining skilled players that need help in specific areas, like shooting. This could benefit players like Herb.

• Lakers building a recovery lab

Ideal for players like Robinson and Williams to treat and prevent injuries.

 

i don't think jones's stroke is as broken as vando's, but yeah, his stock has dropped tremendously. the real issue for me is that he's locked up long-term at over 20 per. i wonder if you could trade vando and knecht for herb and missi and both teams could find ways to justify it (we're gambling on herb shooting a little better, they're getting off his salary, and each team is swapping recent 1st rounders who have no clear path to a role on the current teams).

yeah, again people were like "you wanted to trade a first for ellis", and yes, i did. i think that tiny cap hold plus his bird rights would have been worth it (and i think he would have had more impact here than in cleveland--i didn't understand that trade for either side). i'd pay more for ellis than 6m; if he can be had for that, we should do it. one reason i think we might not is bronny. he'd eat all bronny minutes, and if we're still trying to stay in dad's good graces, that may not fly.

in a vacuum, i like ellis more than kennard for this team. now, our minimal rights to kennard make keeping him if we're staying over the cap kind of a no-brainer. but if we go under, i think we're prepared to let him walk.

very curious to see what the rates for guys like thybulle will be this summer, btw. last summer, i thought capela was a clear tpmle guy, and he got 2/18, right? same with brolo. so it's possible even some of these vets with spotty backgrounds will end up being more expensive than we think.