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

The contract isn’t an overpay at all in my opinion, the assets we gave up without getting any additional perks like shedding salary definitely is an overpay

But the flip side of that is that the lower AAV functionally achieves the same thing as if we had for example got to shed Ayton’s salary in the trade but had to max out Kessler

I don’t know the exact math but I think we’ll have like $25 million in cap AND then the room exception left to spend? So room for anther nice piece on top of Grimes/Mamu

 

Lakers trading 2 first round picks to Utah!!!!

 

Ayton off the bench and Hayes out?

 

Hope we transform the 20mil cap space + room into 4 players. Grimes, Mamu seem locked.

Can we get Thybulle and Tobias on a discount? Kuminga? Trent Jr as a vet min?

 

to be clear, I am also thinking of the assets we gave up. The contract looks fair to me especially for a center.

 

I’m happy this worked out, to nitpick I think Duren fits better with Luka and is also younger but Kessler comes at a lower average salary.


It honestly would have been really nice if we also kept Smart while also having Kessler…. Especially with smart signing a short term contract with Houston, there isn’t any long term risk due to age there.

There aren’t a lot of players out there left to fill out the roster but I’m assuming Grimes/Mamu are signing.

De’Anthony Melton is the guy I hope we target that’s left for POA defence. We need a starting small forward (unless that’s supposed to be Grimes) and also need a 3 point threat off the bench to replace Kennard but the only option out there might be Gary Trent. I think if we could get Kuminga to be our starting small forward, it’d be interesting

I think we need to bring back Rui as well at this point.

Here’s

Kessler/Ayton/Hayes
Rui/Mamo/Vando
Kuminga/Theiro/Knect
Reaves/Grimes/Carr
Luka/Melton/Bronny


Something about still having Bronny on the roster is a little irritating lol, that roster spot could goto a player who can contribute more right away.

 

Glad we got him but man, FOUR picks is rough.

 

I mean, can't we trade the Pick Swaps still? Like we will HAVE picks those years....just not sure when or where.......

4 1sts is a lot, no matter what anyone says.....but hey, it makes Luka happy. I really want Rui back, regardless of anyone else we sign.

I wonder what happens with Duren now. I know it isn't fully our problem, but still......................

 

Lakers have $23m in cap space and a room ML ($9.4 million)

 

Yeah my guess is with the extra cap we save by not going full max, we go for Kuminga or Tobias

 

It should just be 2. The swaps should be worthless unless Luka has a season-ending injury those years.

 

I could care less. Lakers got thier guy!!!! You saw it at the Airport. It slipped. Kessler I’m Here!!!!!!!!

hey yes it’s an overpay but Ainge was going to make us. We all knew that. And there was nothing we could do about it.

now Walker could’ve said hey I’m not coming back and allowed us to keep all the picks. This was an all in move for Luka.

and Rob is tied to this. That’s why Lebron was like saying issuing his statement we don’t want you. They didn’t want him.

It was Kessler or bust. Yes it’s an Anthony Davis trade. And that’s what we saved the picks for. Luka no excuses you got your lob threat threat big. Now you gotta bring this championship to L.A. Center.

We got Thiero Adou Thiero we got Cameron Carr we got Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic. We got Knect we got Bronny. This is our young core. Are we still adding Grimes and Manu??? This is the big whale.

im all for Kessler over Duren.

 

https://x.com/i/status/2072345266712088968

23.1mil + room exception.

REALLY need some upside deals with guys that will outplay their contracts.

We aren't trading anyone and Vando, Jake and Ayton will continue with us, most likely. They're our 3 best players after our big 3. We need 4 better players to push them down

Next 4 moves are key

 

I mean, there is ALWAYS a chance, we still sign-and-trade LeBron with Bronny to wherever.

That COULD help.

Maybe get a pick or two off of that?

 

yes so we still bring in Kaminga. Great news.

 

PLEASE......do Grimes and Mamu now and also Rui SOMEHOW and then go for some Vets. Or see if we can get DFS back, since it sounds like he MIGHT be available now.

 

I have questions about Duren's game, honestly. I get that he's young but it's a bit strange he's only playing 28 minutes per game for his career. There seems to be no reason why he can't play 35 at his age. It's not like he is injury prone.

And then you have to look at how mediocre his defense really is. Pistons were 2nd in the league in defense last season. The best Duren could get was 11th in DPOY and couldn't make an All-NBA defensive team at any point of his career?

I think Walker is a better fit. Better rim protector, better size, and he's been on the Lakers radar for some time.

 

I could be wrong, but I think in order to sign and trade Lebron we would have to still be maintaining his rights and cap hold, but to sign Kessler we’d have to renounce the holds? I’m not 100% sure

 

thats 18 and 10 buddy.

 

LeGone will not help us out.
He will just take whatever he can get from his preferred destination.