2024-25 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

nobody wants to hear it, but it matters. jeanie lived through the post-kobe years and doesn't want a repeat.

the two-way third star we need simply isn't on the market. so what do you do? i think you either take a big swing that doesn't deplete future assets (but could blow up in your face right now) or you kinda do nothing (shuffle deck chairs, get mild upgrades on gabe, etc.).

even a quasi-fix like dejounte had too big an asking price, imo. just the way the market is. i do think that circumstances will maybe force a couple more teams into "sell" mode. just a matter of whether we're still close enough to contention to enter that market when those choices start being made.

anyway, dumping two unprotected firsts for jerami grant right now simply isn't it.

 

Interesting read. No interest in Lonzo or Brown. We’ve got enough injured guys.

I’d be interested in Vuc and Lavine though depending on the price for the Bulls.

Sounds like the Nets are coming down to earth at least partially on their demands.

it’s tough for me to gauge prospects though because we also need guys who can take a punch and won’t wilt under the bright lights here.

 

I feel like we shouldn't get Lavine when we should probably be building around Knecht and Austin for the foreseeable future. Terrible contract and we would have to sacrifice depth to match salaries.

Vuc I could probably get on board with if it's true they'll take 2x 2nd round picks for him, he is having a great year so far, and that would not fix our defensive issues, but at least make us less reliable on AD for inside scoring.

 

What is this “depth” you speak of? Is it in the room with us now because I can’t see it. #sarcasm

 

Brown looks n feels like gabe 2.0, took advantage of a stellar playoff run amd now that bag is in hand back to his scub ways

 

Yeah. I was interested in Brown at one point but not anymore especially with the injury.

 

i think a good word of warning for the trademongers is that many of the guys we wanted to pursue with first rounders over the past couple of years have fallen off a cliff, and the teams that got them are not happy with them. bruce brown and bojan bogdanovic spring to mind for me.

i'm hoping rob has another rui-type move in him here. we need to snag a rotation player for dead weight and 2nd rounders...who's got one?

cole anthony has been a candidate for me bc he's basically fallen out of the rotation in orlando. they've got no room for him. he's having a down year but would still be an upgrade on gabe and bring a different skillset to the team. feel like gabe and christian wood should get it done, no picks necessary, as they shave a year of anthony's deal and get a serviceable veteran third string pg.

anyway, things like this are what i'm after.

 

^ You're right. I think they will be cautious with their firsts, and I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't trade them at all this season. They're looking for a third star to shake loose, which hasn't happened yet. I'm looking at Trey Young (know most of the board hates him) or Fox (keeping an eye on Sac) Luka (pipe dream), etc. Stars win in this league, they keep your organization competitive, tickets selling, etc, etc. Until that happens, I would remain patient.

So what do you do this season? You nailed it. You have to look for deals like Rui. You mentioned Cole Anthony? I'm looking at Thybulle (Portland) or Pat (Miluwaukee); maybe even Oubre who doesn't have a bad contract. I'm looking for a defender, shooter, or athleticism at the wing position. I know we need a big, but again, make those second-rounders useful. If they're able to land a couple of tweaks here and there and change some of the pieces on the chess board, I think that goes a long way, IMO.

 

yeah, i'm still not sure that move could have happened. IF it was really just dlo and rui and a couple firsts, maybe it was worth it in hindsight, but i still think they were going to ask for reaves. the other hindsight trade to have done is for kyrie, but again--pretty sure we weren't going to get him for what the mavs got him for.

i just don't see anything that i'm really mad about--other than teams not negotiating with us in good faith.

if we're willing to give up reaves, knecht, and picks, we have the pieces to get a star level player (thanks teams that passed on knecht). but nobody is selling a star right now, so you keep that powder dry and do your best to build.

 

I f*****g did.

 

Vucevic is there to be had for 2nd rd picks. Rui and JHS should be enough, to get that deal done. A legit 20/10 guy at a position of need, shoots 47% from 3 with volume. He's not a stiff, he's durable, at least 70 games per, for the last 5 seasons. That would be an excellent pickup, and we'd still keep Tinkerbell and Vando, and our precious FRPs

 

i like cole as well, would send gabe n a few 2nds to do it, orl has high aspirations maybe they'd be interested in gabe experience and his run to finals, they're still pretty good even with Paolo out

 

i'm not opposed. i don't consider rui a foundational piece. i'm worried vuc will drop all the way off a cliff soon, but his contract isn't long, and if it doesn't cost any firsts, i can dig it.

him or valanciunas without giving up firsts or any of the core players (lebron, AD, reaves, knecht, dlo) is ok by me.

 

gabe fits the culture they're trying to build, imo. and it just removes a potential locker room issue with a young player who's stuck behind two better young players. with us, anthony would get a fair crack at returning to being a rotation player before he's looking for his next contract. we'd probably need anthony's agent to nudge them a bit.

 

Great posts here, really liked reading everyone's perspectives. Albeit different, they all make sense.

Yeah, good read on both of you on Gabe's fit in Orlando. He really makes sense to them. Someone send this to Rob please

 

“If someone mentions “Shenanigans” one more time…”

 

Here you go. https://www.nba.com/lakers/contact It's where I sent my powerhouse Zach Edey plea to move up to get him. The neighbor's gardener says it actually had gotten passed along to the front office and was getting traction .... but then Linda killed it.

 

Technically we could swing big and ship out, Tinkerbell, Rui, JHS, Gabe, Vanderbilt, and Max, for Lavine, Vucevic and Torrey Craig. Maybe toss in a top 15 protected FRP.

Lavine, Vucevic, Lebron, AD, Reaves, Knecht, Reddish, Craig, Hayes and Wood. That's not a bad roster at all IMO.

 

Interesting idea, but giving up Rui, Vando, Max, and Gabe for Lavine and Vucevic? That’s a lot of depth lost. Lavine’s great offensively, but defense? Eh. Vucevic helps with spacing, sure, but can LeBron and AD survive without solid rotation pieces? It feels risky.

Still, for playoffs, Craig would be valuable. Keeping the young guys and balance seems smarter long-term. It's an intriguing move, though. Lakers’ front office got their work cut out!