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

Look at those prices lol

 

I'd love to have KCP back (although he's shot the ball poorly in Orlando so far this year), but there's no way the Magic get rid of him for DLo. Their whole identity is defense first, physicality, high motor every night. DLo does not fit in with that, even though they really could use his skillset.

It's tough because as Abeer has said a bunch of times, we really need DLo's skillset. It's a real dilemma: we need what he gives us, but a more consistent and matchup-resilient version of it, and his contract is one of our few trade assets. Ultimately, I think they take a half measure and do Gabe + 2nds for JV or another center and that's it. The more I think about it, the more skeptical I am that they trade future firsts for guys like Schroder and DFS that they'd need to pay in the summer. I think they make some move to be able to say they did something, see if playing bigger with JV and Max continuing to improve helps the defense (I think Max should start at this point), and if not, oh well.

 

They need US, we don’t need them,and people say it was meaningless

 

Yeah I agree with your assessment that this front office may do a "half measure" and "make some move to be able to say they did something". But, I hope we are both wrong, and Rob makes a good move out of left field. I like what you said about Max and his defense. Max is getting 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks per 36 minutes, so he seems to be making a decent impact on defense. Another positive is that we may actually get Vando back for defense, but I know we can't operate as if it's going to happen. I think, in the end, we could get that Brooklyn package for Dlo, Vincent, JHS, and three seconds. Maybe trying to obtain the best perimeter 3 and D defender for the least possible compensation is the best route to go? You already said KCP is likely not an option, so there goes idea. Is there anybody out there that we could obtain to fill this role that is better than Max/Gabe/Cam? Marcus Smart probably costs a first, not worth that for us. Nikeal Alexander Walker is interesting, young enough to maybe cost a first, but will need to be paid soon. Another question is, what asset holds more value? Reaves or the 2029 and 2031 picks (unprotected)? What is more valuable to us, and what is more valuable to opposing teams?

 

Bruce Brown is supposed to return from injury this month. We wanted him in the 2023 summer. If he looks healthy and is shooting the ball okay, I think he's the best, at least semi-realistic candidate for an athletic, two-way guy that can take on guards and some forwards. Here's an all-in scenario:

LAL out: DLo, Vincent, Wood, JHS, Hayes, probably both 1sts with some protections and some 2nds
LAL in: Bruce Brown, Schroder, Kessler

Nets out: Schroder
Nets in: Vincent, Wood, pick(s)

Raptors out: Bruce Brown
Raptors in: DLo, JHS, pick(s)

Jazz out: Kessler
Jazz in: Hayes, pick(s)

Reaves / Schroder
Brown / Christie
LeBron / Knecht / Reddish
Rui / Vando
AD / Kessler

Might be optimistic to think you could get all three teams to agree to trades with only two tradeable firsts, but I think its possible. The Nets fans think they're getting a 1st for Schroder but he's a UFA in the summer. I think that's a significantly better team than what we have now, maybe fringe contender at best. I thought about trying to work DFS from the Nets in there as well, which would probably require Rui going out given Vando's injury questions.

 

I hear you, but I don't think we will or should get Kessler. His value is probably at either two-firsts or Reaves. I don't think he would be worth it for us, unless we are getting him to replace AD. But we obviously are not at that point yet.

 

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm starting to lean towards keeping Tinkerbell over Rui.

 

Just saw that he's apparently off the market now too, which probably just means you'd have to bowl them over with multiple firsts and we're not doing that.

 

Yep almost exactly what I'm thinking. I've liked Rui, ever since I saw him drop a 30 piece in the playoffs, as a 2nd year guy with the Wizards.

I'm still holding out hope that he would be flipped for Vucevic though. Then we can have AD as basically a huge defensive wing that can guard 3-5.

I want to unlock AD totally, offensively and defensively.

 

I have been open to moving Rui for a while now. He is not a good fit for the way the team is assembled. We have too many players wanting to go into isolation/shoot mid-range shots/post up, etc. Reaves is also in the same category, but he is more valuable because he is a better player with a better contract. I know it's an unpopular opinion here though. I know Rui has his defensive limitations, but he would be much more valuable for us if he were to be a higher-volume three-point shooter. Rui might have less value than Dlo though, due to Dlo's expiring contract.

 

Simple 3- Team Trade

Lakers get: Herb Jones: We can use an athletic perimeter defender who could make open threes. Jones provides all of that. It hurts to lose Reaves, but we are able to add a player who plays good defense, is athletic, and catches and shoots threes. Reaves is a slightly below-average defender, unathletic, and prefers to play with the ball in his hands and draw fouls, etc. We have too many players who either do the same things/or are one-way players. Put simply, we trade a one-way player at a skillset that we have a surplus in for a two-way player that has a skill set that we need. We keep Dlo at point guard, who is basically the same player as Reaves. We improve our team for now and for the future because Jones is only 26, and we get to keep our picks.

Jazz get: Austin Reaves: Would be a good fit in Utah next to Markannan.

Pelicans get : Walker Kessler: Missi is having a solid rookie season, but Kessler is an upgrade. This creates an excellent rim-running/ protection combo at the center for them. They also create a 9 million trade exception with this deal. Kessler is also only 23, and on a low contract for this season and next. At 5-20, Pelicans ought to consider going into full tank mode. Their future is up in the air, with possibly BI and Zion getting moved. Kessler is the type of young player that is good for a rebuilding team.

This deal could also be expanded. With New Orleans possibly tanking, maybe they consider including Murray to L.A., with Dlo,Rui, 2029 Lakers 1st (top-4 protected), 2028 pick swap, and some 2nds added to the deal going to New Orleans. This way, Lakers get a two-way athletic player at both PG and SF.

 

kurt helin claims otherwise re: ingram:

the truth about his contract demands matters a lot. if NO really wanted him to take a cut, that's kinda bush league, imo.

 

The Heat are trading Bryant to the Pacers in exchange for a future second-round pick swap, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Indiana got their center, now get Turner to Lakers

 

bryant's just a backup. they already lost isaiah jackson and wiseman for the season

 

Can we get a win tonight? Or has this game already been conceded? 30 minutes before tip off and it's quiet as a mouse around here. Big game coming up..let's go Lakers!!!

 

NBA executives believe that players with salaries above 20 million are unlikely to be traded during this season
New rules hit the NBA trade market.
According to ESPN, in NBA there is an opinion that players with salaries of 20 with a small million dollars are unlikely to change teams during the season. The rules of the new collective agreement make trades of highly paid basketball players too complicated.

 

Good news is that, Vucevic and Valancunas both fall below that number!

 

Poor Embid , not really

Joel Embiid exits 76ers' loss with sinus fracture, will be evaluted this weekend
The former Kia MVP was battling for a rebound late in the 1st half when he caught an errant forearm and elbow to the face.
Embiid was only playing his sixth game out of the 23 that Philadelphia has played. He has been bothered by swelling in his left knee and also served a three-game suspension for a physical incident with a reporter.

Did PG13 brought Clippers luck with him