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

https://hoopshype.com/rumors/ Looks like Turner might be available

 

Man STOP!!!!!!!!!

 

If he's really available and I don't think he is:

Rui, DK, first, two swaps and a 2nd

 

yeah, if they don't want to pay him, we need to let his agent know we're willing.

of course, the last time we played this game with indy, we got burned pretty badly (which persists until this day).

one counterargument is that he's quietly having a fairly bad year, and maybe indy knows something we don't.

but it's the kind of gamble i think we'd have to take now. i agree that one 1st (the 29, top-5 protected), some swaps (the latter also protected) and knecht is fair.

you know indy will try to squeeze us, though.

btw, hearing the clips are chasing big man help concerns me greatly. they have more trade assets than we do and are definitely interested in spoiling our plans at every turn.

 

It is a slightly down year, but his 3% is up. I'd look at it as a chance to hopefully buy a bit lower. Cause if you can create a perfect fit next to AD in a lab, it's Turner.

I'm hoping DK is the squeeze. We start with Rui and JHS + draft compensation and their counter is DK and maybe some pick condition haggling.

They'll definitely try to squeeze us but if it doesn't include the addition of Max or a second first, squeeze away.

 

Yeah. I’d definitely go get Turner if he’s available.

 

I disagree Kessler's defense is a luxury. One of our issues is AD being the only rim protector of this team (Koloko was brought for that reason, but he does nothing else). If we get a center that can protect the rim, we can manage the non-AD minutes. He'll play less minutes, manage his foot better and play with more energy when he's on the court.

Turner would be great. I'm fine paying him the 30mil after, with Bron getting off the books eventually. Hard to let Knecht go. With an AD/Turner tandem, I think he's even more valuable because we get so much better on defense, that it offsets his own shortcomings in that area.
I'm not sure how I feel regarding the picks, have to think about that

 

my other fear about turner being available is that indy would need a replacement and may deal with a team we were talking to about their center.

like, does chicago change course and add assets to vuc for turner? i would if i were them.

 

would valanciunas be cheaper than vucevic? wouldn't mind the former at all if it'd mean not parting with a 1st rounder

 

Thought you'd like that one

 

I went to look at some recent Vuc highlights, but it's Lonzo who really stood out to me.

 

They need a replacement but I think they'd be more likely to get a 3rd team involved. All those teams with bigs are teams not trying to compete this year. If they get in the mix for Turner that's counterproductive to the tank and they're not going to want to pay a 29 year old Turner either (Bulls, Wiz, Raptors, Blazers, Jazz).

 

New rumors
Is it actually means that Pelinka finally listened to AD .I hope some bigs are going to Lakers

 

chicago seems disinterested in ever tanking. i think they'd upgrade from vuc to turner (spending an asset in the process) over dumping vuc for non-expiring salary and 2nds.

and i'm not sure i wouldn't do the same, tbh. there's 7 teams with a substantial tank lead on them this year.

again, AD's declaration did nothing but harm his case. it's clear rob has been trying to trade for a center. i'm wondering if this is our version of a leverage play, telling utah and chicago (and maybe washington and portland) that we yet another option. the specific phrasing about salary matching reeks of a leak from our side, right?

edit: btw, irony in a lot of our discussions is that vuc has been better than any other center trade target this year (including kessler and turner). yeah, he's old, but if we're not dumping future firsts, i'm not sure how much it matters. i've slowly talked myself into this being option 1 to the point where i'd move a top-10 protected swap in 2026 if we have to edge out another offer.

 

I kinda doubt any “unauthorized” / “un-strategic” leaking is going on from anyone in the Lakers organization anymore. That s*** especially concerning hard fought deals Rob is trying to make could and should get you fired.

 

I'd like to keep Knecht. Throw JHS in instead

 

btw, missed the "rival gms say" part of the turner news the first time. always grain of salt the rival gm stuff, imo.

 

They have to stay a bottom 10 or it goes to SA.

(And this isn't directed just at you but at the Vuc idea in general)
I'll definitely take Vuc, but out of those 3 he's my least favorite option especially as a starter. Might be a moot point because those other two might not even be available. Defensively Vuc is bad. Two bigs work if the other is a C is good defensively because AD can leave the post and we're covered. Bron can funnel and it's fine if at SF his man gets by him because they're not going to roam into the paint.

Sure on a talent and need side, I'll trade Rui for him no question. But at $21m, I think the role is bigger than the fit. I'd still use him as a backup and stagger the rotations some, maybe 10 minutes or so of two big lineups a game. I'd prefer starting:
AD/Bron/DFS/Max/AR > Vuc/AD/Bron/Max/AR