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

If Jaxson doesn't have to start he should be able to have a really strong year doing whatever is asked of him, especially when out there with Luka as a vertical threat and often against other bench players rather than starters which turned out to be too much for him especially in the playoffs.

But I too am intrigued by what Maxi can give us while he's still here.

 

Three-team trade:

LAL gets: Nesmith

UTA gets: Knecht, 2027 LAL 1st (1-4), 2028 LAL swap, 2030 LAL swap, 2030 IND 1st (top-13 protected), 2031 LAL 1st (unprotected)

IND gets: Kessler, Vincent, 2026 LAL swap, 2032 LAL 2nd.

LAL gets highly switchable 3 and D player they need.

UTA gets young shooter in Knecht, and get a significant pick haul.

IND gets franchise big man in Kessler. Would be a good long-term combo with Haliburton. Vincent helps short-term in the backcourt.

 

Congrats Russell on the engagement.

 

Lebron would destroy any of those wings on Houston.

 

Teams I’m worried about OKC Minnesota Denver Golden State

 

The firecrackers are going to implode! That is all...carry on.

 

It is likely then that you have notes on the squad forever known as the "Emotionals".

 

I'm with Slick on this. I like what we have as well. Let's not outsmart ourselves. Unless it was AI, Vando's shot is better. Vando with even a decent shot really tilts the scale the Lakers way. The attention Luka will demand will make it hard to double LeBron. Luka doubled hits LeBron, LeBron takes it to the hoop, he either draws help, in which case he hits a wide open guy. If no help, he scores or gets fouled. KISS is often the best plan. Ride the L & L Express along with some creativity on defense to a championship.

 

Yeah, I saw the Vando footage, but you know how that goes. Hopefully it translates to the games. I think it will. We just need him to significantly increase his volume, while simultaneously bringing up his percentage a little bit. If he could increase his volume to about 1.5 out of 4.5 threes (33.3%) per 36 minutes, that would be huge. Defenses wouldn't be able to sag off of him as much anymore, and we likely would not have to pursue any additional POA players (within reason, and depending on other factors). But, you could never have too many of those guys. OKC showed that. But in terms of keeping our core together with continuity, and our assets, then this would be the ideal scenario. Next, we have Theirro waiting in the wings, who is already a much better offensive player than Vando, except for the three-point shooting, which is about the same. His shooting looked good on video too, so you also have that.

 

they will probably be taking All NBA votes from each other this year tbh

 

Zion slimming down

NBA star Zion Williamson in 2022 vs. 2025

 

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...w-sports-acquisition-business?referrer=scribe

hot dog stand?

"Initial investor Mark Walter has a firm belief in the company's future, staking $500 million in its imminent growth. The company plans to go after major endorsers in the nba, alongside seemingly unrelated ventures, among them equestrian facilities in Serbia."

 

I can't stand players like Zion.

So all this time, he could have gotten in shape but chose not to?

It's only now he decided to actually get serious because his next two seasons after this are non-guaranteed deals if he doesn't meet certain expectations?

 

Yeah that’s just nuts …. and I had posted a recent photo (I thought at the time) a couple weeks ago where he also / still was not looking “svelte”. Which piqued my curiosity to see this quote below on the previous page.

(@sirronstuff ) …. whatever happened to our last “Link Guy” Zubac waving the sign in your FAB library? I looked hard for awhile the other day prompted by it.

 

zion's weight was a problem, but not the only problem, imo. we've discussed it before, but i just think his game kind of presses the limits of physics like young shaq's did. that's just so much force on those joints. even at say, 250 instead of 280, his game is still predicated on explosion and changing of direction. i still remember the first game i watched him play when he blew out a shoe. that's wild, man.

all that said, i was on pioneer's team and said i'd buy low on him last year because when he's right, not much can be done with him on offense, and he's at least a decent defender.

as for what drove his weight loss...we don't know. dallas fans say the same about luka--that he only got healthy after something happened or whatever. only time will tell in both cases.

 

LOL … link, what are you guys looking at now?

 

Maybe - I do think some of these fat dudes do really work on getting themselves into better shape. I mean Hakeem said malone used to eat fried chicken after every game and while he was never a fatty he was smart enough to stay away. You can certainly see how Lebron takes care of himself

That being said I'm still not convinced Draymond was not on roids at periods - the weight loss, far better explosion than he had in college, the anger outburts
And with Luka and Zion - well Ozempic only became popular recently

 

What gives me some hope about Vando's shooting actually sticking is the change in form. The sticking point that caused him to miss so often is gone. Will he revert back under pressure? We will see. If healthy, he is just too valuable to not get playing time.

 

I really like Nesmith, but I’m not ready to deal Austin yet. I could see that trade working out for both teams, but I have a feeling Rob and company want too see how well a healthy Luka and Austin can do this postseason.