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

Agreed, which is why I think we shouldn't just dumb down our search for the Center position here to a specific offensive archetype versus the overall better performer.

Rebounding, Free Throw shooting percentage and notably not just Rim Protection, but the regularly elusive statistic of Rim Deterrence are all insanely clutch margin-making differences that Krivas contributes to versus Missi that I just prefer. Krivas being able to make players less inclined to take shots outright because of his presence and size is such a difficult thing to qualify and it's worth its weight in gold IMO.

Plus, having a Center who is a reliable free throw shooter helps negate the old strategy of Hack-a-Shaq from other teams, but also is often a promising indicator of the Big's ability to eventually develop a 3 point shot and space the floor.

Again, Luka prefers lob catching bigs, but so much more of the game opens up for the Lakers by not just targeting that archetype. If we get a Center who can develop into a reliable enough lob threat for Luka to work with, but also brings more versatility to the table in terms of shot making and has the potential to develop into a floor spacer with time, I'm going to go that route every single time over just the basic lob threat.

 

Yeah, good point on rim-deterrence. I'm sure there is some kind of data for that. That is important, no question about it. I wonder what the data is on the two regarding that. In terms of free-throw percentage, I'm not too worried about that. We need the big to be a lob-threat, none of that stretch-5 nonsense (in our particular situation), unless we do something unorthodox, like get Giannis, or use Thiero as our Giannis, then a stretch 5 would probably help. But we will still have Lebron at the 4, hopefully. I don't know, we will see what happens. What do you think of Mitchell Robinson, if we don't draft a big? What other options?

 

really like it. his health concerns me, but when he's available, i really like his fit here. he's not the lob catcher some want (though he's not NOT a lob catcher), but he's a beast on the boards and the defense is consistently very, very good.



i really wonder how the knicks plan on keeping him. again, guessing they try to dump towns, but that might not be that easy.

 

Okay, I thought he was a lob-catcher for some reason. Better to go for a lob-catching rim-protector. I'm sure that's what Luka would prefer, it makes sense.

 

Being 2nd team all rookie isn’t anything special.

 

no, he is--he's just not as mobile and springy as most of the guys you think of as lob-catchers (like hayes or claxton or gafford). he's much stronger than all those guys, though.

 

LOL, come on man give me a break. I'm not saying the guy was MVP, he was what? 19 years old? What do you recommend, besides Giannis?

 

it's hard to get a read on him bc NO's a mess, imo. they're not sacramento, but you can see sacramento from there. his advanced numbers improved, but he saw the floor less last year. this is why i'd be willing to trade our first for him, but nothing more.

 

Luka needs screeners that are lob threats to help his offensive game open up. When he attacks the rim, if you send help, he has the option to throw it on up. When his step back 3 is falling, you can’t stop him scoring or assisting and offensively this combo is just tough to stop in the playoffs.

However the screener and lob threat doesnt need to be a big. DJJ was an excellent lob threat for him, as long as he has an outlet at the rim when he is doubled, that can be either from his PnR partner or someone cutting.

Like the rest of you, I’d like to develop players, but it hasn’t been the lakers way and until we see some tangible trend where we take that side of the game seriously - I’m just assuming we’re trading and singing together a team to compete with the occasional development piece.

 

I’m not trying to be snarky, there’s usually less than a handful of rookies that make a real impact on their team yearly. So calling someone 2nd team all rookie isn’t important.

Yves is a good athlete with a high motor. He is a good offensive rebounder because of this and has interesting defensive potential with his foot speed to stay with perimeter players while he has size and athleticism to protect the rim. He is a poor finisher and offensive player in general but should be able to use his athleticism as a rim runner.

At the moment he is a good backup, I’m not sure if he can develop into a good starter. He has only been playing basketball for like 5 years so his IQ isn’t smart and that’s why defensively the team is better with him off the floor. If he had a really good mentor to develop him defensively, Luka takes care of the offense.

 

Noted. Svtzr, who do yo recommend for that 5 spot? It's our most important need, imo.

 

Mane.....I don't know about pumping Luka full of something, being a good idea. Makes me wonder...has he been doing stuff like this in the past? Could that be contributing to reoccurring issues? IDK if the organization should be supporting that type of thing. Same with LeBron and the " Foot guru" thing.

On another note..is this Watson kid from Denver we want, cleared to play yet? Hamstrings are tricky injuries..if he's slowed or misses the playoffs. Will this situation bring his value down some? What if Keon Ellis looks mediocre in the playoffs..Will that ding his value any?