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

I know it’s a bit random, but what does everyone think of Jalen Suggs and putting him with Reaves and Luka? He had a bad play in and I think the Magic could blow things up. His contract is decreasing yearly.

Suggs is an excellent defender in the mold of Marcus Smart and he is young enough where he could still develop his 3pt shot like Jason Kidd did, he has shown flashes.

Vando, Ayton and Knecht for Suggs work. It would probably take 2 firsts? But that’s not an exciting package for the Magic. Maybe as part of a bigger trade when they move one of Franz or Banchero.

Luka / Kennard / Bronny
Reaves / Smart
Suggs / Jake
Lebron / x / Adou
x / Hayes / x

 

We’re saying the NBA rips up his contract with the clippers as a punishment. And he signs the MLE there.

Steph / Melton
Butler / BP
Kawhi / Moody
Green / Santos
Porzingis / Horford

That’s a team that could contend if healthy for a year or two.

 

I have him on our big board, but he is lower on the board. He's an excellent defender, and overall scorer. I like that he is not hesitant to shoot threes. But, he is not the most accurate 3-pt shooter. 34% last year, and 33% for his career. Which is below average. His volume helps make him passable though, but we are talking about a 32 million dollar player. Maybe he's improving. Next year is his age 25 season. But he's also had durability issues. Could be a good buy low option, but I'm not sure the Magic view him as a buy low guy. But they might have reduce salaries. Lakers could benefit by trading unfavorable contacts. Lakers could do something like trade Vando + 2024 1st + 2031 1st for Suggs. I like Suggs better than Herb, due to better shooting. Use 23 million of cap room to absorb Suggs. Lakers are left with 28 million in cap room, to use on probably a big, like Robinson, and Lebron. This is not my favorite option. Watson seems to be bigger, longer, and a more accurate shooter than Suggs. Suggs seems to be the better ball hawk. I rather have Watson. Watson has had less accolades and exposure, but he is 3 inches taller, longer reach, more versatile, etc, 1 year younger, etc. Watson is the better prospect. If Orlando is desperate to get off Suggs long term salary, they could take back some more contracts from us, like Ayton and Knecht. Lakers end up with 40 million in cap room in this case. Also, maybe we only send one first. A trade of Vando + Ayton + Knecht + #24 + 2031 1st for Suggs might be okay.

 

the chance of having Kawhi and Porzingis both healthy for a full playoff run must be also non-existent

 

I'd love to have Suggs on the team, he's like a younger Smart. But he misses a lot of games. Also, I think the Magic are going to really shake things up but I don't know that Suggs is going to be a part of that. He's been the heart of the team and the core of the defensive identity. I think it's more likely one of Paolo or Franz is out (I think Franz), along with a new coach to modernize the offense. Finally, I don't see why they'd take Vando in this deal.

 

I feel like either Paolo or Franz would be a good fit in Milwaukee.

 

Paolo's extension is about to kick in, I think him + about $13 million in matching salary for Giannis makes sense for both teams. I'm still a Paolo believer, let him re-discover his game on a bad Milwaukee team for a while. Giannis gets to be on the East Coast, which he supposedly prefers so he can get over to Greece quicker, while still being the guy for a franchise. If you basically replace Paolo with Giannis, I think that Magic team is right in the thick of the East.

 

I think Orlando would have the same problems they had with Paolo, if Giannis goes there. Unless it triggers other moves.
Although Giannis is naturally a much better player so they would improve just on that. But far from a contender yet, which I imagine Giannis wants to be.

Also would like to see Paolo in a fresh team and scenario. But he seems to be type of superstar that never translates to winning basketball. He gotta improve significantly in his shooting and defensive this summer. He should be a menace on defense with his frame, size, strength, speed. No excuses

 

''

i feel like i and others have mentioned suggs many times. i agree that his injuries are concerning, but i'm willing to gamble on it because i think he's a perfect fit. i also think he'll get even better shots with luka and reaves, and that three point percentage will go up.

the only reason i think he could be available is that they have anthony black, and he'll need to paid soon. doesn't make a ton of sense to pay black, suggs, and bane all 30m+, imo. especially when you're a .500 team.

i mean, i get that people are saying that, but...he's going to lose 50 million and then sign for 15? why not just sign a max with the bulls or sign for 40m with us? i feel like there are often these stories about how gs is going to do something impossible.

anyway, full mle hardcaps them at the first apron, which means porzingis must also take mle money (or less), and melton has to continue on a vet min.

i just don't see almost any of those things happening in isolation, much less all at once just for the glory of the golden state warriors.

 

Paolo is doodoo man.

He's Iverson without the heart.

Just silly low efficient dumb IQ basketball.

Never understood how people saw him as an elite talent. He's going to have a career like Bradley Beal, IMO. Some decent stats but getting paid max dollars whilst not making winning plays.

 

I don't think he's even AI, the guy's shooting is awful unless he plays the Lakers. He also looks like so stiff on the perimeter with no handles/bag, just used to rely on that athleticism that isn't there anymore. Magic basically gave a max contract to Randle 2.0. They better hope his hometown, the reborn Seattle Supersonics, take him in a few years.

 

As Showtime rightfully pointed out, Suggs isn’t the greatest shooter but you’re right abeer, he’ll get a better quality of shot here than playing with Franz and Banchero who are both terrible shooters. I could see him settle at 35% on high volume.

There’s a couple of reasons why I think they could shake things up.

- They already up against the second apron without bringing back Howard and Mo Wagner. If they bring them back, they’re over the second apron for a team that doesn’t want to be there.
- If they don’t blow past the second apron next year, they have to extend Anthony Black who is breaking out, he’ll get over 35 million from them and they’ll be forced to get rid of either Suggs or Bane
- This years draft pick and a future first might be enough for them to get off Suggs and take on Vando and Knecht (saves them 16m in cap now and another 4.2m the following year)


The great thing about our setup is if we retain Smart, we have two guys of a similar ilk and hopefully always one can suit up. Together they’d be absolutely lethal on the perimeter, the amount of defensive playmaking would be a joy to watch. But I really feel like you need to play these guys around 28 mins to keep them healthy at the intensity they play.

 

This is the setup if we renounce Lebron and Rui:

Luka (49.8m) / x / Bronny (2.3m)
Reaves (Cap Hold - 20.9m) / Smart (PO - 5.4m) / Knecht (4.2m)
x / Jake (6m) / Vando (12.4m)
x / x / Adou (2.1m)
Ayton (PO - 8.1m) / Hayes (Cap Hold - 6.5m) / x

That's about 117.7m assuming Smart and Ayton opt in. So we have around 47.3m.

1) Offer Hayes 4m (Cap space: 49.8m)

2) Offer Watson 30m as a RFA (Cap space: 19.8m)

3) Make a trade of Vando + Knecht (16.6m) and our draft assets for Suggs (32.4m) (Cap space: 4m)

4a) Offer Kennard 4m (tell him he’ll get a bump the following year) - I assume he is gone and if so have Smart opt out and give 9.4m in remaining cap space to Lebron, sign Smart to the room

4b) Kennard stays at 4m, Smart doesnt opt out and Lebron takes the room

5) Sign Reaves to the Max

6) Sign Thybulle & Kleber to the minimum

Final team:

Luka (49.8m) / Suggs (32.4m) / Bronny (2.3m)
Reaves (41m) / Smart (9.1m) / Dev Player (2.5m)
Watson (30m) / Thybulle (3.6m)
Lebron (9.4m) / Jake (6m) / Adou (2.1m)
Ayton (8.1m) / Hayes (4m) / Kleber (3.6m)

That's 204m.

We get Suggs but probably lose Kennard. That bench is potent defensively, Suggs, Smart, Thybulle and Jake are all quality perimeter defenders, Watson is also a big improvement defensively in the starting unit.

Hopefully with so much redundancy we could keep our guys healthy while still giving Bronny, Adou and the third development spot playing time.

 

Yeah it's an interesting proposition. Having Suggs or Smart in turns and sometimes at the same time would be scary for teams. That's a floor raiser

If they bite that trade we would be out of Watson but still with money to bring Eason or someone who could play the 4.

But I don't see Orlando doing a pure salary dump of a key guy in their franchise after the most disappointing season in the last 2 decades. They traded the farm for Bane and are struggling to make it out of the play-in, truly terrible.
I think they'll be more aggressive, even while trying to stay below the 2nd apron. Maybe in a 3 team trade

 

I don't know about Suggs, I feel like a slightly better Marcus Smart isn't worth 20 million more. Feels the guy has declined since getting paid and do we really need another injury prone guy?

I certainly would take him for Vando and Knecht, but I'd rather try to get an upgrade on a better 5.

 

I can’t be the only one here who’s faith in Mark Walter and the people he hires …. specifically Tony Bennett in this case …. is so strong that I also expect Bennett and the (assumed) also strong scouting people assisting HIM probably on a trial basis for a chance to be hired by the Lakers …. will also be using their keen eyes as well on already in the NBA great bang for “not star” value players the organization is looking at to fill our needs. Guys early in the league who may be or may become available to us.

 

I get it. You are essentially trying to bypass the need for a rim-protecting big, by maximizing our defense on the perimeter. I was trying to do that for the longest time, but recently came to the realization that defensive big helps solve a lot of problems on, the floor. The reason I say defensive big is because they are there at the rim to contest shots after Luka, Reaves, and Lebron get beat. Another reason is simply about numbers. For example, if we have a starting 5 of Luka/Reaves/Watson/James/Ayton, we would only have one defensive player in the starting unit. I'm not sure if Watson alone is enough to make up for the others. Your bench defense is elite though, but it's better to have more defensive players in the starting unit. Maybe this is the short-term route that we go, if we are unable to find a worthy defensive bigs. Its definitely a great overall defensive upgrade, upgrading Smart to Watson, Kennard to Suggs, Rui to Thybulle/Smart off the bench. Something like this could work. If not with this specific players, than with other like Ellis or Dort. Lakers will probably do their due-diligence with and without models that include defensive bigs.

 

Crack’s a hellofa drug but not good for you …. I hear.