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

This is a big ask. Not likely. Not on the realistic side. By the way, the build was with the reports in mind that the Lakers supposedly don't want to run it back. The starting 3 is really a starting 1, because Luka guards the 3's. So, we are talking about a point guard to shooting guard sized person here that could guard 1's.

 

The depth build was with the multiple reports that came out recently in mind, and the Lakers recent press conference. My take aways from these:

• Lakers don't want to run it back

This contradicts what you said about bringing everyone back.

• Lakers promised Luka replicants of the 24 Mavs team

This team had a 3 man rotation of lob threat bigs in Gafford, Lively, and Powell, a 2nd ball handler/shooter in Kyrie, and 2 way players mostly every where else. Not Ayton, Rui and Kennard.

• Luka wants Reaves back

Not a surprise. He has a good relationship with him, and Reaves fits into that Kyrie role.

• Rob wants to honor Lebron

He should and probably would be back. So Lebron and Reaves are exclusions to "not running it back".

• Redick emphasized depth

Tracks with stacking 2-way players at reasonable deals, instead of like 30 million on players like Watson.

• Lakers are building a bio mechanics lab

Tracks with obtaining skilled players that need help in specific areas, like shooting. This could benefit players like Herb.

• Lakers building a recovery lab

Ideal for players like Robinson and Williams to treat and prevent injuries.

 

i don't think jones's stroke is as broken as vando's, but yeah, his stock has dropped tremendously. the real issue for me is that he's locked up long-term at over 20 per. i wonder if you could trade vando and knecht for herb and missi and both teams could find ways to justify it (we're gambling on herb shooting a little better, they're getting off his salary, and each team is swapping recent 1st rounders who have no clear path to a role on the current teams).

yeah, again people were like "you wanted to trade a first for ellis", and yes, i did. i think that tiny cap hold plus his bird rights would have been worth it (and i think he would have had more impact here than in cleveland--i didn't understand that trade for either side). i'd pay more for ellis than 6m; if he can be had for that, we should do it. one reason i think we might not is bronny. he'd eat all bronny minutes, and if we're still trying to stay in dad's good graces, that may not fly.

in a vacuum, i like ellis more than kennard for this team. now, our minimal rights to kennard make keeping him if we're staying over the cap kind of a no-brainer. but if we go under, i think we're prepared to let him walk.

very curious to see what the rates for guys like thybulle will be this summer, btw. last summer, i thought capela was a clear tpmle guy, and he got 2/18, right? same with brolo. so it's possible even some of these vets with spotty backgrounds will end up being more expensive than we think.

 

…. now that would be something!!

Too bad Reaves sucks so hard it would be doomed too.

 

…. aww geeze you’ll start another s*** storm with that one.

 

bickerstaff basically sat duren (and stewart) in favor of paul reed throughout crunch time in last night's game. i love reed and have advocated picking him up annually--and he actually made a lot of plays for them during this stretch. but man...that is a lot of cash/future investment that you're alienating/showing a lack of confidence in right there...

like, imagine if this were the lakers, and jj just benched reaves for the last six minutes and overtime of a playoff game? hell, there's been a media firestorm because rui was pulled for one play, lol.

 

Theres nothing wrong with wanting Ellis.As I have said he has value.The contention is how much value

 

yeah but those last two sentences

 

they weren't meant to be incendiary, really. i could just foresee issues with bringing in a guy who plays his son's exact role when a) the only paycut lebron's taken here was basically the amount of money we paid to his son and b) he's going to view any FA pickup as taking from his money. and perhaps he's justified there. but still, don't act like it's beyond the pale to suggest it, lol.

edit: i also think it's kind of a make or break year for bronny next year. you usually know by year 3 if a guy is going to stick. there are rare cases that take longer, but i feel like the third year is the one. and maybe bronny shows up as a legit POA guy who can hit 40% on threes next year, and i won't be pining for guys like ellis anymore!

 

I read something about a Luke Kennard/Keon Ellis comparison somewhere in this thread.

https://www.sports-reference.com/st...2023_01_wdgt_player_comparison&utm_source=bbr

 

Well Duren is Unrestricted this summer, was supposedly high on Luka's wish list, when he got here.

 

Luka is entitled to ask for whatever he wants; and the FO is obliged to try and accommodate his wishes.

If it doesn't work out; Luka is deserving of a share of the blame for it; just like LeBron.

 

Ik

Generally, 35% (Good Volume) 3-pt shooters who can defend > 40%+ (Good Volume) 3pt shooters who cant defend. We have many of the latter in Kennard, Rui, and you could argue Knecht (in theory).

 

what showtime said, and also compare advanced stats across the past three seasons:

he's restricted.

 

Oh I know .... just being a smart a**.

I feel this too. If he can improve this summer as much as last he has a good shot at it. That was going to be a follow up smart a** remark with bit of belief in it but decided not to. Definitely won't be skinny and weak like Keon.

 

Two of the best 3pt shooters in the NBA is something the Lakers have rarely had.

Which circles back to advanced stats, are obviously not the main factor being considered, in whether Ellis was considered to be a reliable rotation player in Sacramento or Cleveland. It seems like he was initially given the opportunity to be one in both places, but both teams went in another direction for some reason.

Which brings up the "Lakers effect" most role players fail to live up, to thier reputations , once they don the purple and gold:but a few break that curse. I guess we are hoping that Ellis is the later..nothwistanding how he finished at both of his last two stops.

 

SF: LeBron, LaRavia, Thiero
PF: Rui, Bobby Portis
C: Hayes, Marvin Bagley III, *Draft a more developed 4- year college student center who you can build on for cheap and lock in long-term.*
SG: Reaves, Luke Kennard
PG: Luka, Smart, Bronny

-Sign LeBron for $20 million
-Rui at $18 million
-Jaxson Hayes early bird rights = $6 million
-Kennard at $12 million
-Trade Vando + multiple 2nds for Bobby Portis
-Smart 2 year, $16 million. Maybe 3 year $24 million if he wants $10 million per year but you keep him longer term.
-Ayton opts out
-Decline Knecht's team option

Leaves about $38 million?
Options:
-Tari Eason
-Taurean Prince
-Keon Ellis
-Luguentz Dort
-Quentin Grimes
-Gary Trent Jr.
-Tim Hardaway Jr.
-Peyton Watson
-Ayo Dosunmu
-Colby White
-Jordan Goodwin
-Porzingis (snag him for cheap? Previous chemistry with Luka.)

Kennard's good but I think he's replaceable. Tim Hardaway Jr., Gary Trent Jr, Quentin Grimes, Colby White, etc., are all players who he'll be competing with in free agency.

Rui is replaceable to me. How much will Eason get? Bobby Portis can do everything Rui can and more so you might not need Rui and could use that roster spot for another player.

I would be happy with Peyton Watson or Ayo + Jordan Goodwin to finish out the roster. I don't know what Keon will fetch but likely significantly more than Goodwin? Goodwin is better value. Don't see the infatuation with Keon here tbh.

Unless I'm missing something, I'm pretty sure this all works out?

My fantasy roster:

SF: LeBron, LaRavia, Thiero, Watson
PF: Rui, Bobby Portis
C: Hayes, Marvin Bagley III, *Draft a more developed 4- year college student center who you can build on for cheap and lock in long-term.*
SG: Reaves, Luke Kennard, Goodwin
PG: Luka, Smart, Bronny

You have the defense, shooting, and young talent mixed in with veterans.

 

Lol..the pool shifts to pretty much anybody available.

 

Wait ... WUT? Where's the Reaves Doom where we have zero chance with him still on the roster? But yeah, that's what those of us accepting the reality of him being here next year, even happy that will happen because we're fans of the player .... hope to see happen. Just 2 or 3 solid contributors added in place of wasted roster spots currently, plus development of a couple of players internally. And you have 4. An attaboy for that. Bravo even. There's hope with the willingness to take the anti Reaves on a winning team blinders off.

 

Back to ignore you go