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

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by TIME, Jun 24, 2025.

  1. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    No.

    He is still a top 20 player, why do you want to get worse? You’d rather Wiggins than Lebron?
     
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  2. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Lakers Starter -

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    Exactly the dude was the best player on the team in the playoffs.

    You can’t just kick LeBron to the curb. We actually benefit from his production. I don’t think the team wants him gone.
     
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  3. ldawg

    ldawg - Rookie -

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    But the team dont want him and want to move on. They want to build around Luka and Lebron may not fit into that. If they want to move on they cant hold on to Lebron.
     
  4. ldawg

    ldawg - Rookie -

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    He was the best player by default. He was actually the third option and the team had a little drama and players not happay with roles. Even the March and winning all those games they were not playing a sustainable brand of basketball.
     
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  5. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Lakers Starter -

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    I wanted to actually look at the free agents rather than speculate.

    I’ll organize them.

    Bigs

    1. Robert Williams is a must for us. The Roll Luka Center. Great defensive Center.

    2. Zach Collins young can space roll athletic Center can bang with the Holmgrens. Played great on the spurs we could get him cheap.

    3. Kristoff Porzingis Big roller can space. Good defensive presence. In my opinion an upgrade over Ayton.

    4. John Collins ideal rolling Center has experience playing with ball dominant guard in a roll offense Trey Young. Stays in L.A.

    5. Mitchell Robinson Rolling Center. Ideal for Luka in the mold of Daniel Gafford. Has been playing great in the playoffs. Active protects the rim. just can’t make his free throws. So at the end of games he might not be able to play. And might have to bring a Jaxson Hayes back. Here’s my thing. Is this Jaxson Hayes is he the same guy. You’re bringing back Jaxson Hayes. Do you need him and Robinson.

    6. Ayton will pick up his option. No team is paying him more than that. Do the Warriors if Porzingis bounces not really. Nic Vuccevic might be a better fit.


    Guards

    1. CJ Mclomb ideal vet guard who can play next to Luka Kyrie role. And Jalen Brunson can still knock down shots.

    2. Colby White the younger same CJ role playing the Kyrie Jalen Brunson role. Can’t play defense but can shoot the f*** out of the ball. A pure scorer. If you can’t get Ayo give all your money to him.

    3. Keon Ellis athletic guard defender. P.O.A. Young guard who can chase the Ajai Mitchell’s. Cheap

    4. Gary Payton defender can knock down an open shoot. Defense. Defense. Can get in those Ajai Mitchell faces. Baby Caruso.

    5. Bones Hyland cheap developmental project. Young can score. Active young athletic guard.


    Forwards/Defense 2 guards.

    1. Kelly Oubre active shooter defender can score in bunches. Long. Has been on the Lakers radar for a while. Would be nice next to Luka.

    2. Toni Eason easily active forward who can get in your face. Score defense. Just not high on my list cause I think Houston wants him back. Hes gonna get 75 million.

    3. Matti’s Thyblle Defensive specialist. Defender can get in guards and forwards face. Perfect for Luka. Doesn’t need the ball and will knock down the open 3.

    4. Paul George for Vando. If Philly eats up most of the money. This is a salary move. Just a thought.

    5. James Harden is probably picking up his player option.

    6. for fun Deangelo Russell is a happy man. Must be nice. As s***ty as he’s played he has a player option for 6 million that he will gladly exercise. Free money.

    Reason I bring up Paul George I can see Mark Walters doing it. It’s an Adrian Gonzalez deal he did when he bought the Dodgers. Especially if we can get Paul George while maybe dumping Vando. And they pick up most of the money. Maybe they take Knect to and Ayton.
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2026 at 1:54 AM
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  6. LakeShowAZ

    LakeShowAZ - Lakers 6th Man -

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  7. ldawg

    ldawg - Rookie -

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    I do think they want him gone because they want to move on with Luka/Austin and get players that fit them. Also Have Byron Scott saying Lakers need to move on from Lebron and he will never be a true Laker. Perkins said it, Miller Said Lakers took Lebron for granted, etc. The fact thats it out there it not a good look for an all time great. Everything is pointing to they dont want to disrespect him but you got to read between the lines. https://x.com/legionhoops/status/2055744048615297025
     
  8. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    F Byron Scott how classless.
     
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  9. VincePT

    VincePT - Lakers 6th Man -

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    Paul George is not a free agent, has another 2 years left at over 50M per year. Until he's 38, that's an awful contract, particularly when you consider how he constantly shrinks in the playoffs. Sixers are heading to a rebuild soon.

    I'm intrigued with trading for Jaylen Brown if he gets shipped to Milwaukee in a Giannis trade. They will probably look into flipping him for assets.
     
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  10. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Lakers Starter -

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    I got you.
    I got you. I know he’s not a free agent. His suggestion was if we were trading Vando for him. Moving his contract if Philly wanted to take and pay for most of the money. Maybe we can give them a 2nd round pick or maybe they take Knect. just a thought.
     
  11. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Lakers Starter -

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    Norman Powell is a free agent to. Very intriguing. but I expect him to get a huge payday and sign a free agent deal with a team like Memphis. Or a team ready to win like Utah.

    So you can put him on the list for us.

    another trade possibly. Vando for Demar Derozan.

    trying to ship Vando for everybody. Vando for Kyle Kuzma.

    or Vando for Deandre Hunter. I think Deandre Hunter could have a great effect on this team.

    BTW Rui Hachimura is coming back. He’s our Kike Hernandez. Doesn’t do s*** in the regular season but is great in the playoffs.
     
  12. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    Almost as good as Rooves hahaha
     
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  13. 432J

    432J - Lakers All Star -

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    SGA wins mvp again

    such a stupid choice considering okc would still be a playoff team without him
     
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  14. showtime24

    showtime24 - Lakers Starter -

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    I hate to break this to you but, this is not legal in the NBA. Teams would be doing this all the time if it were. Props for attempting to think outside the box though. Like the Dodgers deferring Shoehei's contract. That was sheer genius. NBA is restricted by the CBA and cap, but sure there are still plenty of cool loopholes that have not been explored.
     
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  15. showtime24

    showtime24 - Lakers Starter -

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    Sn NBA version of this would be Sixers included picks and or young talent for us to absorb PG with some of our cap. Similar to soem of the trades we have been mentionninh here. For example, we have 48 mil in cap room. Sixers could send us PG and Bona for Vando, Ayton, LaRavia and Knecht. That's 56 million for 30 million. So in theory, it costs us 26 million for PG and Bona, if you consider that we gave up trash for them. In theory, not in practice, Sixers do kind of eat 28 million of PGs deal for this season, and 13.5 million of PGs 56.5 million for next year, when you consider Vando is the only player taht is guaranteed for next season. That might be the closest thing that resembles a team eating salary in the NBA that I know of. Bona is lob threat and rim protector. You could also look at is like tye Sixers eat 37% of the 112 million or so owed to PG the next 2 seasons. Lakers get Bona for 2 million this season, and he is an RFA in the offseason. There are pros and cons to that deal, but we fill 2 needs, get rid of all of our trash, and send out no picks. And we maintain 20 million or so in cap room.
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2026 at 10:15 AM
  16. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    that's two years of george, though. remember when we wanted off just one year of westbrook and it was going to cost 2 1sts.

    i'd demand two 1sts AND bona if we were doing something like this. can't use our one-time cap space on a guy who can barely stay on the floor without getting serious compensation, imo. the TE that philly nets there could get them a legit rotation player, tbh.
     
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  17. FrontOfJersey22

    FrontOfJersey22 - Lakers All Star -

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    Yeah, I don’t have any interest in nearly washed former “stars.”
    We need to get younger and more athletic- not the opposite.
     
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  18. showtime24

    showtime24 - Lakers Starter -

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    George would essentially cost us only 28 million this year, and Bona 2 million. It gets painful next year, when George would essentially cost us 43 million, and Bona is an RFA. But the real coup in this deal is Bona, who is the perfect fit at center with Luka AND with generally weak defensive perimeter players, since he protects the rim at a high level. Maybe they do have to ad a 1st. But, I really like the Bona fit.
     
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  19. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers Legend -

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    George had his chance to be a Laker. No thanks.
     
  20. showtime24

    showtime24 - Lakers Starter -

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    Could also have Sixers add #22. I agree this is not the best potential option, but we could put it on this list of potential options.
     
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