2026-27 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Christian Braun three point percentage dipped last year, but I like him.

 

I'd be willing to give a first for Gafford, but that's all. If they want more than that then Naji needs to be involved and I'd try to stick them with DK's corpse.

But I'm hoping the Dallas 2nd round draft pick move came about because we were on the phone with them during the Hawks taking Veesaar from us, Rob found that out in real time and he was like damn it, can yall do me a favor. I don’t want to have to tell my new boss that he gave me additional money to spend and I wasted it. In return, I’ll loosen some of the restrictions on that first I’m giving you for Gafford

 

Agree, except I'd try the pick swap first before another FRP, but I do that deal.

 

They have to make decisions between Suggs vs Black, Franz vs Paolo and WCJ and Goga.

Suggs seems to be the most likely man out at Orlando.

Stuff Herb for 2. That guy hasn't been able to hit the broad side of a barn in years and his attempts at the hoop have really cratered. New Orleans continue over valuing assets just like Chicago did.

There's a reason OKC did so well, they brought in players that were having bad seasons, showcased them, rehabbed their value and then sold them on for modest gains. New Orleans meanwhile wants a kings ransom for everyone. Just a basement dweller mentality in an organisation.

Herb for Vando and a 1st is already a positive trade for them. Herb vs Vando isn't that big of a difference, Herb's contract is quite a bit worse and they get a far off first that could be worth a ton.

 

I don't think anybody is seeing Vando as a positive trade for them. LOL.

 

I'm pretty sure that Duren and Kessler want more money than Watson.

 

Vando, Ayton, Jake and 2 FRP for Gobert. Then go into Free Agency looking for a reasonable wing. We'll have to eat 5 or 6M of capspace for Rudy. Same trade minus a FRP for Gafford.

 

Luka to Rob, "I want an A list Center."

Rob, " I present to you Jalen Smith..."

LMFAO

 

Luka been in the league long enough, to understand contracts and how RFA's work. He already knows what realistic and what's not..he has a pretty decent agent.

 

Yeah, probably. He still asked for an upgrade at the center position.

 

But you don't know what he'd consider an upgrade, all you have is your opinion, and the media's on that. A lot of people around here had never heard of Mark Williams. Luka knew who he was. This guy isn't some naive kid, he's a pro, who is probably a lot more realistic about things than we fans are. The media is always going to hype the big names, whether they are realistic or not. We are the Lakers, we like stars, they are always going to focus on the big names in Lakers speculation. I'm sure he has a wishlist, and another list of players he'd consider an upgrade.

 

Someone better than Ayton obviously...LOL. Many names have been mentioned the last upteenth pages & and all haven't been "stars, and he may not be clamoring for a "star", but he definitely wants an upgrade/change.

 

Someone different than Ayton perhaps, but honestly; most of these names bandied about, aren't really huge upgrades, considering the contract. Dude makes 8M dollars, are Duren or Kessler 4 times better than Ayton? Duren's playoffs numbers were maybe a tad better than Ayton's, they weren't to be considered some kind of dramatic difference at all.

I'd swing for Gobert tho..Minnesota needs bodies, we gave them 3 players that they could use immediately, and 2 FRP. They can still make moves with that at the trade deadline.

Gobert can catch lobs, and he's the best Defensive center in the league. Sounds like he fits all of Luka's requirements to me.

 

Herbert makes Vando look like Klay Thompson.

 

Lord Thybulle makes Vando look like Steph! Dude shot 14% from the floor and 9% from 3 in the playoffs.

 

I would trade 2 1st round picks for Gobert and Ayton. That’s the deal I would do. That guarantees me a championship. I would be fine doing that. I ain’t doing that for Gafford. Nope.

Now Gobert that’s an elite rim runner. Protects paint. Pick and roll. Lob threat. And a defensive anchor paint is protected.

Now that makes sense. Doesn’t make sense with minor upgrades over Ayton.

 

Minnesota is also a team that we've traded with in the past.

 

You probabaly had me on ignore when I looked at Herb.

Long story short that guy is shooting >30% from 3 over the last two years. While he use to be an elite finisher at the rim and got there more than 50% of the time from his shot diet, now he doesn’t attack the rim and is below average at finishing if he gets there.

Guy isn’t Vando on offense, but he isn’t far off. His contract is 15m this year and then goes to the mid 20s for 3 more years.

Vando isn’t a positive for them, but getting off a bad 4 year contract for a sub MLE 2 year deal and getting a valuable first is a decent deal.

No way I’m doing two firsts for Herb.

 

It's looking like Mitch is really out of New York. We absolutely have to snatch him, one of the best available centers, if nothing else just from a value perspective.

He's not the solution we need as a core starting center but he is an upgrade over Ayton. Ideally, he is the backup which may change the scenario for Hayes.

With the options available, if we got Gafford AND Mitch, it would be great. On top of that, if Hayes accepted being the 3rd string center it would be even better. Both Gafford and Mitch have health issues so Hayes would see the court a lot. He could also be a solution for when teams hack Mitch.

For the wings, if we can't get Herb, hope we can get one of the dumped contracts like Dort, Braun/Cam and alike. Or a bigger name like Watson or Eason