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

Joined ClubLakers right after my dad died in November 2008. He was my best friend, and his death put a huge void in my life. I’ll never forget all the posts on CL when we traded for Pau Gasol. Such unspeakable joy brought me healing in an odd way. Till this day I’ve never laughed as much as the Kobe: White Hot thread on CL. Fun times!

 

i would have rater him in the Walker Kesler range in the 30s. I have seen Austin in the playoffs with Lebron. Here is the deal people are mad we did not run it back but Lebron/Austin failed in lopsided loses many times not just once. We added Luka instead of AD and still got waxed by Minny. excuses were Austin toe, no center. Luka out of shape. I think they would have been a little better last season but watching the rest of the playoffs i think highly unlikely to win it all. I think Lakers felt that way too thats why they blew it up and just committed to Luka/Austin/Walker and yield similar results less drama.

 

It's incredible how many fond memories of CL so many of us still hold, me included. A shame so many people left during the transition period, but this is still the best Lakers related place on the internet and I am extremely happy to be part of it, even if it's not as lively as the predecessor. This may be surprising to some folks, but the part I miss the most is the very active open duscission forum, we had soooo many great discussions there. Here it's basically a dead part of the site.

 

I was a prosportdaily guy then the site closed. A few of us moved to discord. Similar they were closed minded Lebron haters. The final straw was mad because i felt Lebron was going to lead Lakers past Houston.

 

Well Lebron/AD won back in 2020. We are closing in on 2027 so they were yesterdays news. Lebron/Austin made no noise so why stick with that as Lebron gets even older? Luka/Austin/Walker will have more potential. Even if they yield similar results to Lebron/Austin no big deal. My guess is they will be around 6th to 4th seed.

 

I had the random thought that I wouldn’t be opposed to the Lakers signing Lonzo Ball to a vet minimum contract to come off the bench as a point of attack defender…. Considering we don’t have one. Nothing too crazy but can he play 15min per game in this position? It’s worth the risk to find out

 

I remember finding CL in 2003, but I can't remember how. Like, I know it was because I was trying to find Off-Season Rumors of who was coming to the team back then, but like...I swear it was more than that too. Anyways, joined and posted (got banned...over-excessive use of site emojis, got unbanned when I moved and rejoined) and then since about 2012 I just hang around here during the off-seasons and then disappear again. I remember eating, drinking, and sleeping CL, Lakersground, and RealGM back in the day...now I've mellowed out...........

I will say that things have DEFINITELY changed as far as expressions of things, but everyone's got the same passion as before, so it's all good.

 

Yeah. That seems to sum it up right.

on the plus side, Luka is really really really good and can carry a team. Austin is also a good player and was showing us next level ability before he got hurt. Kessler is another good piece and I think we will be happy with him if he can stay on the floor and turn around the injury history.

we currently lack defense though which has been our great weakness for several seasons. I think this group will be able to score a lot and could be entertaining to watch. We will be fine in the regular season absent long injuries.

Playoffs is again the worry.

 

This is a completely reasonable perspective but for whatever reason guys (or gals) sometimes exaggerate what is being said to make it seem overblown or unfairly harsh.

It is what it is.


I do think we will actually look okay and show flashes during the season and Luka gives us a punchers chance in any series.

But we don’t have a true 4, defensive wing, or a strong enough defense overall as of today to compete. Saying that out loud isn’t being unfair. Options to correct those things look limited but we all hope someone appears in the buyout market who can help with those issues.

 

Hopefully the teeth clinchers of yesterday are feeling better today and realizing what a great day it was for the Lakers. Going young with talented players and team chemistry vs just trying to keep one guy happy. This is going to be so much better.