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

I am confident I know what is going on with all the negativity around here but in the interest of peace I'm keeping my opinions to myself...lol.

 

nah he’s not a clutch client. I don’t see Cleveland wining anything next year.

 

Mamu signing official

 

That's a crowded and expensive front court now with Edey, Stew, Booz, Grant and Post

 

They just went to the conference finals. Why wouldn't they be better?

 

yep Their actions said it all.

 

Back to Kessler. I thought he made sense with AD. However at that time; I thought Dalton and 2 FRP was an overpay. So you can imagine my thoughts on 2 FRP and 32M per.

 

On another note. I wonder what the Clippers plan on doing with Mathurin. I like him better than Kuminga.

 

Lakers 100% bid with themselves thus overpaying.

 

Stay tuned for Kuminga for 20M per and 3 2nd rd picks.

 

If it's a S&T, it's a 3 year minimum yeah? Player Option in year 3 loading.

 

Man...Vando and Jake are the only defensive effort guys we have on the wings. Yet it's a "great move" to trade them for another shoot first offensive player?

We must think that Kessler, is a Wemby clone on defense or something.

 

he developed neuropathy from them that has been "managed" - he's a high IQ player but honestly it's like watching those Ents from LOTR move with him.

 

We have the following guys we could look to trade:

Bronny: 2.3m
Knecht: 4.2m
Hardy: 6m
Jake: 6m
Vando: 12.4m

This is what the trade scenarios look like in terms of money we can take back:

• Outgoing salary of <$9.1M, we can take back 200% + 250k, up to $18.45M.
  
  
• Outgoing salary between $9.1M and $35M, we can take back equal salary + $9.1M. Anywhere from $18.2m to $44.1m.
  
  

 

Trading Scenarios

Scenario - 1 Player going out

• Bronny: $4.85m
• Knecht: $8.65m
• Hardy/Jake: $12.25m
• Vando: $21.5m

Scenario - 2 Players going out

• Bronny + Knecht: $13.25m
• Bronny + Jake/Hardy: $17.4m
• Knecht + Jake/Hardy: $19.3m
• Jake + Hardy: $21.1m
  
• Bronny + Vando: $23.8m
  
• Knecht + Vando: $25.7m
  
• Hardy/Jake + Vando: $27.5m

Scenario - 3 Players going out

• Bronny + Knecht + Jake/Hardy: $21.6m
• Knecht + Jake + Hardy: $25.3m
• Bronny + Knecht + Vando: $28m
• Knecht + Hardy/Jake + Vando: $31.7m
• Hardy + Jake + Vando: $33.5m

I can't see us doing a 4 or 5 player out trade. So we can take anywhere from $5m to $33.5m.

That takes us up all the way to the range of players like Suggs, Dejounte Murray, Aaron Gordon.

Right now we're 13.8m under the first apron.

Would the Magic take Hardy, Jake & Vando + a swap and two seconds for Suggs (32.4m)? Elite POA defender, moves Grimes to the bench. We would still have Bronny + Knecht to trade to take back about 11m in salary.

Would Dallas trade PJ Washington (19.8m) for Jake + Hardy + seconds? Or Knecht + Vando?

It seems it's going to be Kuminga for Vando + Knecht for the mid 20 millions.

 

I’m really looking forward to watching the Lakers in Summer League this year. For me, the biggest thing is seeing which young players can actually show something that might help the main roster later.

Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr are probably the two names I’m watching the closest. Summer League is not always about wins and losses, but I do think it tells us a lot about energy, confidence, defensive effort, decision-making, and who looks comfortable with the speed of the game.

I’m also interested to see how the Lakers use these games before the regular season conversation starts. Sometimes one good Summer League run can change how fans look at a player, especially if he shows defense, shooting, or the ability to play within a team role.

I was checking the Lakers schedule here for the upcoming games and dates:
https://losangeleslakersschedule.us/

Who do you guys think has the best chance to impress this summer? Thiero, Carr, or someone else on the roster?

 

Well....I'm guessing that they can flip Mathurin and Dunn for him.