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

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by TIME, Jun 14, 2026.

  1. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
    Messages:
    12,064
    Likes Received:
    12,081
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Everybody healthy?No.. I admire the optimism but our top 3, is not better than theirs IMO. Role players..they have more talent.

    We have a Luka..that's our advantage, but Young, AD and Sarr closes the gap over Reaves and Kessler.

    We aren't top 3, top 6 hopefully..Washington is definitely top 6 or better in the East.
     
    VincePT and svtzr like this.
  2. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
    Messages:
    12,064
    Likes Received:
    12,081
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Luka has plenty of excuses with this roster IMO. You haven't thought of, just how ugly Luka at PF, next to Kessler is going to look on defense...YET.

    Walker aint AD, Gobert, or Gafford for that matter, when it comes to having to move his feet on D, and still be effective. That's the problem with him, and that's why he's been on the trading block, since his sophomore season. He's great at dropping coverage and standing in front of the basket. However if you force him to move laterally in any direction, he's toast. How do we expect him to compensate for Luka, when his guy gets by him? I'm sure every team on our schedule, is licking their chops, thinking about running P&R action against Luka and Kessler.

    We don't have the wings, to press the ball strong enough, to limit the penetration, in order to help them out either.

    Right now we are all offense with a stop gap at 5. Potential entertaining group, but not a contender. If we had an AD type at 5..that's another story, but we don't.
     
    svtzr likes this.
  3. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

    Top Poster Of Month

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Messages:
    4,999
    Likes Received:
    14,813
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I think Luka is the best player but Washington might have us after that.

    Luka > Dybantsa
    Reaves >= Trae
    Kessler =< AD
    Grimes < George
    Mamu < Sarr
    Sexton = Tre
    Carr =< Coulibaly
    Jake < Ayton
    Hardy < Champagnie
    Knecht < Riley
    Vando < Middleton
    Adou < Whitmore
    Bronny < Bub

    Don’t sleep on the wizards. They’re starting 5 is tough and they’ve got a lot of guys who will develop on that team.
     
    Slick2021 likes this.
  4. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

    Top Poster Of Month

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Messages:
    4,999
    Likes Received:
    14,813
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I tend to agree. Some issues I have with this team:

    - We don’t have a finishing 5 that works. Sexton is probably too weak defensively? Kessler could get played off the floor - Gobert, Clingan, Allen, iHart do at times too. So we have Reaves, Luka and Grimes, who else right now?

    - Everyone needs to play out of their skin to be a contender. Luka needs to be in MVP form and maybe the best player in the world. Reaves needs to become a legit second option and an All Star. Kessler needs to be DPOY level and not get played off the floor. Grimes needs to become a third option and primary POA defender. We need a 5th starter still. And most likely we need one of Carr, Adou or Jake to become a top 8 rotation player. It’s a lot to ask from everyone.

    - Defensively, how are we going to be a top 10 defense? We don’t have strong POA or wing defence right now…

    - Health: if you lose Kessler, Luka or Reaves for 20+ games we are probabaly in the play in.

    Ultimately this looks like a good step forward, but it’ll take time to build everything out and we aren’t a contender yet. If we had more talent like Smart and Lebron with this team, I think we’d be a contender with:

    Luka / Sexton / Bronny
    Reaves / Smart
    Grimes / Carr / Adou
    Lebron / Jake / Vando
    Kessler / Mamu / Looney
     
    Slick2021 likes this.
  5. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
    Messages:
    12,064
    Likes Received:
    12,081
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    We move forward with what we have, and hope it all clicks. JJ doesn't want to play a big period IMO; Which makes giving up soo much for Kessler a head scratcher. He shoots in the 50% at the FT stripe too. Between the hack a Kessler strategy on one end, and the P&R targeting on the other....I don't see him in the closing lineup frequently.
     
    LakeShowAZ and svtzr like this.
  6. wallangong

    wallangong - Lakers 6th Man -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    1,961
    Likes Received:
    6,075
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Online
    I’m not just sleeping on the Wizards, I’m hibernating. If they finish with a better record than the Lakers, I’ll ban myself for the 2027-2028 season.
     
    abeer3 and tada like this.
  7. pika1708

    pika1708 - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2020
    Messages:
    4,286
    Likes Received:
    8,467
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Online
    With Memphis getting Post, maybe we can grab Stewart for the 2nds
     
  8. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2014
    Messages:
    4,797
    Likes Received:
    9,595
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Online
    Wait, you think AD, Trey and Sarr is better than Luka, AR and Kessler?

    #1 player
    Luka is widely considered a Top 3 player in the league.
    AD has played 29 games in thr past 2 years. He's probably like Top 15 or 20 to start the season, being generous?

    #2 player
    AR vs Trey Young
    Young got salary dumped. That should tell you all you need to know.

    #3 player
    Kessler was considered a Top 20 center to start last year.
    Sarr is ranked as a Top 25 to 35 center in the league.

    What's your argument for preferring the Wizard's 3 players?
     
    wallangong likes this.
  9. ldawg

    ldawg - Rookie -

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2026
    Messages:
    585
    Likes Received:
    356
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Online
    We have two of the leagues top 5 foul artist. Wizards may struggle with health. I to Thought Dallas was going to be OK but nope. I will say They have the potential to be good if healthy.
     
  10. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2014
    Messages:
    4,797
    Likes Received:
    9,595
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Online
    Did you just compare Luka to a rookie?

    I will ban myself as well if they have a better record than us.
     
    wallangong likes this.
  11. ldawg

    ldawg - Rookie -

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2026
    Messages:
    585
    Likes Received:
    356
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Online
    i agree with AD health but i think Young is better than AR. The one thing you have to keep in mind is AR always played with at least 2 players better than himself. Young never did and is the better floor general.
     

Share This Page