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

yeah I went over this a few pages back. The NG means you have to waive them, exposing them to being picked up on the undesirable contract and temporarily losing bird rights.

 

Correct. But again, unless I'm missing something (and that's possible, this new cba is the worst thing that happened to the NBA and anyone interested in how s*** works) that still essentially can make it a one year deal?

If year two is not guaranteed and we waive him, he hits the market and can try again at getting $20m+ (fire up Morgan Freeman Dark Knight "good luck" gif).

I've always looked at this path with him as a rental and a stop gap. Then we use the NTPMLE (that we're trying to line up) next summer for the actual longer term piece. I don't have any interest in being in the Kuminga and Kuminga camp business long term. It's a temporary marriage of convenience.

We don't have a starting PF and we have have one. If you're using up assets to get them, that sucks but when the alternative is not taking this season seriously... that's the corner you're in with the other moves you've made. Still has to be done. And if you manage to shed Vando in the process, that alone is worth burning through those 2nd rounders.

 

thybulle signing hasn't been finalized yet?

 

This. Kuminga is not the cleanest fit, but he is a guy that could play the 4, catch some lobs, maybe hit some threes and defend a bit. Rebound decently. Ceiling is he accepts a role, but I wouldn't hold my breath. But exactly what you said, he would be a stop gap.

Lakers might be saying, sure we will pay you 3 years starting at 20 million per year, but only the first year will be guaranteed. Either that or accept 3 years / 45 million with a player option after the 2nd season. The latter would be more easily movable if he didn't wokr out.

 

Lakers vs 76ers will be nice

 

really frustrating that a team can take a chance on a player, player does well, wants to stay with the team that gave him the chance but nope not going to happen with the wya the CBA is structures.

teams should be rewarded for finding and developing players

 

he f***ed up on Rui with Kaminga. He took a risk and got burned. Kuzma is always a fallback or Bey. But they would want a kings ransom.

 

Lakers vs 76ers saved for Christmas.

 

I haven’t seen much credible stuff reported on Gafford. Some talking heads said he could be an option, but that’s only because fans think Mamu and Looney aren’t good enough as backups.

Fischer reported today we haven’t had any talks with Dallas so far since free agency started.

I honestly think we’re standing pat.

 

Wow, people are really piling on now.

 

I’ve seen quite the number of Denver fans that want to retain Spencer and Cam over Watson.

A lot of them are saying Spencer can be one of the best defenders in the league, and already takes and knocks down high pressure 3’s. If his offensive game develops a little more they think he is as good as Watson.

And there’s a strong contingent that believe they should of traded Murray, Gordon and Braun for parts while building around: Spencer at the 2, Cam at the 3 and Watson at the 4 with Joker at Center. Surely they could of got a good secondary ball handler trading Murray, Gordon and Braun.

 

Don’t Boo LeBron when he comes back. I really hope Lakers fans don’t boo him.

 

I'm liking this from our good friend.

Reading this I started thinking that Thybulle might actual start. He is best deployed against opponents best lineups, so he may start and close each half so he's maximized against the best opponents lineup.
He should also play the most minutes with Luka/AR together because 1) he's basic offensively so you want him with both of them where he's only asked to shoot and 2) he's the one that can get the most pressure off them on defense

He would still play the 15-20min a night, they'd just happen always with the starting group.
It makes more sense to have Ziaire, Jake, Mamu in bench lineups with only one of Luka/AR, as they are more polished offensively and we'll need them to do a bit more on that end

 

Signed

Free agent forward Matisse Thybulle has agreed on one-year, $3.3 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN.

 

i think if you view kuminga as a rental, you might as well not pursue it, tbh. and maybe that's what the lowball offer that keeps being reported is about? a one-year rental of a young player who's already mad about their compensation (and, imo, has gotten a bit screwed by being sort of a rental in a win-now situation) just isn't a great idea.

i don't view kuminga that way, though. i'd want him as a long-term piece.

there's no real money for watson, so denver could just shave some money off braun somewhere and keep watson on the QO as a nuclear option.

 

Our pitch to him was Monk. If that is coming out of our mouth, we'll selling him on rehab and cash out after showcasing himself in an elevated role next to Luka. Previously he was in a two timeline team and then went to a Hawks team where they're stacked at a position.

Look at what we're paying for half season rentals of DFS and Luke. Full season rental at the same price or less while moving dead weight (regardless of who it is) is a winning move.

 

Overseas reporting is always a little unreliable, but if there's anything to this that means Kuminga isn't going there.