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

All good points honestly. I expect him to have a training camp invite somewhere and then if he sticks, it probably means he is healthy - if he doesn't, he probably isn't.

Because the things a healthy Simmons (not the All Star, DPOY runner up but the 30 year old) can do on the court even today, is a rotation player. He'd be able to defend 3-5, take down 6+ rebounds and move the ball for 6+ assists. He is a 6/6/6/2 stocks guy if healthy.

 

The reality is Walker and Austin has to work out. If not Lakers can b

agreed. IMO as is Lakers should be decent in have court. I think the in the open floor not so great. I think Ben gives them that option of having an athletic small ball big that can defend multiple positions finish at the rim and also act as the quarter back on such plays. No one expect him to be the star he once was. I to think he can be a good rotational player

 

That could explain at least part of the reason why we seem so determined to have the full non-tax payer MLE next season, and the reluctance to commit too much to Kuminga or a Washington. A player like Kuminga very well could be a mutually-beneficial short-term stop-gap at the 4. Helps him earn a larger contract in 27-28 and allows us to pursue Watson. Rob seems to possibly be coordinating something with Watson. There are a lot of tea leaves. Denver very likely will not trade with us directly, so he would have to sign the qualifying offer if he wants to be a Laker. Unless he agrees to play with some random team that he doesn't really want to play for, but maybe said team might be thinking ahead- about possibly flipping him to us and getting assets- unlikley but you never know. But usually in this situation for a player seeking their first contract, securing the bag is generally the number one priority.

 

i somehow missed svtzr's good projection post.

only thing i'd say is that i feel like we could just trade for kuminga on a salary close to next year's mle and be in similar boat.

a lot of it comes down to how you value watson/kuminga. most seem to have watson much higher, but i'm not as positive about that. statistically, kuminga's been better, so you have to be putting a lot of stock into watson having a higher ceiling or kuminga being an offcourt problem.

i am genuinely fascinated by our weird positioning for a few extra million in apron wiggle room next year, though. can't be for nothing. one other avenue (other than a pre-arranged mle with watson) would be adding kuminga on a vet min this year and giving him 1+1 mle next year, after which he could opt out with early bird rights and get to that 20+m per figure he wants.

 

Soooo Walter is already selling?

 

MAd

Don't know if this a good thing for Lakers fans or the organization. Walter's made some money!!

 

flipped the Lakers for a cool 2 Bil profit in a year? Not bad.

 

I wonder how many of these plugged in NBA "insders", are going to come out saying that they heard about this Lakers sale, but just sat on the information. These people know nothing.

 

21 Gun Salute.

 

One less brick to worry about

 

One of the greatest dynamic and iron man guards in nba history. Enjoy retirement my guy.

 

If laker sales are true I stand correct. Lakers will not be the Jerry Buss Lakers everyone hope they will be.everyone thought Walter group was in it to win it.?and don't see the business side. NBA can't run like baseball. The Buss brothers will be even more mad with Jennie Buss.

 

always hated him and that hate became 100000x worse after his time here. will never forget all those shots that hit the side of the backboard and the crowd begging him not to shoot

 

One less brick in the wall!!

 

The NBA should’ve never allowed this. And it’s suspicious as f*** that Walter sold them this quick. I’m pretty blindsided. Have no idea what this means about this team. One thing about Ballmer we know where the money is. Iger and Kushner. Kushner as in Jared Kushner who’s father was trying to blackmail his brother on tape.? So we’re essentially owned by the Trumps? Not gonna get political but it’s kind of head scratching. Didn’t see it coming.

feels like Mark Stabbed me in the back. Wait you want us but you don’t want us. Buisness is buisness but f***???

what does this mean for my team? See I’m a little old myself I know when Fox bought the Dodgers the cluster**** it was. Good move Lebron. Silver get on your knees. You have no spine. Have it Lakers fans. I’ll support but I don’t know what it is. Why persue Kuminga when you’re trying to sale a team?

was it that bad? And what’s up with his investigation? He took the Dodgers to the White House he must have been dealing. Does Jeanie run the Lakers????

 

Jennie still run the Lakers. Her brothers are out. But she now has to answer to the owners and can't do as she pleases like before. But I am sure as long as it's not costing them money they will be ok with it

 

after russ's first year here, i was hoping he'd opt out of his last year and sign a low money deal for more years. in retrospect, that probably would have been bad for us, but maybe better for him. the end of his career was pretty sad to me. just didn't age gracefully and couldn't accept reality.