2024-25 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

DLo plus trash? I’m in

 

I put top 20 but the 0 didn't take.

I imagine DFS will have a market, so maybe it takes top 15. Not many teams can interested have the expirings we have, so I think that's our point of leverage.

I'd eventually start DFS over Rui and Rui takes over the DLO role of bench scorer.

AD/Jonan/Sharpe
Bron/Rui
DFS/Reddish/DK
Christie/FA/Bronny
AR/Gabe

DFS and Max bring enough defense and athleticism to elevate the team to where it needs to be with this group.

JJ can mix and match some lineups with the Cs, getting each some burn, including two big looks. But the key is similar to the year we had McGee and D12, there's nights one of them gets a DNP and then there's nights one of them is pivotal to the win.

Best of all you have at least 11 NBA level players.

*add Fultz or Dennis Smith Jr

 

when there was no extension, this was certainly happening. and with no free agents for riley to (illegally) pre-negotiate with, my guess is he's moved.

 

Looking at his list of preferred teams and his current salary, I’m not seeing realistic options that make it worthwhile for Miami without gutting the team he goes to - with the exception of Houston. There’s potential for a deal there that works for both sides, but I’m just not seeing it with the rest of his list.

Either way, Jimmy went from being a dawg to a pussycat IMO. Declining, oft-injured free agent-to-be demands trade to front runners. Not a fan.

 

If he hits FA as a buy low option this summer, sure. I'm not giving up anything for him right now though.

 

Okay, this could be the trade:

Lakers get: Cam Johnson, Clarkson, and Sharpe

Nets get: Russell, JHS, Wood, 2031 unprotected 1st (Lakers), and 2025 unprotected Cavs 1st (Jazz)

Jazz get: Vincent, Hayes, Lewis, 2027 top 4 protection removed on Lakers 1st, 2025 Lakers 2nd, 2025 Clippers 2nd, and the Lakers 2027 2nd round pick.

Lakers get a near-perfect compliment for Lebron/AD/Reaves/Max in the starting line-up in Johnson. Lakers also get a 6th man in Clarkson to replace Dlo, and a big-bulky back-up center in Sharpe, who could help with rebounding. Lakers potentially put off rebuild until after the 2026-2027 season, so it doesn't matter if the the protection is removed in this case. Maybe logical to keep winning, rather than thread the needle at that point to get a top 4 pick.

Nets want exipring contracts and two first-round picks for Johnson, and they achieve this in this trade, only having to add Sharpe for balance in order to receive their desired package.

Jazz covet the Lakers future draft picks. Having the top-4 protection removed for the 2027 1st that is owed to them is a huge plus. They also get two second-round picks in the upcoming draft in exchange for the Cavs 1st, which should be in the late 20s and the 2027 Lakers 2nd round pick. Jazz also benefit by swapping Clarkson for Vincent. Both signed for two years, but Clarkson gets paid about 3 million more per year, and contributes to winning more for them, which is bad for their tanking efforts. It would be easier to tank with Gabe than Clarkson. From the Lakers perspective, this trade would preferably be done without this additional swap, since arguably Gabe @ 11 million > Clarkson @ 14 million playing strictly as the back-up point guard. But Lakers might need to give Jazz additional incentive to participate in this trade.

 

The Shams comment seems to point to Cam Johnson. He is 28 years old, so 28,29,30,31,32 makes sense. Pure shooters like him are also plug and play, so there would be no conflict with any future incoming players either. Cam's style of play would also seem to fit Reave's style of play really well too, which makes sense for both the short-term, and the post-Lebron era. We saw how GREAT the Lakers looked when Dalton was draining all those threes. Cam Johnson gives us another Dalton, but more polished, without the rookie wall, and as an added bonus, a better defender than Dalton.

 

LOL @ The Bulls wanting picks for Lonzo. Hate to say it but Lonzo isn’t even worth a second right now, he’s still missing a ton of games and he can leave at the end of the season.

I originally would have wanted to try to get Vucevic from the Bulls. I think he would fit well next to AD, capable post defender, rebounder, and has an offensive game. The downside is if the Lakers are suddenly prioritizing players who can play under Redick for 3-4 years, Walker Kessler would be tye better answer but he would also cost more in terms of trade capital and picks.

 

Reddick also said that he doesn't like to pair two non-shooting bigs. With that said, Kessler's contract lines up with Lebron's retirement. So, in theory if we trade AD that season, we would also have Kessler's bird-rights, so we would be able to sign him as our long-term center. But in the short term (1.5 years or so), Kessler would only be AD's back up. I am not sure of the feasibility of that.

 

Cam Johnson fits this window perfectly.

 

Damn,Luka is injured .Left calf sprain.He is becoming a new Zion .

Depending on the severity of Doncic's calf, a multi-week to month-long absence could be expected. Doncic has dealt with five separate incidents of lower body injuries since training camp
Minnesota up by 17 at half time

 

Lakers don't need to include Reaves in trade.Dlo,Rui and Vanderbilt for Lavine will work just fine

 

chicago's hilarious, man. if i were an opposing gm at this point, i'd probably just prank call them with trade offers like the ones they expect.

it's doubly funny that they want picks for ball on an expiring but got no picks and took on a bust in giddey in the caruso dump. he was your best asset, you dolts!

 

Lakers get: Johnson/Sharpe/2031 Jazz 2nd (top-55 protected)

Jazz get: Hayes/Lewis/protection removed from 2027 1st/2029 Nets 2nd/2025 Lakers 2nd/2030 Lakers 2nd

Nets get: Russell/JHS/Wood/2026 Lakers 1st round pick swap/2031 Lakers 1st (unprotected)/2025 Cavs 1st (Jazz)

The emergence of Max Christie as a potential long-term point-of-attack defender at one of the wing positions, combined with Dalton Knecht hitting the rookie wall, seems to possibly have helped the Lakers narrow down their trade candidate pursuit. Instead of prioritizing a point-of-attack defender who can also spread the floor, maybe now they appear to be focusing on adding a high-volume three-point shooter who won’t hurt them on defense, like Cam Johnson.

In my opinion, Johnson could be a great fit for the team. His age aligns well with the 3-to-5-year timeline that has been mentioned, and his three-year contract fits within the Lakers’ projected win-now window of 2024–2025, 2025–2026, and 2026–2027. After that, the Lakers could shift into a tanking window from 2027–2028 through 2029–2030, aiming to rebuild and start showing improvement again by the time they have to convey their pick to Brooklyn in 2031. This strategy theoretically ensures the Lakers won’t lose a potential lottery pick, as the 2026 pick-swap would likely be a low-first, assuming the team performs well in the short term. Adding a player like Johnson might address their need for perimeter shooting while maintaining defensive versatility, which feels like a smart adjustment to their trade strategy.

 

Could also be done with LaVine, only without the picks.

 

I wouldn’t even give up Gabe for him. That’s how much interest I have in Lonzo.