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

My reasoning: he and Kleber are the most expendable expirings with some cash behind them. I don't think we move Rui unless it really goes off the rails between now and June or/ and a much better two way SF unexpectedly becomes available.

I don't see the need to pay $11m for Gabe's role or for the 4th best ball handler. He's had a three month stretch of Miami adjacent play but now might be re-slumping.

Ty Jones, Schroeder, CP3, Dinwiddie are all minimum options this summer. I like all of them better at that price than i do Gabe at his price (if he wins a playoff game for us, which i could see, I'll eat crow on that) . I'd really like to make it up to Spencer and bring him back. 3 level scorer if you need that from him or will dig in and defend. Also I'll never not half expect a CP and Bron team up until one of them retires. Also wouldn't be surprised if we give Goodwin a regular spot next year either and he can handle a bit.

Then there's the fact that i just don't think Gabe is in our long term plans. I don't think we re-up him and if we're not, letting that salary slot walk in the following off season is a mistake.

Flipping the 4th best at his best thing for someone who'd be the best at at something else and would be a starter is a win.

 

I'd have to see what actually happened in the playoffs, before serioulsy musing on roster moves. At the moment I think that Hayes, is going to probaby get cooked in a playoffs series, by any halfway decent big. I mean he's on a vet minimum contract for a reason. That being said, it might not matter though, at the end of the day.

 

I think Jaxson is a keeper. Jokic is the only player that is concerning but no replacement C is going to slow him down anyway. Other contenders rely heavily on scoring from the perimeter so having quick feet matter more than mass. I honestly think Jaxson is a better fit for this team than Mark Williams so we dodged a bullet there. A POA defender is probably a bigger need.

 

On things that won’t stop

 

...i mean, maybe for a one-off champion...

omg, shut up, man.

anyway, it seems like college is more for him. i thought his wife's comment about playing (and losing) more games was an interesting one. you definitely have a lot more control over that at the college level (you can recruit and you have more authority and control of the team and the players in general), and it's easier to win the majority of your games--especially when you play in a weaker conference like uconn does.

guessing if luka was already in the fold, he'd have taken the job here, and we'd probably be worse off for it. another bullet dodged.

 

I think him staying was a win win

but I guess while his wife was in CA she found a plastic surgeon. Not a fan of the plastic whether it's lips or anything else. All natural all day every day.

 

yeah, i refrained from comment, but i also wonder if both he and she prefer being big fish in small ponds.

 

Definitely seems that way. I don't think NBA players would put up with his antics well at the next level. Saved everyone a lot of headaches by him staying.

 

Is a 37 year old KD getting three firsts from anyone? I'd be shocked.

I mean OKC has 400 round picks, so if they wanted to (and I don't think they do) they could trade three late firsts and it wouldn't really mean much in terms of assets given up.

 

They are high if that ask is real.
The dude maybe has two seasons left, unless he goes down with an injury.

 

Houston and OKC have a ton of picks make sense he goes them

 

i don't see why okc, who's a first place team, would move the salary necessary. they don't currently have bad salary, and i wouldn't give up any of their high dollar players for durant.

houston is an easy fit, imo. and if i were memphis, i'd give up bane, who'd probably be the highest-level talent that anyone would move for durant at this point, right?

 

It all worked out for the best. I still think Hurley is a very good coach, but he's a college personality. He seems a bit thin-skinned, which you can't be if you want to coach the Lakers.

 

missed this, but the role gabe fills for me isn't ballhandler, it's switchable perimeter defender. the guys you named are all pretty much defensive liabilities.

btw, for some reason i only recently discovered this:

https://www.bball-index.com/lebron-application/

which could be very helpful when thinking about FA/trade targets.

claxton does look good here, but actually, jaxson hayes looks about as good this year.

 

... I actually thought they were pretty respectful toward the team and the opportunity presented but it just wasn't for him. Didn't see that as anti-Laker at all honestly. Los Angeles absolutely is not for everyone.

I will say that my perspective on all this has changed. Take it for what it's worth as I'm not plugged in, but someone I know who is pretty plugged in is VERY convinced that the whole Woj conspiracy angle is true. Isn't even convinced he actually came to LA.

In the end though, things worked out for all involved so it what it is. Just seemed like them honestly answering the reporters question to me though.

 

That's a really useful tool, I've also never seen it until now. I do think two-headed monster at center should be the model. Hayes + another roll/cut mobile big. Gives us 20 minutes per game or so of solid play at center, with maybe 8 or so minutes of small-ball. That can be adjusted to particular opponents. Looking at the list ranked by D-LEBRON, I'm not sure the Mavs will keep Gafford around with Lively, AD and Washington. Maybe he can be pried away if Nico isn't too embarrassed to deal with us again. I've always thought Duren was a pipe dream because why would Detroit trade a guy like that just as they're getting good, but Stewart is rated even higher (defensively) and can theoretically space the floor (although he's barely shot threes this year).

 

i've been banging the stewart drum for a while now. and honestly, i'm not sure koloko can't be your second hayes with another year/summer of development.

paul reed is a guy who i think fits what we have liked to do lately, too. i think jsm mentioned him before. i wasn't as high on him when we were bruiser mode, but i'm not sure we are anymore.