2025-26 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by TIME, Jun 24, 2025.

  1. SmoothOperator

    SmoothOperator - Lakers 6th Man -

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    upload_2025-10-1_21-7-2.png

    I don't hate the idea of Brooks. He's always been one of those players you hate when he plays against you, but end up loving when he's on your team.... much like Metta World Peace and Matt Barnes.

    I would hope the Lakers front office tries to pitch this trade sometime by the trade deadline when the Suns realize they are still a NBA Play-In candidate at best and decide to try to reset their salaries (considering they have been in luxury tax hell for the past several years). They would be incentivize to do this to get off some longer term salary (Brooks and O'Neal) while getting our expiring contracts. If they do the trade, they would basically be left with $135 million in salary (mostly to Booker, Jalen Green, Grayson Allen) by next summer.

    This might end up being a depth pipe dream for the Lakers because if the Suns agree to it, we would have 2 very good 3&D swingmen in Brooks and O'Neale. O'Neale's $10 mil is actually very reasonable too for his skillset and age. We would also get Center depth with Nick Richards who's a expiring contract that the Suns would most likely let walk next summer anyways, and the return of Jordan Goodwin.

    The depth chart would ultimately end up like:
    Luka/Smart/Bronny
    Reaves/LaRavia/Goodwin
    Brooks/O'Neale/Knect
    Lebron/Vanderbilt/Thiero
    Ayton/Richards/Hayes

    What's not to like about that?
     
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  2. CarolinaLakerFan

    CarolinaLakerFan - Lakers Starter -

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    Brooks and LaRavia are essentially the same type of player. Brooks can’t defend 1’s-2’s and that’s our glaring weakness.
     
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  3. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Rookie -

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    Team is pretty much set.
     
  4. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Rookie -

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    We’ll see Friday against the Suns.
     
  5. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Rookie -

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    Gianiss hasn’t given any indication that he’s staying in Milwaukee any!!!!! Joker was more adamant about Denver.

    But Gianiss said in Greece and saying international players should be in Big Markets he could definitely bolt here. That’s what that was about and him playing with Luka.

    When LeBron comes off the books that should happen. But Gianiss is Bolting this season after this season book it for L.A.


    shoe deal might have something to do with it. With Nike.

    they wanna get that LeBron star out here. Even though Luka is with Jordan Brand.
     
  6. showtime24

    showtime24 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    Maybe after December 15, Lakers could trade Kleber + 2031 1st (top-8 protected) to the 76rs for Grimes and Gordon?
     
  7. FrontOfJersey22

    FrontOfJersey22 - Lakers All Star -

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    We still need a real POA defender at guard. I would also like to replace Hayes with a real backup big.
    Maybe Gabe can hold down the fort and make enough shots until the trade deadline?
    I’m hoping LaRavia can level up enough throughout the season so we can then trade Rui later on for said defender. You guys know I like Hachi, but he and Knecht(after he improves his stock value)seem like the most valuable trade pieces.
     
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  8. Astros

    Astros - Rookie -

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    This essentially makes the Lakers a 15 man deep squad
     
  9. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers MVP -

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    Young H Town gotta level up this season, the reward will be a fat payday. A lot of teams will have some cap space this summer. Time to "show and prove", that last season wasn't a fluke!
     
  10. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    I'm looking forward to "souped up" Jackson Hayes. He's going to have his best year yet this year just like a lot of the other guys on the team. All hugely motivated for team and chip .... sure. But they ALL also have literal career years going on at the same time. That is crazy. A souped up Hayes isn't even a joke here. He says he put 15lbs on and exaggerated or not it will be added strength for him to go with the more spectacular plays he's capable of making. In his correct position having his opponents being off the bench too rather than legit starters.
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2025 at 7:06 PM
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  11. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers MVP -

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    Jaxson outperformed his contract last season . That's all you can wish for, from a guy on a minimum contract.
     
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  12. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Rookie -

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    And you know how this goes. And now go watch him average 22 points and 6 assists for the Mavericks.
     
  13. pika1708

    pika1708 - Lakers Starter -

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    I think you need to temper your expectations. It's unlikely Hayes plays more than 12 minutes a game
     
  14. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    If he's noticeably better due to some extra strength, any level of improvement really, for those 12 minutes it's something to look forward to. As opposed to saying wish we had a decent or real backup center. He will be.
     
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  15. showtime24

    showtime24 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    This team might end up doing really well. Rui is a "nice" shooter, and I'm fine with signing him to an extension at a "discount". But, I think we would be better off trying to turn him into a two-way POA defender. Although Vando is showing early on that he might be that guy, with an improved 3-point shot, he is still only a 24 minute per game player, and there are questions marks regarding Smart's health. Even if it's not trading Rui directly for said two-way POA defender. For example, perhaps, mid-season, Gabe + Kleber +2031 1st maybe could be flipped for said player. At that point, Rui could also be sent out for 2nd round picks, or just let walk after the season, or kept, depending on payroll concerns.
     
  16. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    My comments yesterday about having a rare Japanese NBA player who is popular and actually quite good on the Lakers, I'm "guessing" isn't a non factor for marketing Lakers gear, advertising and interest in Japan with Jeanie and Mark Walters who has multiple such players on the Dodgers ..... have no value towards that decision?
     
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  17. showtime24

    showtime24 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    No, I think it could be a factor. Demographics data might suggest that. It really could be a win-win for both parties, if handled properly. I heard some media person was suggesting Rui's value is at a deal starting at 26 million. Imo, I don't think that is accurate. He is a nice complementary shooter, who takes advantage of his open looks. He is also very good at the mid-range (not overly relevant imo), and he dunks the ball with ease. He is a decent offensive player. I would say that he is a weaker defensive version of P.J. Washington on a Luka led team. PJ just signed a 4 year extension that pays 19.8 million in season one. As stated, PJ is a better defensive player than Rui, with a career DBPM of 0.0, compared to Rui's -1.1. PJ is also a better rebounder, with 6.9 per 36, compared to 6.1 per 36, for Rui. PJ is more perimeter oriented though, and he is still a better rebounder, which is telling. They are however, pretty close with their offensive game, although it can be argues PJ has a greater body of work, particularly with constancy. Rui has ascended though, the past couple years. The differences in their defensive game is significant, no question about that. I am not sure what that is worth in terms of dollars per year, but I think it is fair to say, at this point, a fair contract for Rui would be in the 14-18 million range. He may take less to stay with the Lakers due to loving L.A., and the other opportunities that come with it. I'm down to bring back Rui, just don't really want to break the bank for him though.
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2025 at 11:24 AM
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  18. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    yeah, if pj's deal sets the market, rui needs to come in under that, imo. washington is a very versatile on both ends, whereas rui is fairly versatile on offense but not so much defensively.

    i think rui makes about what he should right now (upper teens per--above MLE, below full-time starter money).
     
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  19. KuzmoBall17

    KuzmoBall17 - Lakers All Star -

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    Luka is not playing
    Nothing to watch
     
  20. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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