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

Rob needs to pick up the phone and call Washington. They’ve got several young athletes like Coulibaly, Kispert, Whitmore and Champagnie that would be good pickups without breaking the bank or mortgaging the farm.

 

can the bucks hire nico first?

 

We really don’t do well exposing our trade intentions see the disastrous AD midseason attempted trade or even the eventual consummated trade. It’s better to operate in the shadows like our previous blockbuster trades

 

lol

 

lol is right

 

I don't blame him. You don't want to go out like this in your final season


Curious to see who gives him a shot after Clipps cut him loose. Mavs?

 

post of the season.

 

You know Bucs would ask for

LeBron

Ayton

Reaves

Luka

for

Gianiss.

lol. NBA like Lakers will never get over in a trade again. Even Sam Presti thinks that’s a lot.

 

?

 

What I'm wondering is who do we have to give up in a trade for Herb Jones. Feels like Vando's time is over with us, and it's sad, because I'm such a fan of guys who play D like him. He's also really smart. But hey, it's a business.

Who else goes?

 

Bill Simmons would firebomb Adam Silvers house if this happened

 

I told y’all Austin Reaves is him.

Chanel your Jerry West Kobe Bryant Magic Johnson

he is Jerry West Kobe Bryant Magic Johnson.

homegrown Laker superstar.

We may very well have another Jokic. Second round Gem s*** undrafted unheard of.

I wouldn’t trade this guy for anybody.

I told y’all when Luka doesn’t play he puts up Luka numbers. With ball dominant Luka and ball dominant Lebron. This guy averages 30 points a game.

I told y’all in the off season he can be our Jalen Williams.

He carried us. He can do it all for us.

Dallas must be stunned they didn’t get him for Luka.

 

You are new here, so you get a pass regarding the first line.
Many of us here have been huge AR supporters since day one. We haven’t needed anyone to tell us anything about the kid- we’ve witnessed every single game of his in the Purple and Gold.
Carry on.

 

Not referring to you. You can see my post before the regular season started. I was laughed at because I said Austin Reaves is him he’s Jerry West Magic Johnson Kobe Bryant. Don’t be afraid to be it. He can be great and is great. He’s putting up Kobe numbers. That’s due to hard work. But wearing that Laker jersey with pride. As you know we like our own developed players who come thru the organization. So I was pointing it out because I believe in the kid.

 

Shai worked his a** off and developed. Developed his game. And became a superstar. I see Austin as Shai. He can get to his spot. Hes not the two way defender Shai is. But he can run an offense. And he does it to perfection. Like the kid was watching tape of James Harden and just figured out how to do it. Seeing where he came from being undrafted. Two way Contract. This is incredible. Yes it’s another Jokic.

 

I know I’m in the minority but I wouldn’t trade Austin Reaves for Gianiss.

 

Austin is great, I've been a fan from day 1 and will gladly admit he exceeded my expectations, vastly. That being said, he's NOT anywhere near Kobe, West or Magic. Just... no. You are talking some of the absolutely best basketball players ever here, not just Lakers.

I will admit this is a better comp than Ayton and Shaq though .

 

IMO, Reaves was always capable of this. The Lakers just kept playing him as a 4th or 5th option behind Russ, Monk, etc., Some of us were making the case that he should have been 2nd option behind LeBron instead of AD because every time AD got the ball, it was a dumb midrange stepback or he would hold onto the ball and flop to the basket.

We just didn't expect MVP-level type performances from him.

Also, I think Nick Smith Jr. deserves a ton of credit. He hasn't gotten consistent minutes but plays really well when he gets his shot. I think he should be getting more playing time than Knecht or Vincent, to be honest. He reminds me a lot of Nick Young with how he can score the ball. Crafty with the ball and can get hot fast. Definitely should be getting some more minutes with Smart in/out of the lineup.

 

Laker fans marinate on this


Kobe Bryant 2001 season

28.5 points 5.9 rebounds 5.0 assists


Austin Reaves 2025 season

28.9 points 5.7 rebounds 6.8 assists.


This is hard work. This man is a superstar.

 

Let’s not get s*** twisted. You see the name.

Austin Reaves and Kobe Bryant are two different players. You’re talking about the most athletic guard in NBA history. Who’s legit in my book top 3 best player. Best Laker ever. Don’t do that. Dont gaslight.

but we can still say Austin Reaves is putting up Kobe like numbers. Austin Reaves is taking the mantle of Kobe Bryant Jerry West and Magic Johnson. Theres nothing wrong with embracing it.

I’ve been saying it because I’ve seen Austin Reaves hard work being a Laker putting in the Kobe work. Kobe went from averaging 7.1 points a game. If we can talk about Luka in that regard we can talk about Austin in that regard. I don’t care about the Ahh shucks assuming the guy is a cheetah and if you’re on the court he will take you out like Mamba. That’s the Laker standard here.


And Kobe don’t want no soft b**** b*******. Accept the challenge of being great like him. That’s Kobe. Austin has always said he’s him.

I like a player who goes a certain place in a game that’s Austin.

I’m always gonna prop this player up and ride for him. I compared Shai to Kobe before also when he got to OKC and when he was at Kentucky. Sometimes you look at the way a player plays.

Austin can do anything he wants on a court.