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

Kessler?

 

Maybe go with a three-headed lob-monster.

Mitchell Robinson and Robert Williams are both very injury-prone, which makes them easier to afford. Their talents put them in the 16-20 million range, but their availability issues might put them closer to Room-Exception level money. When healthy, both of them are elite vertical threats, and elite rim-protectors. I would consider both of them, maybe even pay them a little more, but make the deal team friendly, with a team option or something like that. Not the be all end all, but a potential option.

 

Possibly even 25 million.

 

Hopefully we could use players like Vando and/or other trade ballast like Knecth, LaRavia, and Ayton + #25 and/or additional draft capital to upgrade a slot or two. Potential options:

Allen
Claxton
Herb
Missi
Gobert
Hart
Brooks
PJ
Gafford
Okongwu
Lively
Maluach
Dunn
Dort (absorption)
Caruso

It hurts to do it, but for example, swapping Vando + Knecht + #25 + 2031 1st for Jones increases cap room to 52.3 million and fills a need at the same time.

 

I like the Paul Reed option. I was impressed with how he did in this year’s playoffs.
Ayo and Reed, plus bringing back AR, LeBron, Rui and Smart is a good summer. I think Ayton will opt in and maybe we can trade him at the deadline.
If we want to bring back the guys who played well, we won’t have enough to add a good wing and a starting level C this summer.

 

With losing out on any real chance to compete in the playoffs this season due to injuries, I would especially avoid injury prone bigs. I completely understand that they will cost less but we need to get younger and more athletic in order to compete with OKC and Los Spurs next year.

 

Lakers Offseason Plan Revealed

 

HUGE Change In NBA Trade Market, Daryl Morey Fired By 76ers, Paul George Trade Possible?

 

I like how you think.

I don't know how Robert Williams is currently, but he played some amazing, AD-level defense for the C Bags in the 2022 finals run.

 

Before that I only was willing to pay the vet minimum for him but the playoffs is a platform for over reaction lol. He might have earned himself a lot of money, but hopefully would stay healthy. We could use a player with that exact skillset, but we cant sucker into over paying either.

 

Just saw Coby White linked with the Lakers.

another good option for secondary ball handler in the unlikely event Reaves goes

 

I want Coby to replace Luke..that's doable IMO.

 

DEPTH BUILDING PLAN

(1) Trade Vando, Knecht, #25 to Pelicans for Herb Jones. Cap room is now about 51 million.

(2) Grimes 18 m

(3) Robinson 12 m

(4) Waive and stretch Ayton. Cap room is now about 26 m

(5) R Williams 12 m

(6) Lebron 14 m

(7) Ellis 9.4 m Room Exception

(8) Hayes / Reaves

(9) Vet minimums

Lakers obtain the two best UFA 2-way (offense in terms of lob-catching) centers in Robinson and Williams AND the two best UFA 2-way (offense in terms of 3-pt shooting) perimeter players in Grimes and Ellis. Unfortunately, Lakers loose Smart in this build, but it's neutralized by getting Jones. Net Gain: 2 elite perimeter defenders and 2 elite lob threat/rim protecting bigs.

Lakers end up with 3 of the most elite 3 and D POA defenders in the NBA. Herb needs to work on his shooting, but I look at this as kind of a lateral move from Smart.

PG: Luka, FA
SG: Reaves, Ellis, Bronny
SF: Grimes, Herb, FA
PF: Lebron, Thiero, LaRavia
C: Robinson, Williams, Hayes, FA

That's 10 highly playable players right there.

One-way players gone: Rui, Ayton, Vando, Kennard, Knecht

Two-way players gone: Smart

Two-way players added: Grimes, Robinson, Williams, Ellis, Jones

Lateral: Smart swapped out for Herb Jones

Net Gain of 4 two-way players. That's huge.

-Grimes and Rui both get about 16 ppg per 36, but Grimes allows less points.

-Ayton scores a lot more than Robinson, but Robinson scores in more of the preferred Luka way- in the form of lobs. Robinson gives up a lot less and plays harder.

-Williams is a lob machine and rim protecting machine. Vando can't catch the ball and can't really play 5.

-Ellis is a more willing shooter than Kennard, and a much better defender. Also more athletic and faster.

-Herb is about neutral with Smart.

-Knecht, Maxi, and Smith can be replaced with more playable players with vet minimums maybe something like Clarkson and others.

Lakers get a sample platter of two-way players to help get them going.

 

Nic Claxton and Mitch Robinson.

 

Or Mitch Robinson and Brook Lopez.

 

It would be a dream to get Quentin Grimes.

 

I want Lopez because in the playoffs we’ll need a big to make free throws when the game slows down. And he might be better against Bigger Centers. Claxton would get destroyed. Or pushed around. I think A Luka Brook pick and roll would be devastating against teams. When he got in with James Harden and the Clippers took off. I think him and Luka would take off very similar.

But just for matchups.

 

I forgot about Colbe White he would be on the cheap.