2026-27 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Jonathan Isaac at the vet min isn't a bad look either. I have absolutely no idea why we chose Lurch over Hayes.

 

I’m saying that we aren’t going to play a switch heavy defense anymore. It’s going to be a mix of drop coverage and zone with Kessler. Maybe some switching with Mamu on the floor.

I don’t think many bigs are beating him off the dribble. It’s hardly a shame that Jokic and AD out played him, they were the best player in the league and maybe the second or third best big in the league at the time.

It’s like saying Luka busted up Kawhi in two playoff series. Yeah, he did, but it doesn’t mean Kawhi isn’t good.

 

Slick, who has said he is good in a switching defense? I don’t think anyone has. We all know he is a drop coverage big, everyone has said that JJ will have to change his scheme.

It’s why I wanted Claxton to begin with.

 

Generally three seconds is considered a first. A swap is like a half a first or two seconds.

To get off Vando we probably need draft capital and then we have to have some to nab PJ.

It probably takes all three seconds or a swap and two seconds.

 

Then Vando should absolutely be in play bro. JJ doesn't like to play young guys either; he's going to have to get over that position too. I don't think he has the resume to do everything " his way". He had to flip the script in the Houston series with Luka and Austin out. Gasp...we actually won a playoff series in the process.

Of course Rob turned around and got rid of everyone that made that happen.

 

Jokic is slow as hell too..you almost never hear the phrase " blowing by someone " describing Joker..I posted a bunch of head to head matchups with guys with a little agility already. I left Jokic out for a reason...that's not his MO.

 

I spent a good month saying we should build on last year. That’s done now.

You know as well as I do… Vando is most likely the next to leave. And we’ll dump Knecht if we can too.

 

Just because we make a move doesn't mean I agree with it. I don't trust Rob like that.

 

I'd absolutely add him. He played a lot of games last year, you just have to cap his minutes at like 15.
He's a menace on defense and although we can't rely on him for large stints, it will be great to have a defensive specialists you can plug in at any time.

It's kind of having Vando but at the vet min. Maybe we have it agreed already and are waiting to ship off Vando first.

I really like Vando. He has clear limitations and is unfortunate he didn't develop his game at all, but I still think he provides a rare skill set in the league, even more in our current team.
But he and JJ clearly don't seem to get along and bottom line JJ is the coach so he decides who plays.
Ideally they would work it out and find a role for Vando, who became more important after this summer moves. Worst case scenario, it would up his value until the deadline

 

I hope Rob has a Plan B if the Kuminga deal falls through. If Kuminga and his camp are wanting over 20 million they’re delusional right now. Come here, ball out and the money is coming. TBH, I have my reservations that a JJ/Kuminga marriage would work anyway.

 

There’s word that we could be finished and that Kuminga would jsut be a bonus but not part of the original plan. It would be disappointing if we’re done.

 

we're not done. kuminga probably wasn't part of the original plan because we didn't know he'd be available. I expected atl to pick up his option. we called him right after we heard that, but went ahead with our other plans (probably because they were part of the original plan). we definitely target specific guys, historically.

but mamu/vando/Jake were not pegged as starters in the original plan, i'm pretty sure.

 

I think We will be fun to watch. We have to be patient however. Brand new team so expect ruff patches.

I also viewed JJ as an issue at times. I say it with Cam when he never tried Cam and Van when he needed defense. Then last season he took Van out the rotation but as soon as he got Luke he was playing 20+mpg. I also noted that IMO he was helping Austin get paid last season which was going to cause Lakers to over pay. Rather that having Austin to continue to role play he put him in the same box as Lebron and Luka. At that point i said JJ is messing with the pecking order which is going to cause friction between AR and Lebron. Mostly from Lebron as he well feel disrespected. So while i think JJ is good at Running sets how he handle players needs more work along with his emotional tantrums. Saw it with Dlo, Cam, Van and to a lessor degree Wood and Ayton. ... I agree Van should Play but he is not a JJ type of player.

 

Yeah I can see a vision where they wanted to get Kessler and Grimes for the starting spots + Mamu and Sexton for the main bench guys via free agency.

Leaving a trade option to get a starting 4. Although I'd say Ayton was our best trading piece so maybe they had some idea that didn't pan out.
Doesn't really makes much sense to target a starting 4 with the minimum or via S&T without having it pre-agreed.

Let's see, I really don't like Kuminga's agent. It's absurd to want 25M when he hasn't worked out in his last 2 teams. You don't get raises by being bad lol this needs to be a reclamation project and Kuminga betting on himself. And he will have a PO!!
If he doesn't want it, screw him. Let's get Ziaire, Agbaji AND Isaac and hope one of them works out

Still think everyone is waiting for Bron. Kuminga may be a good fall back plan for the team that doesn't get Bron (except GSW lol)

 

Last years team was ticking time bomb. Once JJ messed with the pecking order it was done. They had a good Run in a month of unrealistic basketball and a favored whistle. Returning with last years team was going to have problems.

 

This makes way more sense than yesterday’s report that implied we were holding out the pick swap in a Vando dump. Lakers pushing that swap with Atlanta having no interest in Vando is more on par with what I would expect.

 

Yeah, swap to vando eater, 2nd to atl.

 

Yup, this whole report makes sense from all angles.
Atl don't want Vando, swap is available in the deal and Kuminga accepts less then his previous 22m contract.

Let's hope it all comes good, it's a very good move

 

Again, he’s getting bad advice from his team.

I’ll pass. Bring me Zaire and PJ.