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

Athleticism

Key Word!!!!!! We looked at the teams that beat us. Saw OKC San Antonio and Minnesota.

and the consensus with the front office and ownership. was put athletes around Luka and Reaves.

LeBron was amazing but he was another traffic cone. So what we did was got the old off. Probably thought Smart couldn’t do that multiple seasons and sustain that. So we added


Wing

Williams

Grimes

Carr

also Thiero in the rotation.
That’s 4 add ons.

Back end Kessler over Ayton

Looney off the bench.

now as we finalize Kaminga that’s more youth and athleticism.

A+ if we sign him. How can you not give them that. They added scoring and shooting depth. And defense. And the lob threat.

all Luka wants. Now they just gotta play.

no Kaminga C+ simple as that because I thought Ayton was traded for Kaminga you gotta finish the job.

 

My only problem with our opponents. We face two centers who are going to space out Kessler and they’ll bring him out. So they might possibly play him off the court.

Wemby and Holmgren both do that. It’s gonna be hard with Holmgren because he’ll be shooting 3’s but he won’t be able to push Kessler around like he did Ayton on rebounds.

and also Jaylin Williams shoots 3’s so he can pull the center out. We might have some problems there. Is Kessler good closing out???

we might be forced into small ball 5 with Vando.

that’s gonna be a problem. But maybe Kessler and Looney make up for it.

 

P.J. Washington has averaged 17.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 5 games in his last 5 games versus the Thunder.

I'd rather have this dude than Kuminga tbh, those rebound numbers, albeit a small sample size, are impressive.

 

Trade Vando and two 2nds for PJ and call it a day

 

Yeah we don't have any more roster spots anyway. Add PJ or Kuminga and we would be deep, young and athletic. Things we were not known for in recent years. Quite a turn around.

 

The more I think about it the more I feel like we will end up flipping Bronny for a second rounder and then end up making our last move.

 

I initially balked at the report that Washington’s contract is unappealing to us. In a vacuum I think it’s a reasonable value deal especially for what we need. And I take the certainty of what he provides and his fit alongside Luka over gambling on Kuminga’s offside.

But if you can get Kuminga for cheaper, you do have to weigh the opportunity cost of the impact that Washington’s higher contract would have on our MLE next summer.

For example if it comes down to Kuminga at $15M next summer versus Washington at $21.4M, and that extra $6.4M directly reflects in that much less spending power in next offseason’s free agency… that’s a more interesting decision

 

Lakers could trade LaRavia, Knecht, 2031 Wizards 2nd, 2032 Wizards 2nd to Atlanta for Kuminga at a deal starting at 17 million and still have the full non-taxpayer MLE if they waive and stretch Vando next Summer. Luka, Reaves, Kessler, Grimes, Mamu, Carr, Thiero, Kuminga would be on the 27-28 roster. This is also assuming Sexton opts in. If Sexton opts out, Lakers probably wouldn't have to stretch Vando. Lakers could fill out roster with two vet minimums and one minimum rookie contract. This could be a very deep team in 27-28. Lakers woud be about 1.5 million under the 1st apron in this scenario, with 14 roster spots.

 

I did t

I did the math. We could sign Kuminga for up to 17 million this season, assuming we trade LaRavia and Knecht. Then next July, we stretch Vando. We end up able to use the full MLE while staying about 1.5 million under the 1st apron.

That plan wouldn't work with Washington's deal. He makes about 22 million next season. Only way it works is if we trade Vando for Washington, which is also plausible.

 

https://basketnews.com/news-251892-lakers-not-shopping-top-trade-candidate-per-nba-insider.html

 

No worries, there are no shortage of scrubs. (Knecht, Hardy, Laravia)

 

Next year is looking like this:

Luka (53.4) / Sexton (9.8) / Vet Min (2.6)
Reaves (43) / Carr (3.5) / Vet Min (2.6)
Grimes (14.7) / x
S&T (21.4) / Adou (2.5) / x
Kessler (31.6) / Mamu (12.4) / Vet Min (2.6)

The starting PF is PJ's salary slot next year which should (?) be higher than Kuminga's. This leaves us 20.4m under the First Apron, the MLE is 15.9m and the BAE is 5.8m. We could maybe fit Zaire into less than the full BAE at around 4.5m per. If we signed Kuminga to a flat 20m or so, we'd have access to the full BAE next year too.

This would leave the full MLE next year at 15.9m for a backup or starting wing pushing either Grimes or the starting PF to the bench.

Jake has a cap hold next year of 7.8m, so unless he took the BAE instead of Zaire or a portion of the MLE, he would effectively be gone. It's probably going to be one of Zaire or Jake moving forward unless one of them breaks out and is worth the MLE moving forward and a much more important spot in the rotation.

 

In my above scenario, I've assumed we traded Vando for either PJ or Kuminga. We could trade Hardy & Jake for either too, but I'd hope to get rid of Vando.

If we keep Vando, it just throws a spanner into a lot of things and we'd 13.3m just sitting on the bench again - which isn't too far off the full MLE.

 

I just don’t see a realistic scenario where we get PJ Washington. No way Dallas trades him to us.

 

Dallas have made PJ available for a first. They want to get of his contract because he doesn't fit Cooper's timeline. Three 2nds are equivalent to roughly a first. I think it's just whether they want to take on Vando and what that costs. They'd probably want the swap too.

I'd be doing it if we can get PJ. I don't care about a swap but a 12/8 starting PF who is tough and defends 3's & 4's completely changes us as a team.

Imagine some of the lineups?

Luka (6'8) - Carr (6'6) - Adou (6'8), Jake (6'7) or Zaire (6'9) - PJ (6'7) - Mamu (6'9) - switch heavy with shooting, PJ makes that lineup work because he is a good rebounder but allows us a second look defensively instead of just drop coverage.

 

If I'm being honest I never paid attention to the rest of the Luka Mavs besides Luke, Kyrie, and maybe Gafford. I'm not sure what the guy brings to the table, but the numbers are solid. And if he's used to that secondary complimentary role, what's not to like. Might be a better fit than Kuminga - who will be unproven in that role. At least he has proven he's not exactly happy in that role and wanted more. If PJ is content in that role and stars in it, I prefer finding the guy who is the right fit over hoping in exchange for some unknown upside.

 

Right, honestly Kessler's upside is unknown as well. He could be a DPOY candidate or a Top 20-ish center. I do not want 2 unknown's in our starting lineup. PJ is proven next to Luka, and I prefer him over Kuminga.

Just a seamless fit. And no drama (for a change, after years of LeBron)

 

Nice. He can definitely help spread the floor. We are already going to be interesting, but that would be pretty cool to see across the lineup.

 

PJ Would be better over Kumenga. If something Like this happens Austin will need to be wheeled back in. Personally i felt Luka and Austin plays hero Ball. With the talent you dont want to dumb them down. Share the ball make everyone feel like they belong.