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

Like Vince, I also believe not bringing back the team from last season was the wrong move in the short term (next 1-2 seasons). I do believe its the better move in the long term (seasons 3 onwards). If we make an assumption that we could of brought back our free agents for what they took and potentially taken advantage of some of the moves that happened during free agency around the league, we could of maybe had this team:

Luka (49.5) / Kennard (6.5) / Bronny (2.3)
Reaves (41.2) / Smart (6) / Carr (3.3)
Watson (21.4) / Jake (6)
Lebron (14) / Rui (14) / Adou (2.1)
Claxton (23.1) / Mamu (15) / Hayes (6)

Order of Events:
1. Sign Lebron, Kennard, Smart, Rui & Hayes to their contracts
2. Trade Vando + NSJ + 1st for Claxton (this trade doesn't impact any of the other moves the Nets made cap wise, except they get an extra 1st)
3. Sign Mamu to the MLE
4. Waited till the end of FA and saw the opportunity with Watson, Trade Ayton + Knecht + 1st + 2x Swaps + 2x 2nds to Denver for Watson
5. Resigned Reaves to the max

Yes I know, highly unlikely blah blah blah. Except Claxton got dumped for cap space, Mamu signed for us anyway, Rui waited for us, and based on what the other guys took, you're allowed to assume staying with us for the same money could of brought back Kennard, Smart and Hayes. So really it's only Watson that to me is an unlikely move, but Denver said they'd S&T him for a package similar to Kessler's.

I do think that team could hav had a legitimate shot at a ring this year and it all broke apart when we kind of diverged from Lebron.

I'm happy with how we've pivoted all things considered, Kessler is a beast, Grimes is a two way guy, Sexton is a spark plug and Mamu will be extremely solid as the backup big. We just need a starting 4 and we should be pretty good - not ring winning good, but 50ish wins good.

 

I think the PJ Washington stuff is just fan rumours, sadly. Some podcasters mentioned he could be a target due to the fit, but the NBA insiders say we're not interested

 

Nets got Randle for Claxton didn't they? I think these bad teams really wanted to get better as being on the bottom 3 is worse.
I don't think those 2 trades happen. I can't see Denver letting Watson come to us. They likely accept a lesser deal with other team. But it's all revisionism so who cares.

 

yeah I agree with you. I'd probably take Grimes, and I'd even be willing to sacrifice Rui for Mamu instead, but that roster looks good

I also think something happened with Rob and Lebron, since what we heard about the lack of communication with his camp before FA began doesn't look normal to me.

You'd expect them to keep Lebron in the loop about all the plans if he were a priority.

 

No, they took Randle into cap space and then dumped Claxton to Chicago for cap space. So the question is, is a 1st and a 2nd enough to absorb 14m of cap? I would argue yes, Brooklyn isn’t anywhere close to contending, they want to tank and get assets.

Denver won’t send us Watson maybe. It’s a fair point, but they’re likely to sign and trade him somewhere and it was looking like the clippers until the Kawhi stuff slowed them. I imagine it could have been an option, especially with DA going out, who is a backup center that would have really helped them once Jokic sat and potentially could of been played with him too for defense (that’s how bad Denver is defensively that Ayton is an improvement).

Grimes doesn’t come here if we keep Smart, Kennard and get Watson. He came here for the opportunity for minutes and potentially starting, I imagine if he wanted to be a 20 mins backup he stays in Philly.

Mamu would still be the backup C and could play a lot. I think the team was possible. But like you said, it’s all revisionist, so who cares?

We roll on with what we have and wish everyone well. We need to find a starting 4 and try to have the MLE and BAE next year to keep building while Carr and Adou develop.

 

I think LeBron was used to being the guy and coddled. We didn’t give him a player option, traded AD for Luka and didn’t make him a priority - the Lakers were happy to part ways and his only way back was just as a piece.

If on the other hand, if we really made him feel special and included, making him a priority, I think he would have probably retired here.

It’s clear to me that the overarching concept was we want to put Luka with an elite PNR defensive big and have Reaves as the secondary creator. Everything else was filling in the parts but they achieved their primary offseason goals.

 

That’s why Bronny needs to be here. This is about making the Lakers great. Who cares what makes LeBron better. This isn’t too appease Lebron. If he wanted to play with his son he should’ve stayed with the Lakers. Too bad. Bronny fits in good with this young team. And he’s making strides with Thiero. His contract is guranteed and he’s a Laker.

 

That’s why I like Kaminga. He just makes the team better. It gives us a different dimension and makes us a better team in the open court. I just think he makes us more explosive. You want finishers around Luka.

and I think it’s more upside seeing him explode here as a star on the Lakers.

 

Disagree on a few details svtzr. The nets didn’t trade Claxton then get Randle; they did it in one move. This doesn’t imply that they would just have dumped claxton then hoped for someone to shake loose. Further, this would have required LeBron to sign on at about 25 per before knowing outcomes.

and Watson coming here was just incredibly unlikely, as you said yourself ahead of time.


I just don’t think the bring the boys back plan was ever really in the cards, and I said so repeatedly ahead of time.

No amount of LeBron a** kissing was going to undo the lack of player option in the contract last summer. The die was cast.

 

Randle trade was made and then the Claxton trade was made after. They already had cap space to take Randle in then jsut combined everything into one trade. So the question is, would they have rather 23m in cap space for Claxton or 10m in cap space plus a 1st. I believe the latter, because they aren’t competing so the Vando contract isn’t a problem but the 1st is valuable.

It’s not really so important anyway, we made our decisions and we move on. No use crying over spilt milk and could of beens.

 

I really thought that, this was LeBron's last season, whatever happened. Now.. I'm pretty sure, that's not the case..good luck to him.

Back on ourside...
We've done this wholesale flipping the roster experiment, a few times already, so I expect mixed bag results. Some guys are going to find their groove, and play up to expectations, and some are going to struggle and wont. I hope it's more of the former than latter.

 

Of course you do!! Homer! I ain't t mad at ya.

 

Though it would have been nice to get Smart back, I like that we are resetting. I'm sick of signing player to 1+1 contracts. We're now focused on long-term stability and core continuity. After the title year, it's constantly been about signing older players, constant injuries, and short-term shuffling of the roster.

An overhaul was necessary. We had to modernize our roster building philosophy. We are now prioritizing analytical fit over name value. Which meant sayonara to players like Rui, Smart and Luke. I'm fully on board.

 

that’s it.

 

The most interesting thing in Basketball is this Kawhi thing even more than LeBron.

what’s this second company thing? Did Kawhi cut his own deal or is this still the Clippers. If true Kawhi might be suspended for the season. I can see Steve Ballmer and Kawhi getting suspended for the season and Clippers fined 10 million if this is a second deal.


maybe they take away a 1st round pick to.


it looks very mercy.

 

they better beg for mercy

 

How’s that conversation with Savanah go. Because you wanna be petty and egotistical. You gotta divide the whole family and Savannah son and daughter in L.A. and Lebrons going to Miami or Cleveland or Philly.

Happy Wife. What’s crazy is he talked happiness. What about his wife’s happiness or his daughter.

Giselle was adamant that’s what destroyed it with Brady. She had to sacrifice for him and he had to go back.

Lebron just had to Lebron. How about keeping Bronny in a constructive basketball environment.

just saying. Wife you make her have to see sons games in L.A. and then fly across the country to see you. It’s crazy. So you wanna be on the other side of the country. Cause you know NBA men are just really about being all about the wife across the country. Because they’re all A.C. Green.

if your Bronny all of you guys and gals put yourselves in Bronnys shoes. You’ve been there you get to play pro basketball with your boy who you played basketball with in high school. I remember driving down sunset blvd. With one of my best friends I played high school with and him telling me San Jose state is just like that. I gotta come there and play football and how we can roommate together. Even though I went to Saddleback and ended up playing at APU the thought of even playing college football with one of my boys was awesome. Now imagine your bro from Chino Hills who you transferred to from Campbell hall to play with just signed to your squad your on. In technically your hometown. Why would you want to uproot across country to play with dad when you did that. To keep dad’s dream going. How about keeping your dream doing. This was LeBron and the Rich Paul doing. And those conversations between LeBron and Savannah are something that is gonna be nuts.

as far as the Lakers are concerned. Bronny ain’t going nowhere. Marinate on this.

I wanna see that Dog unit. Let’s call em G Unit!!!! I’m trademarking it here.

Lineup Bronny Carr Williams Thiero just getting after it dogs on defense. This team ain’t. Nothing to play with.

 

Cameron Carr balling again 23 points against the Clippers. Thiero 13 points. We got some young bucks. Can we clap it up for this front office. Carr what a find!!!!!!

 

Sometimes it's better to take time alone in a happy marriage. Lebron's presence comes with a lot of baggage and outside noise. Removing him will bring peace to the household. I'm sure Savannah wouldn't mind taking a break from public pressure for a year or two.