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

never was Rooves it was Reeves.

 

Thx! I could see it re: Sexton, out of necessity. I hope you're right about his speed & pestiness working, bc on paper a Sexton/Reaves backcourt would get destroyed. Although it would put up a lot of points as well.

Good reading of the tea leaves on the Kuminga situation by you and others here. If it works out, I think we're right there in the 3-6 range with a chance at 3 and a punchers chance to take out any team. Knicks proved any of like 10 teams can win it all, despite many people and media thinking only OKC/SA can.

 

Remember I posted this in the Sexton thread:

Sexton, 27, said he studied tape of Smart's one-year Lakers tenure and envisioned himself stepping into a similar role as an energetic guard who can "impact winning." The 2018 lottery pick averaged 15.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls last season.

"I watched a lot of the playoffs," Sexton said. "I watched a lot of [Smart] over the years.

"I watched a little bit of like Avery Bradley as well. How he was able to change the pace on defense. That was a while ago, but just watching him and his competitive nature, that's my guy."

Sexton added: "I feel like those two guys have been able to really lock in. I think I can bring that to this team."

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49352392/

 

The guy from Locked on Utah was saying once he was guarding Brunson and JB left the floor on a play towards the locker room and Sexton went with him

He also said every year he played except the last one, teams were always better with him off the floor than on. It's not great. I posted before he has the 5th worst +/- of league history.
These things always have context though and he was mostly a bench player and playing with benching units in a bad team doesn't help, certainly.

It's a really good ep. It's posted in his thread by our clipping sicko, it's the ep with Andy Kemenetzky

I think he fits really well in this team as a spark off the bench of scoring, shooting and rim pressure. He'll likely need to be paired with Kessler and 1 or 2 high-end defensive guys so it offsets what he's bad at. Luka/AR, Sexton, Thybulle, Ziaire, Kessler may be the archetype of a group where he can thrive

 

https://x.com/i/status/2079318964375867868

Defensive menaces


https://x.com/i/status/2079355379532562859

Kuminga vs PJ on offense

 

Lebron still ain't signed? lol.

 

important to remember that analytics had last year's temporary fan favorite kennard as one of the nba's worst players, too.

this is when the 10m per offer to kuminga clicked in my head. at first, i was like...why so low? but then i realized it was likely based on sending one player out, not two. one second to eat that player, another to atlanta (to me, a single 2nd is enough to facilitate a S&T, which costs them nothing--i think we'd have done it for rui if the clips offered one). either jake or hardy is enough to get to that 10m figure easily, but i was actually wondering if maybe the number was even lower and based on just sending out knecht, which would have kuminga starting closer to 8.5, i think.

anyway, you're correct that as rosters get filled, all avenues get tougher for both us and kuminga to achieve our goals (us signing him, him making...any money at all).

our pals in washington ironically have TEs big enough to help us (one created by the hardy trade, lol) and an open roster spot.

 

i don't see this happening. it made sense if we were going to try to squeeze in a signing prior to the others using the additional space.

the fact that we're doing these weird dips in the second year of a couple contracts tells me we aren't interested in dead cap money next year.

 

We can get around 9M more than what we send out because we are below the 1st apron, so Knecht suffices.
Yeah it might be that.

Just wondering if we have any plan B after Bron/Kuminga situations get resolved without JK signing with us.

Then, I'm high on Looney but I do think we need a minutes eater at center that is more trustworthy, if Kessler goes down which we need to cover from. Richards has been talked about but this ain't a great situation for him, I imagine he could find better somewhere. He's basically a DNP when Kessler's available. Wish we had a Manon/Kaluma type center for insurance. Or.. Hayes lol

Yeah it seems we're pretty high in having a safe path to MLE next summer. I like that. Maybe there's a number they're comfortable with. Knecht stretch would be around 2mil. Still last resort type of thing.
It's weird no team ate Knecht yet. He's a wonderful dump for so many teams, maybe we have been holding on him to use him in a better deal than a pure dump and he'll be easy to dump when every other avenue is closed

He'd actually be a great fit on Miami, they are starving for shooting and need some cheap guy to pop

 

yeah, i keep seeing the 8.8 number, but everything i can find says 7.5, but only for salaries above 7 million ish (up to 30), with anything below that being 200% + 250k. guessing the 8.8 is right based on who i've seen use it, just can't find the documentation.

i feel like we do, and we're just waiting on several situations to clear up (lebron, clippers, denver, miami, etc.).

yeah even wenyen gabriel or koloko on a two-way would make me feel a little better.

then again, part of me thinks that when kessler's out, jj's going to be in hog heaven starting mamu/luka/sf/reaves/grimes and just dantoni-ing the s*** out of people.

which fully negates one of the two dips we know about. i think they'd just buy him out first.

just not a lot of roster spots right now. i imagine if he gets bought out, he'll get picked up pretty quick. it's not a jhs situation where he's basically shown nothing.

yeah, and i think they may have a TE big enough to take his salary. worst-kept secret is that they're expecting klay thompson to join them after a buyout, but i'm not sure knecht wouldn't be the better bet at this point.

 

Lebron just tell everybody you’re going back to Miami!!!!! Isn’t the fanatics guy a part owner of the Philly? Sixers? The same guy that was trying to get Meek Mill outa jail???

well Lebron was there so maybe it’s Philly. I think it’s Philly or Miami and we find out today definite good for LeBron no World Cup and nothing going on in sports.

he has to go where he’s needed and he can be the reason they won the championship for his Jordan greatest debate.

and he can do all his air quotes training in Miami so he can be sure to be great during the season.

all you had to do is keep everyone together and still play with Bronny if you signed that vets minimum. But his ego is so f***ing big.

this guy is something else.

 

I love that you go to Bleacher Report and the first 3 Headlines are Rich Paul spouting off something about when and how and whatever else is going to happen with him making this DECISION.

Tell me you aren't trying to control the sports narrative, without telling me you aren't trying to control the sports narrative.

I feel like Silver has to have the ability at some point to make him say it, if he is holding up the schedule.

 

Yeah he can be like Dan Marlije who played there. Why are yall so quick to run Knect outa town? We put such a premium on shooting. Why give Miami a shooter. Let’s see how he plays with Cam Carr.

 

Rich Paul is hilarious. None of yall gotta say anything else he’ll let you know where he’s playing. Dude nobody has said anything. They don’t care. Rich is a glorified hype man and an agent. Like the dude reminds me of the guy Jamie Foxx played in Ali. Great movie by the way.

the Paul statements are hilarious from LeBron will not be playing with the Lakers. They young they want to go young they don’t have to wait on him. As if the Lakers were going to let Kessler get away waiting on LeBron.

then the voice notes. I can see how Paul can persuade. Natural bullshitter.

this guy behind the scenes was wrecking our season starting drama on the team with Austin and Lebron.

facts Lebron would still be a Laker if it wasn’t for Rich Paul.

I remember the legendary don’t draft Bronny. If you do we won’t report.

 

Rich Paul/LeBron is Vegeta

We are Trunks

 

Also, I love that "the money isn't important, it's all about having fun" seems to be translating to "the easiest place to win a ring next year"

 

I saw this today:

https://x.com/i/status/2079226189240005105

Not an official source though, but saw cap experts like Yossi using that 9mil-ish in his mock trades.

Agree with everything as always. And yeah, Klay to Miami is the worst kept secret for sure, ton of sense. Unlucky for Knecht.
But fully with you that the kid will be picked up pretty soon.
Do you think we are telling teams that his dump is not worth a second because he is already worth one at least?

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...-james-loves-attention-nba-free-agency-rumors



Whatever helps you sleep at night.

 

The way this team build is shaping up, I do see SOME similarities with the 25-26 Knicks team. Hear me out.


OFFENSIVE ROLE

Scoring Machine: Brunsen / Luka

2nd Scorer: Towns / Reaves

Shooter: Anunoby / Grimes

Shooter: Bridges / Thybulle

Shooter: Hart / Mamu

Shooter: McBride / Sexton

Shooter: Shamet / Carr

Shooter: Alvarado / Hardy

Lob-Threat Big: Robinson / Kessler

Scorer: Clarkson / Knecht

Lob Threat Big: Thiero *

Shooter: Kolek / Williams


DEFENSIVE ROLE

Hidden: Brunson / Luka

Hidden: Towns / Reaves

Wing Defender: Anunoby / Thybulle

Wing Defender: Hart / Carr

POA Defender: Bridges / Grimes

POA Defender: McBride / Thiero

Rim-Protector: Robinson / Kessler

POA Defender: Alvarado / Williams

Hidden: Shamet / Knecht

Hidden: Clarkson / Hardy

Wing Defender: Diawara / LaRavia

Wing Defender: Sochan / Vanderbilt


Not apples to apples, but it's interesting.