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

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by TIME, Jun 14, 2026.

  1. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Lakers Starter -

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    I like your posts man. But I can’t get with you trading Thiero for Washington.
     
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  2. sk2408

    sk2408 - Lakers Starter -

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    Yeah I'd do that too. I think it's more likely than not that Thiero is never as good as PJ is right now.
     
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  3. 432J

    432J - Lakers All Star -

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    thiero for washington is a no brainer

    they really can't afford to be wasting time waiting for guys to develop given luka's injury history
     
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  4. VincePT

    VincePT - Lakers 6th Man -

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    is Thiero going to maximize the chances of us contending in the next 2 years, or getting Luka to sign an extension? We are not talking about a top 10 pick, the dude has some great raw potential, but he's going to be a high-end role player at best.

    You don't make your team weaker, or punt a season of your superstar just because you're hoping a guy like Thiero develops. That's what we did with THT vs Caruso.

    believe me when I say, this is not on the radar right now, but if this team doesn't pan out quickly, the next 18 months of anything Laker-related in the news is going to be dominated by the Luka extension question, and this can quickly turn into a Bucks/Giannis situation where they make panic move after panic move and end up without the player and without assets.

    my view is that if blowing up the entire roster is the way we went (I don't agree with it, but it is what it is), then Rob needs to finish a job and get a solid 4 that can at least allow us to be in the mix come postseason, not roll with a vet min player there.
     
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  5. Toklat

    Toklat - Lakers Starter -

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    We have what we need to compete with anyone right now, just a matter of health as with every other team. Always glad to improve but I don't want to do something foolish and take a step backward. We are on the verge of something really good.
     
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  6. LakeShowAZ

    LakeShowAZ - Lakers 6th Man -

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  7. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    I don't think a payout was out of the question with us either. Maybe not to the minimum but I think MLE could have been possible. It's more so that we were ready to move on from him being our franchise player and he responded in kind by just leaving totally. It is what it is.

    I think you're really underselling Philly by a lot - that team is for real.

    Maxey / Anfernee /Philon Jr
    VJ / KCP
    Brown / Wade
    Lebron / Barlow or Walker
    Embiid / Adem Bona / Hukporti

    Even if Embiid goes down, they've got two mobile high motor centers that are grading out pretty good defensively to cover. On the perimeter, you've got VJ, Brown & Wade that can handle any 1-2-3-4 in the league. Barlow off the bench is another handy defender. Maxey, VJ & Anfernee provide alot of guard scoring and Philon Jr looks like an interesting playmaker as a rookie too. Looks like KCP is going to go there too and add another 1-2 defender.

    Lebron is going to be defending the weakest guy every night and using his intelligence to jump passing lanes or block shots from the weak side. They're going to be really good.

    EDIT:

    People forget that when healthy, Embiid was putting up 27/8/4 with 2 stocks and Maxey was 28/4/7 with 3 stocks. Two legitimate all stars were on that team. They also retain, VJ that's a heck of a role player.

    This offseason, they added Brown that was top 6 in MVP voting and just averaged 29/7/5, Dean Wade that is a very good defender 1-4, Simons that is a good scorer and shooter off the bench.

    That was already a top 3 team in the East with the Knicks and Boston (who I think they were already better than) - with a chance to come out if Embiid was healthy.

    Then you add Lebron on top of that. So even if Embiid is injured, you've got an overwhelming amount of talent.

    1. Brown
    2. Maxey
    3. Lebron
    4. Embiid
    5. VJ
    6. Wade
    7. Simons
    8. KCP
    9. Barlow
    10. Bona
     
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2026 at 5:49 PM
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  8. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    it was just untenable here. i don't know if it will be easier in philly, but his mindset will be better there than it was here. i know he's got supporters claiming he did all the right things, but we had to pry the keys out of his hands, and that sucked. showing up somewhere without the keys will be easier for all.
     
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  9. Wino

    Wino - Lakers All Star -

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    I don't hate Lebron, any more than he hates Pelinka or the Lakers. He is gone, I am already over it.
     
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  10. VincePT

    VincePT - Lakers 6th Man -

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    I agree with you, he'd have to do much more defensively in Cleveland than in Philly. Plus, Cleveland has two ball-dominant guards who don't defend much either. He'll probably play point a lot in Philly as well and be the main facilitator, which he prefers to playing off the ball.

    I think he chose the best fit available for chasing a ring, apart from going to SA.
     
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  11. Bryant

    Bryant - Lakers Starter -

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    [​IMG]

    VJ Edgecombe recreating that famous Lebron meme pic

    :Laugh:
     
  12. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    He'll play the PG offensively and the helper defensively - kind of perfect for him. I'm expecting an 18/10/8 season with 2 stocks.

    Lebron (facilitator / help defender) / Simons (bench scorer)
    Maxey (secondary creator) / VJ (6th man)
    Brown (finisher) / KCP (3&D)
    Wade (3&D) / Barlow (Cutter & D)
    Embiid (3&D / drop big) / Bona (switch big/PNR partner)

    For this team to work, lots of people are going to have to sacrifice:

    - Maxey has to work off ball much more
    - Embiid has to be a 3&D guy
    - Lebron has to facilitate mainly and not score much
    - Brown has to take the hardest defensive assignment every night and score less
    - VJ has to go to the bench

    I think they should trade Embiid for AD personally.
     
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  13. Bryant

    Bryant - Lakers Starter -

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    I think they sticks with Embiid. He played more games than AD last season. :ADeyeshift:

    Looks like he recruited LBJ heavily too:



    It's a wash who's going to stay healthy, but Embiid rushed coming back from an appendectomy and that's likely why he was worse in the playoffs. I'd rather just trust the guy who's looked more healthy recently, and is a legend for the team.

    They can likely coast in the east anyways with Maxey/VJ/Brown doing most of the work. Load manage Bron and Embiid for the playoffs.
     
  14. 432J

    432J - Lakers All Star -

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    yeah, that sixers team is legit

    if healthy (big if) i have no problem putting them at the top of the east. and even with lebron and embiid injured/load managing they still have enough talent to win games
     
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  15. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    I think I view that team as Embiid won't be there when it matters. I still think Lebron - Maxey - Brown - Wade - Bona with Simons, VJ, KCP, Barlow, Hukaporti off the bench is enough to get it done in the East.

    Maybe they add one more impact ring chaser too.
     
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  16. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers Legend -

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    Swapping out Morey for Myers paying quick dividends. I’m not as sold on those guys as others but adding Brown and LeBron while giving up PG isn’t bad at all.
     
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  17. ADKOBE

    ADKOBE - Lakers 6th Man -

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  18. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Lakers Starter -

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    See that’s the argument that got Shai traded for Paul George all NBA player MVP Candidate 3rd all NBA for a promising player.

    I know it’s Shai Thiero but you do know Thiero was a lottery pick before the Knee injury and this summer at summer league he looked like the most athletic exciting player. He was everything Luka needed a OG clone. We need athletes that defend and can play defense on the perimeter 3-4 Washington can’t play 3 he’s a good player but the ceiling is tapped. Thiero might be an all star ⭐️ we don’t know what he can be. with Luka he can be OG I want to keep Carr and OG together I’m not about trading young players for good players. Anthony Davis I get it. But PJ ain’t that type of player????? I don’t even know if I’d do it for Peyton Watson. Here me out we got enough scorers shooters. Grimes Mamu Knect We need some gritty defenders I watched Thiero against CW Wilson he was defending him straight up. Wilson was scoring against the second string guys. I can see Thiero has been working on his game.

    Makes sense to put Thiero next to Cooper Flagg and let him be his defender athletic guy. As much as we talk about archetype we need that next to Luka. That’s never been PJ Washington’s game. He’s a good post defender and can make the open shot. He ain’t gonna take you to the basket and put the ball on the floor.
     
  19. Kobeluka99

    Kobeluka99 - Lakers Starter -

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    Nah you right. It’s a win Paul George was a terrible contract but they got Jaylin Brown cause Steven’s is stupid and they got Lebron because he was pissed at Jeanie and Rob.

    please we gotta stop giving Meyers all this credit as a great. Jerry West gifted him Klay Thompson. Meyers is as good as Rob Pelinka.

    Lebron told us he ain’t taking anything under his max highest contract he’s owed.
     
  20. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    Brown finished up last season as a top 10 player
    Maxey was top 15
    Lebron was top 15
    Embiid was top 30

    VJ could be a top 50 this year

    It's just a lot of talent. Anytime you have that much talent, you have to mesh and that won't be easy. I could see them winning ~50 games or 60+ depending how quickly they mesh.
     
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