2024-25 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Lavine 33 in Bulls win over the hot Knicks. The dude can put up big games against top tier teams unlike a lot of Lakers roleplayers. With DFS - that moves makes a lot of sense for the Lakers and Bulls.

OTOH: Hell might as well offer those first rounders for Booker the way the Suns are going lol

 

Cranjis is down for Kessler baaad.

 

Cranjis uses all these data points but at the end of the day he isn’t any more successful in his predictions than a coin flip.

Kessler isn’t Mobley - who has developed a nice 3 ball and is hitting over 40% and has been attempting about 6 a game over the last month or two. Just that threat alone has opened up their offence, not to mention how good the rest of the team shoots.

Kessler makes us harder to score on but also makes us easier to defend.

 

I’m in favor of trading for Kessler for the right price, but yeah, we should put zero stock in Cranjis player evaluations. Good at analyzing film, but his player evals on skill and fit have routinely been wrong in recent history.

 

i'm of two minds. first, i repeat that there is more than one way to win and that teams can be successful playing in different ways--and yes, this includes not having 4 or 5 three point shooters on the floor at all times. i get that boston's the current model, but it doesn't have to be that way. we won a ring playing AD next to dwight or mcgee for significant minutes.

that said, yes, cleveland's not a great example because a) mobley has become a legit deep threat and b) they have two very dynamic shooter/scorers at the guard spots. that said, a couple years ago people would have and did say that cleveland couldn't be successful playing mobley and allen together.

 

I think a better way to sell Kessler is you recreate the Bubble team with a younger version of Dwight.

Really really big and tough physical defense and just enough individual offensive brilliance to carry you over. Lebron older though now so that hurts but the tricky part is his jumper is better if anything and that team had no one like Reaves.

So much easier if AD jumper was consistent from deep

 

According to Woike of the LA Times, they're looking for another perimeter player; I think they're going that route. If that's the case, be prepared for Jackson Hayes and CK; Rui Rui and Finney-Smith if we go small.

I'd be less concerned if Wood was there to give us another look and another big body, but he's done for the season. I'm just speculating. I do think we need another ball handler/creator to take some pressure off of LBJ/Reaves. Don't think Rui is getting moved; that leaves: JHS, Wood, Vando (who will require extra compensation and a miracle to to get off that contract) as your trade ballast.

Speculate away. Weeeeeeeeee.

 

Well if that's what we want from a new big, Valanciunas or Vucevic aren't it. Those guys don't offer any rim protection or vertical spacing.

 

honestly, i think the market for big men is better than the market for another perimeter creator (who's both consistent and not terrible on defense). seriously, is there anyone out there like that that teams are willing to give up?

 

If Davis would be playing in Washington it would be same.Valancunas is playing very hard -nosed defense when it matters
And he's almost excellent at boxing out and fighting for defensive rebounds

 

Seconds don’t hold much value since they can be purchased every summer before the draft.
Juzang may turn into a valuable developmental piece, but he’s nowhere near equal to a first at this point in time.
IF a backup big was the last puzzle piece needed to turn this squad into a real contender, then Kessler possibly could be worth two firsts, but this isn’t the case.

 

Bruce Brown is the ideal player the Lakers should target in a trade to strengthen their roster. His explosive athleticism and speed make him a perfect fit for the Lakers FO desire to add more transition play and dynamic offensive options. With 11% of his career field goals being dunks, he clearly possesses the athleticism to finish strong around the rim, an asset the Lakers need. Brown would be a significant upgrade over Gabe Vincent as a backup point guard, offering better defense and playmaking ability while still being capable of spacing the floor with his 37% shooting from the corner. His versatility as a perimeter defender would bolster the our already strong defense, and his ability to guard multiple positions adds depth. With experience in clutch playoff situations, including a pivotal role in Denver’s 2023 championship run, Brown has the pedigree to thrive in a high-pressure environment, making him the perfect third guard to complement the our stars. Importantly, Brown is good enough to start, but not necessarily to the point where he warrants removing Max Christie from the starting lineup. This is ideal, as the Lakers should ideally keep Max in that role to continue his development, while still benefiting from Brown’s impact off the bench.

 

Collier is another player that provides speed and athleticism.

 

Brown could serve as a backup for both Reaves and Max, making him an ideal sixth-man replacement for Rui. He provides that speed and athleticism that the Lakers FO has stated as a priority. A potential trade could involve sending Rui, JHS, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2029 first-round pick (top-14 protected) for Brown and a 2029 second-round pick. I would lean strongly into this trade.

 

Lakers could also remove the protection on the 2027 pick in a different trade with Utah.

 

Absolutely no way to know if we will be in the middle of the pack. AD or Reaves could easily go down and miss a third to half of the season and then we are at the very bottom.