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

Our two biggest needs:

1) Two Rim-running, lob-catching bigs: Preferably at least one of them could switch.
2) Point of attack defender: Preferably one who could shoot. Since we have Reaves, ball handling would not be a priority for this player.

• These "specific" roles are more valuable to this Lakers squad, based on our current roster. We have Luka, so it's paramount to have players that optimize Luka. This is where "lob catching" comes in. We also have a coach that likes to switch, so this is where being "switchy" comes in for our bigs.
• Since Luka is our small forward defender, and AR is our shooting guard defender, it is a no-brainer that the point guard defender is good at defense. Additionally, since Luka and AR are both on-ball shot creators, it is also preferable for said point guard defender to be able to catch-and shoot. It also decreases the need for this player to be a ballhandler.
• Since our two biggest needs are "nichy", we should be able to get a decent deal on them, although other teams will still be trying to squeeze us, since they know this. But really, how valuable is a Nic Claxton to a team like Brooklyn, and how valuable is an under-rated point-of-attack defender to some random team with no defensive identity?
• We might be able to find a bargain on an undersized catch and shoot "tweener" defensive type poa defender. Whether that be on a draft pick, reclamation project, or just overlooked type of player. How about a Marcus Sasser type player? Podzimski? McBride? Agbaji? Moody?

 

Trade 1: Rui + Knecht + remove protection on 2027 1st to Utah for Collins

Trade 2: 2031 1st + #55 to OKC for #15, #24, #40.

Draft #15 Clayton Jr, #24 Niedenhauser, #44 Sion James

Trade 3: Trade cash to WAS for #40 and draft Kalnenbrenner

Trade 4: Trade Vincent + Milton + 2030 swap to Charlotte for Green

Free Agency: D'Anthony Melton with 5.7 TPMLE, Paul with veterans minimum

PG: Melton, Paul, Goodwin
SG: Reaves, Clayton Jr,
SF: Doncic, Green, Sion
PF: James, DFS, Vanderbilt
C: Collins, Niedenhauser, Kalkenbrenner

 

I’d rather have Rui and Knecht than just Collins let alone more draft compensation.



Well at least you’ve gotten off Reaves for anybody and everybody.

 

Collins is a switchy 5 that could catch lobs. As a bonus, he could shoot and rebound.

 

Anybody could go for the right value coming back; it takes quality to get quality. We build EVERYTHING around Luka.

Do you know who knows this best? The new owners coming in...