2025-26 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

I don’t know I looked at Thiero and he looks like a ball player.

just cause their second rounders doesn’t mean they won’t be great. Arenas Jokic.

I get your point it will take time for development. Some mocks had Thiero as a lottery pick but the injury allowed us to swoop him and get him.

same thing with Bronny. Bronny was projected as a lottery pick his freshman year at Campbell hall.

his injuries allowed us to get him and Rich Paul.

Bronny got great development in the d league and averaged 20 points. That’s what you want.

He played up here. So year two he should contribute and I expect him to contribute.

I’ve seen a Vast improvement from last season in summer league. He had 18 points last game and is regularly having 18 points. That’s the improvement I expect to see in second year guys. He’s still young tons of development.

actually to be honest. I’m more impressed with his development year two then Knect and think he’s playing better then Knect overall with his defense ball handling and attention to detail leading the team. Things I’m not seeing out of Knect.

I do expect a lot out of these guys..


As for signings the Ayton signing was huge. Take the hatoraid out this was a fabulous signing but everybody thinks it was bad??? Like what the f*** we got this guy at 2 yrs. 16 million all yall outlets was like the Lakers have to get a center. Are they trading Reaves and we got one for free. But now he’s a bad guy and why would you sign him?

just great and great for Luka. No I didn’t want to do an overpay for Daniel Gafford.

Hey either way a good addition is coming to our team Brogdon Smart Simmons or Melton.

I’m not gonna trip over either one that we didn’t get the other. Melton Brogdon Smart all same things in terms for us. Brogdon is probably the most talented being a former rookie of the year. And his experience playing with Gianiss. He could probably be a 6th man of the year here.

Lebron coming back here and buying in that’s Huge. Once we get to camp yall will see how special this team can be.

 

Finney-Smith was just mediocre as hell against Minnesota. I guess I'm the only person that seems to notice that? He was definitely not the guy from Dallas, I was expecting to show up in that series. Too small for their post guys, and very ineffective, against their perimeter players. I was rather surprised, that he was looking for a 4 year deal, after that playoffs performance.

If Austin is looking for 30M plus, with his next contract, he's going to need to step it up, in the playoffs this season too. (The 3pt shooting especially, he's shooting under 30%, over the last two series)The value in relation to contract, has been outstanding so far, but when it gets into the 30M range, it becomes a different conversation.

The crickets surrounding Rui’s expiring contract situation, is a bit odd, I thought Rui held his own against Minnesota.

 

Very good assessment.

 

I compared Reaves stats to Jaylen Williams on here. And knowing his agent. Hes gonna point to Jalen Williams contract and say see look at that???!!!! That’s what we want.

You can’t pay that. Reaves doesn’t deserve that. Now after we win a championship or after a better performance that’s a different story. It’s not all stats. Williams is a two way player.

Im expecting 23 points a game from Reaves this season 5 rebounds 6 assists a game and 1 steal.

 

I think the general feeling is that Reaves is not good enough to be a #1 or even a #2 option on a contender, and because he's offense only, these players are not valued that much nowadays. He was a nice to have and great value with this contract, but once he signs a much bigger one, I feel he might become untradeable.

 

This part is confusing too. I mean we still have plenty of time, but maybe we're really canvassing the league for trades for anyone apart from Luka (and maybe Lebron).

To me, Rui can be a natural successor to Lebron at PF. He can hit the 3 and is improving defensively. But we really need him to take some steps from a rebounding point of view. I'm hopeful he can increase his averages to 18/7 (this is practically in line with his per 36 numbers) on 50/40/80 - at that point he's a keeper.

Looking at the future, this is how I'd try to build our team:

Luka / POA 3&D Guard (could be Bronny if he develops into Marcus Smart player)
Reaves / POA 3&D Guard (same as above)
3&D Wing / Adou
Rui / Adou
Ayton / Backup C

I'd really want that 3&D player to be high end though, a star in his role.

 

Lebron keeps us viable, as a contender this season IMO. We can still be one with some smaller moves. Post Lebron, the situation becomes a lot murkier, we are going to be, facing some hard decisions with the roster. What worked best, post Lebron with AD, is not going to be the same with Luka. Fwiw I think Ayton would fit both scenarios. Max too TBH.

 

When the same productivity is shown by other players, they are valued as #1 or #2 options, even on a contending team. Again, I point to: how would you view these players, in terms of ability to serve as a #2 or better option on offense? They have relatively similar ages, sizes, positions, and defense, with advanced stats in line with the below regular stats.

Player A: 24.0 pts, 5.0 asts, 4.5 rebs, 3.3 3's, 1.3 stls, 44.3% FG, 36.8% 3P, 82.3% FT

Player B: 25.6 pts, 7.1 asts, 4.1 rebs, 2.4 3's, 0.9 stls, 46.1% FG, 33.2% 3P, 89.4% FT

Player C: 25.9 pts, 7.4 asts, 5.5 rebs, 3.1 3's, 1.5 stls, 46.7% FG, 38.1% 3P, 91.4% FT

 

I agree with this future build. You've listed them by positions on offense, which makes sense. If we listed it by defense, I'd want that starting 3&D wing to instead be a 3&D POA 1-3 defender:

Starting caliber POA 3&D Guard/Backup POA 3&D Guard (could be Bronny or Goodwin if they develop)
Reaves / Backup POA 3&D Guard (same as above)
Luka / 3&D Wing (could be LaRavia if he develops) / Adou
Rui / Adou
Ayton / Backup C

That team is a playoff team, with their potential depending on how good the defenders are. With enough defense, it can be a contender.

Interestingly, right now we have that team PLUS LeBron MINUS a starting caliber 3&D guard. Can that offense/defense tradeoff still be a contender? In the regular season, yes. Good enough to fight for a top 4-5 seed. In the playoffs, it will depend on matchups, development of the bench, and can we find enough defense. Which is why a near starting level POA guard like a healthy Melton could make a big difference, and hopefully someone like that gets added to our roster by the end of summer.

I agree that Herb is a better fit this year, if LeBron and Luka both stay healthy. But what about in a year or 2 when LeBron is gone? At that point, I believe Reaves is the better fit and harder to replace what he does.

 

What does the playoffs stats look like for the above? How much separation is there, positive or negative, from the regular season stats? That's more important on a Championship contender.