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

Right, I agree, at the current level of offers, nothing is getting done, or it would have been done to retain Goodwin. That's why I'm saying I would up the offer, because that's how impactful I think Thybulle and RW3 could be.

Right now, our roster is solid, but the weakest links imo are Vincent and Kleber/Hayes minutes. Both are necessary though, due to POA and backup C needs. If we can uograde those 2 spots to elite defensive players, that would be huge. And Thybulle and RW3 do that. It truly takes us from a tier 2 team into tier 1 imo, 50/50 with any of OKC, Denver, Houston.

I think other people, including you, have expressed similar interest in Thybulle/RW3 before. Their impact is not in dispute, it's just the cost. Which wouldn't get done right now. But if we throw a swap in there? Maybe. 2 swaps? They have to do it, even if they don't like us, right?

I know that probably sounds too high to you, but it's a good middle ground to me, between the "keep assets & flexibility at all costs" side and the "go all in while you have Luka + LeBron + Reaves" side. We're not gonna trade the 2031 FRP like that side wants, but a swap or 2 to have a true legit shot at contending? While preserving financial flexibility since it's expirings for expirings? Sounds pretty good to me. It's also betting on ourselves, with those swaps likely being nothing anyway. Come on, is Portland gonna be better than us in 2 years? Very unlikely. So the swap isn't gonna matter anyway.

Look, if you had one shot or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted in one moment - would you capture it, or just let it slip? You only get one shot. Do not miss your chance. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.

Okay, I was messing around there, but in all seriousness, I really think this is the move. Have I convinced anyone else yet?


ETA: btw, to answer your question about 2nds, I think we can trade the 2032 2nd and that's it, the rest are already traded.

 

Loves hasn't been Love since he lost the weight - Fat Love was a baller

 

Finally the Beach Boy connection in southern California!! I'm feeling those good vibrations!!

 

Did some work on his face too

 

You mean like more hair?

 

Depth chart projections 2025

https://www.hoopshype.com/story/spo...-an-early-look-at-team-rotations/71286522007/

 

Lakers detailed speculated about a move for everyone's favorite Dylan Brooks.
Since the Laker moves tend to come from unexpected places and they've been linked with Brooks in the past, I wouldn't be surprised by this
His contract fits the 2 year nothing on the books moves as well. Just saying

 

i'd be surprised if we'd add his guaranteed year.

and the suns need a starting pf more than say, gabe (though they could use a reliable bench pg).

lol, but brooks, smart, and vando...we'd definitely piss some people off on the regular.

anyway, not buying it for a few reasons.

 

Wow, they're really trying to push LeBron out, huh?

J/K. He had a good year, but I would be surprised by this. Source?

 

Lol, imagine you're a 2/3 playing against this team, and they keep swarming you with these 3 guys. Annoying. Frustrating. Terrifying.

 

but then we'd have to play offense.

 

Yes, annoying. Frustrating. Terrifying.

For us.

 

I'm not fan of either Marcus Smart or dylan brooks per. For all my Vando negativity, I at least like the guy!

That being said, I hate to say it but I'm secretly hoping this happens - the NBA can be a strange combination of boring moves and stupidity.
The Lakers would be going for something really unique taking on a risk that could flame out completely or succeed wildly: uber talented scoring options matched up with in your face defensive options that isn't normally tried. Sort of reminds me of Krause saying f*** it I'll take Rodman since I have Jordan and Pippen and whose going to mess around when those two are around.

The sheer madness and teams trying to figure out how to defend and score against a team with a rotation of Ayton/Lebron/Luka/AR/Smart/Brooks/Laravia/Rui. That would be a lot of bizarred err unique players on the Lakers (slow a** Luka game, old man Lebron charging, AR razzle dazzle, Rui posting up dudes, Brooks dry humping people trying to post on him, Smart thinking he's Steph Curry, wondering if Ayton is high). Think of the comedy of wondering if JJ is actively having a heart attack while trying to coach.

Hell, JJ probably will put up Jack in the Shining as the way he wants Brooks/Smart/Vando to play.

 

That would be like having Brick and Ezell on the same team.


















Let's all just pretend that never happened.

 

We had trouble against Sengun when we still had AD. Ayton will have no answers for the many off rhythm moves Sengun has.

 

I understand you guys wanting Thybulle and Williams from Portland, but they never have and never will trade with us.
Maybe if Nico ends up as their GM someday and Rob is still here…

 

eh, if a team wants to run their offense through sengun, i'll single cover and live with the results like gs did.

he ain't jokic. and i actually think that people are getting weird about jokic types in that they think it was just a market inefficiency and not a once-in-a-generation talent. sure, keep drafting slow guys who can pass and hoping you've got it...

 

I hate that I'm saying this... sigh... but, I'd take Dillon Brooks. The trade would most likely be for Gabe & Kleber as the expirings going out. Brooks is better than both of them, and he'd be another strong 3&D player that would balance out our starting unit. He shot excellently last year and he tries really hard every possession.

Luka (36) / Smart (12) / Bronny
Reaves (30) / Smart (12) / Brooks (6) / Knecht
Brooks (22) / Vando (10) / LaRavia (16)
Lebron (32) / Rui (16) / Adou
Ayton (30) / Rui (12) / Vando (6)

Luka - 36
Lebron - 32
Rooves - 30
Ayton - 30
Rui - 28
Brooks - 28
Smart - 24
LaRavia - 16
Vando - 16

Would this open up space for another vet minimum? If someone like Vucevic gets bought out, adding him to the above is a no brainer at the vet min and gives us an additional big as Ayton insurance.

I honestly think the Brooks move makes us a championship contender.

• Playmaking: Luka, Lebron and Reaves is an abundance of playmaking talent
• Defence: Smart, Brooks, Vando & LaRavia is a really tenacious rotation of defenders
• Shooting: Brooks shot 39.7% from 3 last year, LaRavia - 42.3%, Rui - 41.3%, Luka - 37.9%, Lebron - 37.6%, Reaves - 37.7% and Smart was at 35%, Knecht is also a 38% shooter ready for playing time
• Rebounding: Ayton comes in with 10, Lebron & Luka pull down about 7-8, Rui & Vando around 5, Reaves, LaRavia & Brooks around 4

Based off of career averages, we should be an above average rebounding team, a top 10 shooting team, a top 10 defensive team and we'd have 3 of the best playmakers in the NBA which should give us a top 5 offence. To me that's a contender.