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

Yeah, I would go ahead and see if he would take around 4 years/ 70 million. This deal would start at around 15.5 million and go up with 8% raises. But, maybe they land on 4 years/ 76 million, with a first year salary of around 16.9 million. On a team with Lebron James on it, Rui is relegated to 6th man. On a team without Lebron, Rui could start at the 4, if there are sufficient defensive pieces around him. The uncertainty regarding Lebron might have some sort of impact on this decision as well. But if the Lakers could lock him into that 70 million extension, I would say go ahead and sign him now. That's slightly more than MLE, so good value for a 6th man, or eventually going to that PJ Washington role at starting 4. Then there is the team roster uncertainly in terms of the salary cap projected for next season. If we trade Gabe/Kleba/31 1st for that 3 and D POA that we need, and Lebron and Reaves are both back at their max, it would put us 10-20 million or so over the 2nd apron. It would just be too much salary. So Lakers just need to be careful with what they do. I could see how that uncertainty could impact their decision on signing Rui to an extension this season, when there is a chance they might just have to let him walk, unlikely though. It still might be best to see if you could get some good value for Rui in the form of a trade.