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

i'd argue the spurs were a big ONE and 2-3 2s (leonard came on later). this is a model i'm totally down with. luka with reaves and another reaves-level player, then nicely-fitting role players.

both the gs and boston teams above were only possible for very brief windows due to cba issues/weird luck (the cap rise in one case, al horford's renaissance and holiday's weird and sudden trade availability in the other).

and i've said we can't copy okc (or indy) because we can't tank and wait. we need to copy denver, who consolidated and grabbed two starters (gordon and kcp), then developed role players. we need two high level starters.

the team on top seems totally impossible (how do you keep kennard and add melton? and that's beyond reaves agreeing to a S&T and milwaukee also being on board with that...), but yes, it's probably better. i could name a bunch of unrealistic options that are better.

the second team is very realistic, imo, and it wouldn't also empty the cupboard of picks in case things went sideways.

 

I want whatever Luka wants, because that's the option that Rob will pursue. Now I have no idea if this is true or not, but if it is...don't be surprised if we are in pursuit of Giannis by draft night. Luka is in the LeBron's position of asking for AD if he chooses, so again, whatever he's thinking is going to be our marching orders. I don't have a problem with that at all. He might say...I want to play with Austin and improve around the margins. IDK...We shall see.

https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/onsi/news/luka-doncic-asked-lakers-about-potential-trade-for-giannis-antetokounmpo-report#:~:text=Luka Doncic Asked Lakers About Potential Trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo: Report

 

I don't know if Spencer Dinwiddie is totally shot yet or not, but he’s available for a playoff pick up too.

 

I hope they get them too.

 

I’ve spelled it out here before. But here it is again…

Trade 1: Portis (14.5m) for Vando & Knecht (combined: 16.6m)

Trade 2: Giannis (58.4m) for Reaves S&T (42m) + 3 firsts + 2 swaps + 2 seconds (Milwaukee controls our picks for the next 5 years)

After the trade:

Luka (46m) / x / Bronny (2.3m)
x / x / x
x / Jake (6m)
Giannis (58.4m) / Portis (14.5m) / Adou (2.1m)
Ayton (8.1m) / Hayes (4m) / x

That’s 141.3m. We have 25m in cap space. Sign LeBron to 15m. Sign Smart to 10m. We then have the full MLE, split it between Kennard and Melton. Resign Hayes to 10m with bird rights. Resign Kleber to the minimum.

Luka (46m) / Melton (6m) / Bronny (2.3m)
Smart (10m) / Kennard (9.1m) / Development Spot
Lebron (15m) / Jake (6m)
Giannis (58.4m) / Portis (14.5m) / Adou (2.1m)
Ayton (8.1m) / Hayes (10m) / Kleber (3m)

Thats 192.8m in salary. Below the first apron by 16-17m.

Maybe some will argue that Lebron won’t sign for 15m? Ok then give him 20m. Sign Melton to 5 and split the MLE between Kennard and Smart.

If you can’t make Melton work, sign Thybulle instead. Or any other ring chaser.

If you argue that Ayton won’t opt in, ok, go for Turner with the extra money instead of Portis.

If LeBron leaves, give 25m to Watson. Or 15m to Ellis and 10m to Kennard with the full MLE going to Smart.

I don’t get this notion that we can’t make things work with cap wise with Giannis at all. There’s plenty of ways to make it work.

 

The word is Giannis doesn't want LA. Sure, that could change, but I think he ends up in Miami or NYK. IMO.