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

showtime24 · Apr 16, 2026 at 1:36 PM

FrontOfJersey22 said: ↑

You guys realize that Kessler played just FIVE games this season, right?
I still don’t understand the overblown love affair.
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He hurt his labrum. It's not a lower body thing. Should be able to recover from that pretty well. Robinson is a high injury risk too. I get what you are saying though. I'm leaning toward getting Watson. What should be do a out center? Need vertical gravity and rim protecting.

abeer3 · Apr 16, 2026 at 1:44 PM

FrontOfJersey22 said: ↑

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i like his game when he's available. but dallas already tried him with luka, and i think they both hated it?

LALakersFan4Life · Apr 16, 2026 at 2:25 PM

Ja Morant Has Informed Players, Former Coaches He's Done Playing For Grizzlies

Ja Morant has privately told players around the league and some of his former coaches that he is no longer willing to play for the Memphis Grizzlies, multiple league sources told ESPN.

The breaking point traces directly to a one-game suspension Morant received early in the season following a locker room confrontation with head coach Tuomas Iisalo after a Halloween night loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Iisalo had called out Morant, who shot 3-for-14 in 31 minutes, for what the coach deemed a substandard effort. Morant, already bristling over Iisalo's substitution patterns, responded dismissively and condescendingly, sources said.

The organization sided firmly with Iisalo, which was a pointed message that Morant has never processed. Teammates were also instructed to give Morant space and leave him alone during the suspension period, leaving him feeling isolated by the people closest to him.

The estrangement stands in stark contrast to Morant's only public comments on his future, delivered after a 24-point, 13-assist performance against Orlando in London in January.

"I've got a logo on my back, so that should tell you exactly where I want to be," Morant said, referencing a Grizzlies tattoo.

Despite those words, sources indicate Morant's private position tells a different story.

Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman offered measured public comments during his exit interview Monday.

"Ja's been a pro," Kleiman said. "I think everyone is on the same page as much as we can be. I won't speculate on any potential transactions."

Morant, 26, did not participate in Monday's exit interviews. He appeared in just 20 games this season, averaging 19.5 points on a career-worst 41.0% shooting before a UCL sprain in his left elbow ended his year on January 21, a night he punctuated with a spectacular chase-down block that may have been his final act in a Grizzlies uniform.
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https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48477422/inside-end-ja-morant-era-memphis

LALakersFan4Life · Apr 16, 2026 at 2:26 PM

Grizzlies Expected To Have Wider Market For Ja Morant This Summer

The Memphis Grizzlies are expected to re-engage teams in trade talks involving star point guard Ja Morant this offseason. Executives around the league believe Memphis will find a wider market for Morant this summer, but that the Grizzlies shouldn't expect to get much value in return.

Memphis did well to acquire seven first-round picks in trades for Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane in the last year. That kind of return isn't likely in a Morant trade. When the Grizzlies engaged the Sacramento Kings in talks ahead of the trade deadline, the Kings wanted Memphis to send assets with Morant. That reportedly quickly ended those trade discussions.

Memphis general manager Zach Kleiman wouldn't go into details about the team's plans for Morant this offseason but hinted that there is an understanding.

"Ja's been a pro," Kleiman said. "I think everyone is on the same page as much as we can be. I won't speculate on any potential transactions."

It may take some other dominoes to fall in the draft and free agency before Morant's market becomes clearer, but it's believed that there will be interest in the former All-Star.

"There will be teams that will feel like they didn't get what they wanted in the draft or free agency, and that's when something could happen for Ja," a Western Conference executive told ESPN.
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https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48477422/inside-end-ja-morant-era-memphis

LALakersFan4Life · Apr 16, 2026 at 2:28 PM

Kawhi Leonard Defers On Clippers Future As Contract Extension Window Approaches

Kawhi Leonard declined to address his future with the Los Angeles Clippers following Wednesday's season-ending play-in loss to Golden State, entering an offseason that carries significant uncertainty both contractually and legally.

"Let me cry about this loss a little bit more," Leonard said when asked whether he could envision remaining in Los Angeles. "We'll have our discussions when that time comes."

Leonard enters the final year of his contract next season and becomes eligible to sign a two-season extension the day after the NBA Finals. The Clippers can offer a maximum of $126.1 million across those two seasons.

The offseason decision arrives against the backdrop of an ongoing NBA investigation into an endorsement deal Leonard signed with Aspiration, a now-bankrupt former team sponsor. Podcaster Pablo Torre reported before the season that former Aspiration employees believed the arrangement was structured to circumvent the salary cap.

Leonard was measured when asked about the investigation's status Wednesday,

"I never thought about it too much other than questions asked. You'll have to ask the NBA, not me. I'm not the one doing the investigation," Leonard said. "I think we're going to be in the clear. I'm not stressing it."

Leonard's on-court performance this season was among the finest of his career. He averaged a career-best 27.9 points per game, appeared in 66 games and ranked in the top 10 in field goal percentage, 2-point percentage and 3-point percentage. Los Angeles outscored opponents by 7.8 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor and was outscored by 6.9 with him off it.

Wednesday's finale, however, exposed his limitations against a focused defensive scheme. Golden State devoted its game plan to neutralizing Leonard, who managed just one made shot over the final 16 minutes and committed five second-half turnovers, his most in any half since 2019.

The Warriors were among teams that contacted the Clippers about Leonard's availability following February's James Harden trade, according to multiple sources. Those discussions are expected to resurface this summer.

The Clippers showed resilience despite the midseason roster overhaul, becoming the first team in NBA history to finish 15 games over .500 after reaching 15 games under at an earlier point. Los Angeles closed the regular season 36-19, fourth best in the Western Conference over that stretch, after opening 6-21.
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https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...ers-future-not-stressing-nba-aspiration-probe

abeer3 · Apr 16, 2026 at 2:40 PM

who's going to be after morant? minny? i had the wizards before they got young. maybe NO? murray/poole for morant kcp should work salary-wise.

would anyone take murray if someone took vando from us in the deal? like vando/knecht and we absorb the rest of murray's deal? risky, but i'm not uninterested.

showtime24 · Apr 16, 2026 at 2:53 PM

LAKERS OFFSEASON PLAN

(1) If no sufficient pick available, inquire about Missi. Trade up to #24 + 2033 2nd + 2032 swap for Missi. NBA proven rim-protector and rim-runner. Still, only 22-years old next season. Only gets paid about 3.5 million next season. He's not Wilt Chamberlain, but you can't do much better in terms of rim-protector and rim-runner combination, not even mentioning his age and low contract.

(2) Try and buy a 2nd or 1st Round pick to develop.

(3) Sign-and-Trade for Watson. Descending contract, starting at up to 36-million. Probably wouldn't have to be that high though. Elite shot-blocker for his position, excellent POA defender, athletic, elite corner three-point shooter. Only 24-years old next season. Star potential.

(4) Pre-arrange an agreement with Lebron to sign with whatever cap-room you have left from Watson.

(5) Sign Smart with the Room-Exception. Second high-level POA defender for the second-unit. Valuable veteran leader. Decent enough of a shooter.

(6) Sign Kennard for vet-minimum. Crypto could be a tricky place to shoot, and Kennard has shown the ability to shoot there. So better to just bring him back, then signing some other shooter who might not be able to shoot there. Kennard has also shown nice play making skills, which is a nice bonus.

(7) Sign Rui for vet-minimum. Same as Kennard, and market might be drying up on them. If Kennard and/or Rui leave elsewhere, there will be shooters for us to get with the vet-minimum. Limited dimensional shooters are a dime a dozen.

PG: LUKA, SMART, SMITH JR
SG: REAVES, KENNARD, BRONNY
SF: WATSON, RUI, LARAVIA
PF: JAMES, THIERO, VANDO
C: MISSI, HAYES, AYTON

svtzr · Apr 16, 2026 at 3:17 PM

Rui won’t sign for the minimum and neither will Kennard. I think Rui’s time with us is finished and he’ll go somewhere for the MLE. A big guy with a great shot will be valuable to the right team.

Kennard has actually shown to be more than a one dimensional shooter. I think he goes somewhere for TPMLE to Room Exception money.

showtime24 · Apr 16, 2026 at 3:24 PM

svtzr said: ↑

Rui won’t sign for the minimum and neither will Kennard. I think Rui’s time with us is finished and he’ll go somewhere for the MLE. A big guy with a great shot will be valuable to the right team.

Kennard has actually shown to be more than a one dimensional shooter. I think he goes somewhere for TPMLE to Room Exception money.
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Yeah, I think it's possible that they make more. In this scenario, we use the Room Exception on Smart, since his skillset is more rare, in demand, and hard to fill. Lakers could look at other shooters, like Trent Jr, Hardaway Jr, Huerter, Thomas, Shamet, Fontechio, Kaluma, etc.

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