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

A bruising lob-threat would be ideal, but maybe kind of a unicorn. Is that what Gafford qualifies as? If not, the Luka 23-24 Mavs didn't have any bruisers.

 

Yeah Gafford is a mad man. He strikes me as someone capable of killing someone lol I remember a play in that run with Luka where he goes to the ground in a tough fall and he celebrates the and-1 in a way that frighten me

Paul Reed is still a guy I would love to take a look at. Another team where he ends up 3rd string but he always plays well when getting the minutes and already outplayed Stewart a couple times these playoffs.
I think he would be available at the vet min as the 3rd string center who can win the backup spot if Hayes drops.
He's a good lob threat, good rebounder, high energy and I noticed he bulked up since Philly.
I think he would conquer that backup role and honestly I see he as the ceiling to be the starter if all goes well. Type of gamble I want to do with the vet mins

 

That Dallas team had 3 lob threats at the 5: Gafford, Lively, and Powell. And also had lob threats at other positions in players like DJJ and PJ.

 

Yeah, Reed is a good defender too. Another rare player that could play differernt types of defenses.

 

I really don't know who lakers can realistically get. It's going to be interesting. But early indications has this team looking very similar next season unless LeBron leaves. Austin and Luka are sure to be back and Lakers are leaving it up to LeBron. Then if Ayton opt in and they resign Luke and Rui you're looking at just minor tweak.

 

https://www.essentiallysports.com/n...akers-suffer-humiliating-sweep-rui-hachimura/

 

i was thinking you might be able to pry him or bitadze away (though luka was beefing with him last we saw him, lol).

don't think wcj is the guy orlando moves on from, though.

i don't think gafford is a bruiser.

i think mitchell robinson is a bruising lob threat, sort of in the mold of younger deandre jordan. he's just injured so often...

 

If Lakers really want to follow the 23-24 Mavs model to appease Luka, then they get multiple lob-threats at the 5, not some combination of lob-threat and floor-bound bruiser.

 

i don't know that we're following that exact blueprint. luka asked for mark williams, and he's more like ayton than lively or gafford.

 

I think Rui might be a bigger priority for Luka over AR. Get it done for 16-18 million.