2026-27 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

everything reads like we're chasing duren, which seems highly unlikely to me.

then again, the article finishes by suggesting "higher aims" as turner, gafford, and robert williams. i see them in a similar (perhaps lower?) class than claxton for various reasons.

 

25. Los Angeles Lakers

Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
Junior

Veesaar's perimeter shooting and size should give him a path to rotation minutes relatively early and have put him in play for first-round teams that need depth at center. He seems likely to come off the board somewhere in the 20s, where he has several potential landing spots.

The center position has been a revolving door for the Lakers, who should be focused on the bigger picture of building around Luka Doncic but are also dealing with new contracts for LeBron James and Austin Reaves. Veesaar's shooting ability would make him a viable ball-screen partner for Doncic.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...ht-trade-talks-boozer-peterson-dybantsa-acuff

 

I feel like Rob might be terrified of making this pick, after missing on JHS and Knecht.

The "safe" move for him would be to trade the pick for a starter, or at least a borderline starter.

 

Bruh, our FO did this to themselves- they have been telling Luka since he got here:”wait for summer of 26- you’ll see!”
They better have something good cookin.’ Kickin’ the can down the road ain’t an option anymore.

 

Spot on. What the actual f***??? I see Duran Gafford Robert Williams Turner??????? That’s a huge upgrade. ? They are much better than Claxton? I don’t think so.

 

I like this kid. This is the guy I like for the pick.

 

How do we know for sure they actually did that? Lakers don't have assets to make any big moves. Any moves will be along the edges just like they have been the past few years. The best assets Lakers have is some draft picks, Dalton Thou and Van contract no one wants but have to be included for any significant player. The next next thing is a sign and trade of either Austin, Lebron or Rui.

 

Caveat: I'm not defending Rob; he hit a home run with the Luka trade, but I think his decisions have, on the whole, been more bad than good since he's the Lakers GM.

But the thing is, the players we're chasing, everyone is chasing as well

The center market is very thin, and everyone wants defensive anchors or floor spacers

Everyone is looking for 3&D wings

Add that to the fact that we don't have that many assets, and no one wants to help the Lakers become a contender, and will deal their players somewhere else if given the choice, it makes it very difficult for us.

I think we may just have to end up running it back with a couple of new additions, and that's it.

it would be disappointing, but at least we know we'll probably be in the mix

the other option is spending our assets on deals without long term thinking that can really set the franchise back for a few years like the Westbrook trade did

 

https://x.com/i/status/2069516557043040411

Not the best news.
Ware may not be available.
There shouldn't be top 10 picks trades. This is good for us as it would indicate OKC isn't able to do a pick consolidation trade and our #25 is a bit more coveted if someone wants a bite at the first round

C'mon Rob!

 

i didn't expect ware to be available once i read the various dispatches. turner's the one that makes more sense to move. i would have pegged him to bulls, claxton to us, but alas...

 

2031 1st and 2028 swap to OKC for #17 and #37.

Or

2028 swap + 2033 2nd for Dort

 

Look..Give me Ware, Missi and Hayes and let's go!! The 5 spot is covered with 3 guys "That can run and jump, and defend the rim".

Or swap Hayes out for Robinson. That should leave just enough capspace to reup James, Rui, Smart and have the full MLE, and a draft pick.

 

Ayton is better except defensively. We don’t need Claxton to score, we just need him to switch and play tough defense. Ayton for most of the season still wanted post touches. When he committed to the dirty stuff we were pretty damn good.

Anyway, I’m

Technically, Randle was traded into cap space for a draft pick. Minny had nothing to do with Claxton, he was traded to Chicago. That deal could have easily been split up, so if we were the third party, Minny didn’t need to be involved.

Anyway, it’s done now. Let’s focus on our opportunities.

 

I’m all for a big like Ware who can at least shoot a little from the perimeter. The Knicks showed us that in order to beat Wemby you better have a big that can pull him away from the basket. Just having a bunch of lob bigs who can’t shoot and sit in the dunker’s spot is a recipe for disaster. Wemby will volleyball spike all those lob dunk attempts. AD has success vs Wemby because he’s versatile enough to beat you inside and outside, like KAT did.

 

Welp Ware unavailable

 

great point. Those Luka Lob Mavs teams never played Wemby.

 

I like the Evans kid what a smooth jumper.

 

I expect lakers to keep the picks and draft and vet. Would love to see them move Van and Dalton. I know kr likes living at home in La with his dad but if he really wants an NBA career he is on the wrong team.