Whats the Lakers Next Step?

[ReggiesKnicks]

If we had Ayton in the Minny series, we should have won it

Think what you want.

Teams 3-7 werent too far apart from each other, more of a matchup thing

Exactly. The Lakers finished at the top of their expected W/L. That's my point.

[nzahir]

Just looking at the current Lakers' roster as currently constructed.

PG: Luka Doncic / Gabe Vincent / Bronny James
SG: Austin Reaves / Shake Milton / Jordan Goodwin
SF: LeBron James / Jake LaRavia / Dalton Knecht
PF: Rui Hachimura / Jarred Vanderbilt / Maxi Kleber
C: DeAndre Ayton

Clearly, the Lakers could use more size so I'd guess they probably are short one more big man. I think they're going to shop their expiring (Vincent, Milton, and Kleber) for whatever useful vet they can get that has a 2nd year on their contract. I think their ideal target would be Andrew Wiggins, but if the Heat continue to insist on Dalton Knecht or a FRP in return for him, they'll pivot elsewhere. Ideally, I think they're looking for a wing defender preferably one with a reliable jump shot. I could see them pivoting to someone like John Collins, but I can't imagine they'd give up much more than a SRP to acquire him. After that, I'd venture a guess they'll just go veteran minimum shopping. Guys like Melton, CP3, etc. will probably be discussed.

That roster is dire, not a single great defender there.

There's a reason Ayton was bought out, and he provides nothing the Lakers actually need. He can't defend and he doesn't space the floor.

Grayson would be a good get, he'd fit the starting group.

Grayson would be solid as a shooter, but doesnt fix the missing POA/wing defender

Rui for Allen would make sense for both sides since they have a ton of SGs and no real PFs

And he has 2 years+1 PO (I assume he opts out), so he can make sense

But I would only do this if we have secured a starting defensive minded wing that wouldnt require Rui

The issue is I dont think we use a 1st or Knecht for a guy who isnt young; but someone like Rui+Gabe expiring+2nd/swap can get you someone like Wiggins imo

[OxAndFox]

The Lakers' next step needs to be convince Luka to an extension RIGHT NOW. Do not let Luka go into the season without one. Because the Lakers will be complete ASS next season. They're not making the POs outright. They MIGHT get into the 9/10 spot for a chance at the play in, and then what? Try and convince Luka to sign a long term extension along with who? It's going to end in tears, for at 1 year for the Lakers. (only to sign 2 max FAs the following year lol).

[OxAndFox]

Just looking at the current Lakers' roster as currently constructed.

PG: Luka Doncic / Gabe Vincent / Bronny James
SG: Austin Reaves / Shake Milton / Jordan Goodwin
SF: LeBron James / Jake LaRavia / Dalton Knecht
PF: Rui Hachimura / Jarred Vanderbilt / Maxi Kleber
C: DeAndre Ayton

Clearly, the Lakers could use more size so I'd guess they probably are short one more big man. I think they're going to shop their expiring (Vincent, Milton, and Kleber) for whatever useful vet they can get that has a 2nd year on their contract. I think their ideal target would be Andrew Wiggins, but if the Heat continue to insist on Dalton Knecht or a FRP in return for him, they'll pivot elsewhere. Ideally, I think they're looking for a wing defender preferably one with a reliable jump shot. I could see them pivoting to someone like John Collins, but I can't imagine they'd give up much more than a SRP to acquire him. After that, I'd venture a guess they'll just go veteran minimum shopping. Guys like Melton, CP3, etc. will probably be discussed.

That roster is dire, not a single great defender there.

There's a reason Ayton was bought out, and he provides nothing the Lakers actually need. He can't defend and he doesn't space the floor.

I mean, no disrespect to Austin, but forecasting, him being your new best defender isn't the best strategy.

[nzahir]

Agbaji and Derrick Jones Jr also some options

I dont think GS trades Podz, but he would make sense

[GatherStepGuru]

Send Bron to wherever he’s gonna end his career chasing a ring; not seeing it for LA.

NYK or Cleveland seem to make the most sense imo to get decent assets back

[eric365]

It make no sens for Luka to sign an extension

The roster is trash, especially when Lebron retire. They don't have great assets
The only reason he would stay is because of the Lakers ability to attract free agent. And I'm not sure he is impressed so far

[kobe_vs_jordan]

Trading lebron seems like wasting a year of Luka to me. Lakers ended 3rd last season . Don't see why they couldn't win more if they go all on a wing defender.

Smart , KCP, Wiggins would be my targets. See what team stumbles and make trade into the season if no targets avaialbe.

Lakers also massively overachieved their point differential and clearly weren't the 3rd best team in the West.

They won 50 games. Rockets won 52. I don’t see the logic lol

[BK_2020]

Trading lebron seems like wasting a year of Luka to me. Lakers ended 3rd last season . Don't see why they couldn't win more if they go all on a wing defender.

Smart , KCP, Wiggins would be my targets. See what team stumbles and make trade into the season if no targets avaialbe.

Lakers also massively overachieved their point differential and clearly weren't the 3rd best team in the West.

They won 50 games. Rockets won 52. I don’t see the logic lol

With only 28 games of Luka.

[Texas Chuck]

It make no sens for Luka to sign an extension

I mean guaranteeing yourself 9 figures makes quite a bit of sense. It's why star players sign long-term extensions as opposed to just continually doing 1+PO deals. It's protection against injury. Otherwise they would only do one year at a time deals to maintain leverage.

I suspect he signs regardless of what the roster looks like come August 2nd. But if he doesn't next off-season will certainly have a big prize teams will be pursuing.

[nate33]

The problem is what does LA do to fit his salary in; I'd trade him into a TPE for a 2nd. But if we are swapping expirings, then it either has to be another good defense high character guy. If he's salary ballast for taking on someone less valuable then there has to be compensation for that. That's why I said to the guy who said bring in Smart to make an offer. I don't really see anything there that works well.

I mean, Vincent plus Kleber works pretty much straight up for Smart. Wiz add an additional 913k on their salary, but that's pretty insignificant and probably could be covered with cash if they wanted/needed. If Wiz want something back involving Smart, it's going to need to be them taking back long-term money. So a team could acquire Vincent and/or Kleber, and the 3rd team sends a bad contract and pick(s) back to Washington.

But why in the world would Washington do this? Smart may be overpaid on his contract, but he is a more useful player than Vincent + Kleber.

[nate33]

Even a 2nd is something, and possibly enough. If I'm the team, Smart doesn't see the court much behind all the other guards we have and I use McCollum and Middleton as my vet mentors so the only issue would be whether Vincent has a good attitude about not being in the rotation without injuries or another trade. Can always cut one of them if needed too; we weren't going to resign Smart that I know of.

Gabe + Maxi + SRP for Smart is something that might make sense at the Trade Deadline. I don't think I'd pull the trigger on that deal right now though. I'd rather have Smart as a mentor and if he has a rebound year, he seems like the kind of guy that might generate some interest at the Trade Deadline from many teams because he can play in a playoff game.

[nate33]

It make no sens for Luka to sign an extension

I mean guaranteeing yourself 9 figures makes quite a bit of sense. It's why star players sign long-term extensions as opposed to just continually doing 1+PO deals. It's protection against injury. Otherwise they would only do one year at a time deals to maintain leverage.

I suspect he signs regardless of what the roster looks like come August 2nd. But if he doesn't next off-season will certainly have a big prize teams will be pursuing.

I'd say Doncic is in the echelon where even if he has a nasty season-ending injury this year, he would still get the max on his next contract. He doesn't really have that much incentive to extend early.

After all, he may be waiting around until next Summer when my Wizards extend him an offer.

[Vae Victus]

Thinking about it more. The Lakers really screwed up in not giving DFS a 3rd year, or at least a player option (outside chance he'd opt out) for the 3rd year. Satisfies his objective of securing the biggest bag he can get and Lakers retain a solid 3D player. Ayton i feel woulda just signed for the TPMLE 1+1 as his fit on the Lakers is still the best among all of his suitors, it'll cost him a coupla mil for this upcoming season but can easily be made up with a good year. After that, forget the 2027 cap space plan, just trade Kleber+Vincent or even Rui if needed, for the best player on a multi year deal that other teams are looking to dump. Wiggins would be ideal and id happily throw in a SRP and cash to make it happen. Then wait for buyouts like John Collins and other disgruntled vets stuck on tanking squads. I'd also keep exploring an Austin Reaves trade for a better fitting partner for Luka, dont want to be forced to pay him 27+ mil when the time comes, he's basically the perfect 6th man, but as a 3rd option his lack of defense is killer.

At best Laravia can easily provide a bit more offensive versatility than DFS, but defensively... yea...

[Texas Chuck]

They are rumored to want shooting/perimeter defense (DFS lol). Plenty of guys who offer one or the other they can get for cheap. But I'd at least touch base with Memphis and see what it costs to get KCP. I think they will value him and play him, but if he was mostly seen as necessary salary in the Bane deal, I'd try and bring him back to LA.

[facothomas22]

A possible Lebron buyout if he 's ready to move on to a different team by the start of the upcoming season? Unless Lebron for some reason is interested in going to the 76ers or Suns, a Lebron trade is basically impossible without giving up quality players on atleast reasonable contracts.

[zimpy27]

Thinking about it more. The Lakers really screwed up in not giving DFS a 3rd year, or at least a player option (outside chance he'd opt out) for the 3rd year. Satisfies his objective of securing the biggest bag he can get and Lakers retain a solid 3D player. Ayton i feel woulda just signed for the TPMLE 1+1 as his fit on the Lakers is still the best among all of his suitors, it'll cost him a coupla mil for this upcoming season but can easily be made up with a good year. After that, forget the 2027 cap space plan, just trade Kleber+Vincent or even Rui if needed, for the best player on a multi year deal that other teams are looking to dump. Wiggins would be ideal and id happily throw in a SRP and cash to make it happen. Then wait for buyouts like John Collins and other disgruntled vets stuck on tanking squads. I'd also keep exploring an Austin Reaves trade for a better fitting partner for Luka, dont want to be forced to pay him 27+ mil when the time comes, he's basically the perfect 6th man, but as a 3rd option his lack of defense is killer.

At best Laravia can easily provide a bit more offensive versatility than DFS, but defensively... yea...

Ayton may not have signed for less.
Lakers clearly had TaxMLE planned for LaRavia.
They thought DFS would return.

Anyway, DFS didn't resign and Lakers lost him but it opened room for Ayton and one other FA at BAE yet to sign or a trade acquisition.

They actually need a perimeter 3+D guy anyway, DFS was more a big wing defender and small ball C type of player. He's actually awesome in small ball lineups.
Lakers need to target an SG that can guard 1-4 IMO.

[In-N-Out 247]

It make no sens for Luka to sign an extension

I mean guaranteeing yourself 9 figures makes quite a bit of sense. It's why star players sign long-term extensions as opposed to just continually doing 1+PO deals. It's protection against injury. Otherwise they would only do one year at a time deals to maintain leverage.

I suspect he signs regardless of what the roster looks like come August 2nd. But if he doesn't next off-season will certainly have a big prize teams will be pursuing.

I'd say Doncic is in the echelon where even if he has a nasty season-ending injury this year, he would still get the max on his next contract. He doesn't really have that much incentive to extend early.

After all, he may be waiting around until next Summer when my Wizards extend him an offer.

Trying to think of the last player to get offered a max extension from their team and not take it. And I am not talking about extensions where it's the max a team can offer - like the Austin Reaves extension the Lakers can currently offer. The thinking in the league has shifted and max players are not looking to become free agents anymore. They sign their max then if it does not work out they just demand a trade if they want to move on.

Luka will 100% sign an extension in early August. Guessing it will be a 3 year extension with a PO.

JJJ & SGA already signed their max extensions. Sounds like Booker & Fox will soon sign max extensions. I have not heard anything specific on Jokic, but pretty sure he is eligible to add on 3 years and I don't see any reason why that won't happen.

[basketballwacko2]

I think LBJ wants one more run at a title. IDK if that happens with this laker roster.

Titles are typically won by having a Top 5 player in the NBA, and LeBron currently shares the court with a Top 5 player in the NBA. I doubt he wants to be traded.

OKC, Denver, and Milwaukee can't or won't trade for LeBron.

That's the issue for him and the lakers. I don't think they will put together a good enough team to get past Denver, OKC or Houston. The got beat in the first round in 2025. A lot will depend on health but I have to think OKC is the favorite to win the West again.

The contender teams don't have the pieces either to match salary or to give the Lakers picks.

IF he stays in LA which is most likely and they don't win the title I think he goes UFA and signs with Cleveland as a free agent in 2026-27 for a small amount and then retires.

[ReggiesKnicks]

I think LBJ wants one more run at a title. IDK if that happens with this laker roster.

Titles are typically won by having a Top 5 player in the NBA, and LeBron currently shares the court with a Top 5 player in the NBA. I doubt he wants to be traded.

OKC, Denver, and Milwaukee can't or won't trade for LeBron.

That's the issue for him and the lakers. I don't think they will put together a good enough team to get past Denver, OKC or Houston. The got beat in the first round in 2025. A lot will depend on health but I have to think OKC is the favorite to win the West again.

The contender teams don't have the pieces either to match salary or to give the Lakers picks.

IF he stays in LA which is most likely and they don't win the title I think he goes UFA and signs with Cleveland as a free agent in 2026-27 for a small amount and then retires.

I don't think LeBron is going to be playing in the NBA on a small amount of money. It simply isn't worth his time investment to commit to a full season at his age and get paid pennies on the dollar.

LeBron wants to be competitive and be paid top dollar for his services. Once he isn't paid close or at the Max, he is going to retire.