What are Lakers options going forward?

[dirkdiggler4177]

My guess is that LeBron will play one more season, but most likely for another team, like the Cavs or Heat, like a farewell tour. Could there be a small sign and trade?

How much does Reaves get? If he becomes a one-season beast, the Lakers might need to pay up. Lakers fans will most likely say they will trade him for Giannis, but I don't see the Bucks bothering to get an overpaid Reaves and some silly picks.

So what are their options going forward?

[JustBuzzin]

They will get Giannis we all know it's coming

[JN61]

Trade Lebron to Jazz or something for player like Markkanen + depth.

[Liam_Gallagher]

Their options are simple. Retain Reaves this off-season and ensure you have a max cap space spot for 2027. Only one-year deal guys until then (Ayton, Smart types). Sign Nikola Jokic in July of 2027. Put basketball in hoop.

2027-2028 Lakers:

Doncic
Reaves
filler
filler
Jokic

[JustBuzzin]

Trade Lebron to Jazz or something for player like Markkanen + depth.

LeGoat has a no trade clause boo boo.

[Bob8]

Their options are simple. Retain Reaves this off-season and ensure you have a max cap space spot for 2027. Only one-year deal guys until then (Ayton, Smart types). Sign Nikola Jokic in July of 2027. Put basketball in hoop.

2027-2028 Lakers:

Doncic
Reaves
filler
filler
Jokic

I would say that Giannis is far better fit and more likely to get.

[Bob8]

Trade Lebron to Jazz or something for player like Markkanen + depth.

LeGoat has a no trade clause boo boo.

Maybe Nico can help again. LeBron gets to play with 2 good friends and Lakers get Lively, PJ and Naji. Win-win.

[Mavrelous]

I really disliked their offseason, that team has low ceiling because they can't defend a chair, and the personnel is worse defensively than most teams Luka had before and he had some bad defenses around him, but its only saving grace is the optionality it keeps.
I think Reaves will be the co-star to Luka and they go after role players that fit, 3&D guard (KCP? DJJ? NAW?), 3&D big wing (Herb Jones? PJ reunion), rim running and rim protecting center (Jarret Allen?), and depth, with 1-2 1sts and cap space, you can fill these voids.
If they go star hunting and ignore the role players they will fail.

[JustBuzzin]

Trade Lebron to Jazz or something for player like Markkanen + depth.

LeGoat has a no trade clause boo boo.

Maybe Nico can help again. LeBron gets to play with 2 good friends and Lakers get Lively, PJ and Naji. Win-win.

Now this guy gets it.

[Bob8]

I really disliked their offseason, that team has low ceiling because they can't defend a chair, and the personnel is worse defensively than most teams Luka had before and he had some bad defenses around him, but its only saving grace is the optionality it keeps.
I think Reaves will be the co-star to Luka and they go after role players that fit, 3&D guard (KCP? DJJ? NAW?), 3&D big wing (Herb Jones? PJ reunion), rim running and rim protecting center (Jarret Allen?), and depth, with 1-2 1sts and cap space, you can fill these voids.
If they go star hunting and ignore the role players they will fail.

If they get Giannis, players like Rui, Smart, Ayton, Vando, Vincent...are good enough.

[dirkdiggler4177]

I really disliked their offseason, that team has low ceiling because they can't defend a chair, and the personnel is worse defensively than most teams Luka had before and he had some bad defenses around him, but its only saving grace is the optionality it keeps.
I think Reaves will be the co-star to Luka and they go after role players that fit, 3&D guard (KCP? DJJ? NAW?), 3&D big wing (Herb Jones? PJ reunion), rim running and rim protecting center (Jarret Allen?), and depth, with 1-2 1sts and cap space, you can fill these voids.
If they go star hunting and ignore the role players they will fail.

But how do they get these players? They don't really have the assets or cap space

[SlimShady83]

Reaves is him
Angry Ayton, will prove me right
MVP Luka
Oh yeh we still got the old man

[SlimShady83]

Trade Lebron to Jazz or something for player like Markkanen + depth.

Laurie plus Kessler lol

[Mavrelous]

I really disliked their offseason, that team has low ceiling because they can't defend a chair, and the personnel is worse defensively than most teams Luka had before and he had some bad defenses around him, but its only saving grace is the optionality it keeps.
I think Reaves will be the co-star to Luka and they go after role players that fit, 3&D guard (KCP? DJJ? NAW?), 3&D big wing (Herb Jones? PJ reunion), rim running and rim protecting center (Jarret Allen?), and depth, with 1-2 1sts and cap space, you can fill these voids.
If they go star hunting and ignore the role players they will fail.

But how do they get these players? They don't really have the assets or cap space

They have cap space next year, and 3 tradable 1sts.

[badpotato]

They will find a way to get DLO on the roster again so fans will be able to peddle him around in most insane trade ideas known to man - it's tradition at this point, I kinda miss it.

[mg]

I would give Luka a lot of rest this season. This '25-26 team is going nowhere.

They need an athletic young star to pair with Luka (and Reaves depending on how his free agency plays out).

They do have their 2026 FRP. Dybantsa would seemingly be a near perfect long term fit. Just saying...

[Tottery]

I think Reaves will be Luka's Robin next season and beyond. If Ayton has a good season with Luka, they'll probably sign him as well for a longer contract. If that is what happens, then the focus needs to shift to role players and not another superstar.

A lot of their roster is expiring contracts, including LBJ. They will have more money on the books to acquire a couple of role players in the off season, if they let LBJ walk.

[UcanUwill]

Lakers always look like they hit a dead end, until they don't. Somehow they will get another star, Luka is just entering his prime, dude probably still has 10 superstar years in him.
Trading Reaves looked like the way to go, but there is no obvious trade partner, and Lakers aren't the team that giving up better player in a trade.

[SlimShady83]

They need an athletic young star to pair with Luka (and Reaves depending on how his free agency plays out).

They can keep Reaves and of course Luka while getting a max FA they will be fine I don't see them trading Reaves, unless it's like Giannis package deal if he wants out or Lauri/Kessler type maybe.

[dirkdiggler4177]

I really disliked their offseason, that team has low ceiling because they can't defend a chair, and the personnel is worse defensively than most teams Luka had before and he had some bad defenses around him, but its only saving grace is the optionality it keeps.
I think Reaves will be the co-star to Luka and they go after role players that fit, 3&D guard (KCP? DJJ? NAW?), 3&D big wing (Herb Jones? PJ reunion), rim running and rim protecting center (Jarret Allen?), and depth, with 1-2 1sts and cap space, you can fill these voids.
If they go star hunting and ignore the role players they will fail.

But how do they get these players? They don't really have the assets or cap space

They have cap space next year, and 3 tradable 1sts.

They owe their 2027 first to the Jazz and their 2029 first to the Mavericks, so the Stepien rule blocks them from also moving 2026, 2028 or 2030 right now. The only cleanly tradeable first at the moment is a single far-out one, 2031 or 2032, not both. After the 2026 draft, they can trade picks from 2031 and 2033.

My guess is that they have around 110 million in salaries going into free agency after resigning Reaves for 35 million. That means the roster is this
Vanderbilt
LaRavia
Luka
Reaves
Smart

That means they have 44 million in cap space for free agents. If they start to resign Rui and Ayton, that suddenly shrinks a lot