You're the Lakers GM

[dms269]

I don't see Atlanta rebuilding and the Jazz likely need an overpay for their good players. The Nets, sure, as long as it doesn't involve Bridges or interfere with 2025 free agency. Charlotte I could see actually trying to build a team around Ball.

What deal would you re-sign Russell to?

ATL would be retooling. So trading DJM for something like Vincent, JHS, Rookie, 29 1st with some protections, and a swap?

Not sure how that helps hawks retool, rather keep Murray.

That was what I was wondering. That is very much a rebuilding (and a bad rebuilding at that) package for Murray.

[jayjaysee]

That's solid

What if you kept Russell but no stars asked out?

So run it back?

But if Russell stays, the team will likely be really close to the first apron, if not over it.

I’d find the third team that makes “Rui, Vincent, 14th, 2026 swap, 2029 top 5 protected first for Murray” work. Maybe Atlanta does it as a way to prepare for a star trade. Maybe they want 14th delayed into future picks for that. Maybe they need to add to get Lauri or Bridges or…. but the value feels right.

If Murray is on the list of guys not available? I’m starting to question my ability of doing the objective.

Without Murray, I’m starting to aim low I guess.

Rui, Vincent, JHS, 14th for Olynyk, Brown, Indy’s 2026 first? Some defense, some playmaking. A future first to play with later..

To take care of my tax issues.. would LBJ opt out of his 51 million dollar deal this offseason for a 4yr175-180 if the back years are fully guaranteed? I don’t care about how hard the GM’s job will be with a 43 year old making 50 mil..I’m not lasting that long if I have to win a championship anyways.

That 10 mil from LBJ would open a lot of options. And it’s good for the organization to have LBJ tied to it through the end..

[Tripod]

That's solid

What if you kept Russell but no stars asked out?

So run it back?

But if Russell stays, the team will likely be really close to the first apron, if not over it.

I’d find the third team that makes “Rui, Vincent, 14th, 2026 swap, 2029 top 5 protected first for Murray” work. Maybe Atlanta does it as a way to prepare for a star trade. Maybe they want 14th delayed into future picks for that. Maybe they need to add to get Lauri or Bridges or…. but the value feels right.

If Murray is on the list of guys not available? I’m starting to question my ability of doing the objective.

Without Murray, I’m starting to aim low I guess.

Rui, Vincent, JHS, 14th for Olynyk, Brown, Indy’s 2026 first? Some defense, some playmaking. A future first to play with later..

To take care of my tax issues.. would LBJ opt out of his 51 million dollar deal this offseason for a 4yr175-180 if the back years are fully guaranteed? I don’t care about how hard the GM’s job will be with a 43 year old making 50 mil..I’m not lasting that long if I have to win a championship anyways.

That 10 mil from LBJ would open a lot of options. And it’s good for the organization to have LBJ tied to it through the end..

And why do the Raps do that deal?

[jayjaysee]

And why do the Raps do that deal?

Rui is a good fit with Barnes.

JHS is an okay prospect.

14th is worth more than a future first.

Feels close enough to figure out smaller add ons if needed

[Tripod]

And why do the Raps do that deal?

Rui is a good fit with Barnes.

JHS is an okay prospect.

14th is worth more than a future first.

Feels close enough to figure out smaller add ons if needed

They did not trade for and sign Olynyk, just to trade him. And he is currently the only backup C they have.

14th in a bad draft when the Raps already have pick 15 as of today....I think they would prefer the future pick.

This trade is just more complicated than it needs to be and isn't realistic. Wanna trade for Brown, go ahead. Raps have no incentive to trade KO who they targeted in a trade or trade 2026 1st...unless it was for a young upgrade.

[oldncreaky]

And why do the Raps do that deal?

Rui is a good fit with Barnes.

JHS is an okay prospect.

14th is worth more than a future first.

Feels close enough to figure out smaller add ons if needed

They did not trade for and sign Olynyk, just to trade him. And he is currently the only backup C they have.

14th in a bad draft when the Raps already have pick 15 as of today....I think they would prefer the future pick.

This trade is just more complicated than it needs to be and isn't realistic. Wanna trade for Brown, go ahead. Raps have no incentive to trade KO who they targeted in a trade or trade 2026 1st...unless it was for a young upgrade.

Agree that Toronto has no interest in trading Olynyk

I've got Brown and Rui in the same tier of player -- good backup, marginal starter -- that ideally is paid around an MLE salary. I don't have either as really positive trade value because they are both overpaid. But Brown's contract is better because of his termination option, versus the 2 guaranteed years remaining on Rui's contract.

I'd rather release Brown and have the cap space/flexibility, and Brown can sign with whoever he wants

[jayjaysee]

And why do the Raps do that deal?

Rui is a good fit with Barnes.

JHS is an okay prospect.

14th is worth more than a future first.

Feels close enough to figure out smaller add ons if needed

They did not trade for and sign Olynyk, just to trade him. And he is currently the only backup C they have.

14th in a bad draft when the Raps already have pick 15 as of today....I think they would prefer the future pick.

This trade is just more complicated than it needs to be and isn't realistic. Wanna trade for Brown, go ahead. Raps have no incentive to trade KO who they targeted in a trade or trade 2026 1st...unless it was for a young upgrade.

14th is a young upgrade.. JHS is a young prospect.. Leaving the 2024 draft with one of Flip/Clingan/Missi and one of Collier/Carter/Dalton..

I’d take that result over betting against Indiana’s young group with Pascal

I heard the same argument about how Dennis was a strong backup, why would the raptors trade him.. but it was a really bad random idea.

[louc1970]

Sell the team to Las Vegas, go play roulette.

[Tripod]

Rui is a good fit with Barnes.

JHS is an okay prospect.

14th is worth more than a future first.

Feels close enough to figure out smaller add ons if needed

They did not trade for and sign Olynyk, just to trade him. And he is currently the only backup C they have.

14th in a bad draft when the Raps already have pick 15 as of today....I think they would prefer the future pick.

This trade is just more complicated than it needs to be and isn't realistic. Wanna trade for Brown, go ahead. Raps have no incentive to trade KO who they targeted in a trade or trade 2026 1st...unless it was for a young upgrade.

14th is a young upgrade.. JHS is a young prospect.. Leaving the 2024 draft with one of Flip/Clingan/Missi and one of Collier/Carter/Dalton..

I’d take that result over betting against Indiana’s young group with Pascal

I heard the same argument about how Dennis was a strong backup, why would the raptors trade him.. but it was a really bad random idea.

Again, you are also ignoring Olynyk and how the Raps want him

[NYG]

What does Max Christie re-sign for? Would the Lakers let him go?

[NYG]

JHS, Gabe Vincent, Vanderbilt and whatever picks + swaps gets Cole Anthony and WCJ?

WCJ
AD
LeBron
Reaves
Anthony

+ Rui/Wood/Hayes/Reddish/MLE

[babyjax13]

ATL would be retooling. So trading DJM for something like Vincent, JHS, Rookie, 29 1st with some protections, and a swap?

I bring up the Jazz to see if Lauri is available

Why is Bridges not available? You see how he has been playing? He isn't a #1 or a #2. He is a #3 at best and thats if you have a legit superstar and another all star or all star calibur guy and a good team.

I think Dlo is worth about 15-25m. He is a very good shooter, but not elite. He is a solid passer, but not elite.

He doesnt get easy buckets though, not a lot of layups or fts. One of the worst guards for that, just not explosive enough to get by guys with ease.

Negative defender.

Also the playoffs are an issue for him vs elite teams it seems like due to his athletic abilities.

So 15-25m for 3 years with a PO makes sense

Trae just said he wants to win so I don't see Atlanta responding by trading Murray for a downgrade.

I only see Lauri available in a "if you want to give up 5 picks then let's talk" kind of way.

If you can keep Russell, would you give up Gabe, JHS, Vanderbilt and a pick for Kuzma? Didn't AD and LeBron like him?

Does Danny bite on something like Reaves, 3 1sts, JHS, and 2-3 swaps?

I wonder how he even fits with us tbh, but I know he is a better scorer when catching or making quick moves, so it may work

Would need to then move Rui in a different move

I don't think that's an appealing offer for Lauri once he is extended. Until then, LA shouldn't offer that.

[basketballwacko2]

Congrats! You are the GM of the Lakers! Here is the situation though...

1. Ownership demands you build a contender around LeBron and AD. No rebuilding.

2. D'Angelo Russell opted out and signed with the Spurs or Magic or some other team.

3. No stars have asked out so Trae, Mitchell, etc. aren't being traded.

4. The only teams that are rebuilding (aka will trade useful vets for picks) are the Bulls, Raptors and Wizards. Otherwise you can only swap vets for better fitting vets of equal value as the other teams aren't looking to downgrade for assets.

5. You are allowed to replace Darvin Ham too.

Wow not asking a lot are you? We're talking about 2024-25 right?

In the case of the 24/25 season DAR is signed for the year does not have an option according to Basketball-reference.com, but sportrac.com says he does have a player option. So I'll assume you and sportrac are correct.

So they will need a Point guard. I've got the Warriors dropping Chris Paul and his not guaranteed contract to save tax and make room for 2024. The LAL signs CP to a vet min contract or if they have it part of their MLE. It looks like they do have their MLE and Bi-Annual exceptions.

Your OP has DAR signing with the Spurs, how about we make that a S&T sending Tre Jones and the 2024 2nd round pick that was the Lakers going to them for DAR.

This would give the Lakers CP and Tre Jones at point.

LBJ has a player option for 2024. So I'm gonna have him opt out of his 24/25 contract which is set to pay him $51.4 million and resign a 2 year deal for $35 million per season with a player option for year 2. This gives the Lakers some room to deal.

Lakers will have their 2024 #1 pick because the Pels defer their pick to 2025. Since I have them not making it past the play in, so they are the 14th pick. The take Isaiah Collier point guard from USC. Then they buy a 2nd round pick from OKC and pick Bronny to keep LBJ happy.

I don't see many options to do anything with the pick obligations that they have already and I don't think they have many tradeable vets other than Reaves. So like I said at the beginning of this you're asking for a miracle. With CP at point and some room to deal maybe someone can figure out the rest of this. But this is where I'd start.

[ejftw]

Call me Elgin Baylor, collecting checks until someone convinced ownership to spend.

Assuming that D'Lo doesn't do a S&T to get a TPE or anything else, and the amount of teams available to trade with, it makes it a tough ask, but let's have fun.

Also going to go with the assumption that the Pelicans have deferred to 2025 and the team has the 14th pick.

Draft night, trade 14, 51 and FSRP to the Knicks for 19, 22 and 39.

19: Devin Carter
22: Kel'el Ware
39: KJ Simpson

None are really high ceilings guys, but are higher floor than most projected around their areas and fit needs. KJ is the low turnover, 3 point hitting point (bias as well, saw him play since HS Soph), Ware is a big that stretches the floor and is a good defensive rebounder, while Carter has the tools to be a PoA defender that isn't a slouch on offense. Hopefully these guys are just around to soak regular season minutes up. Give Adem Bona a two way right at the conclusion of the draft.

Free agency is a tough ask. Hope that LeBron can convince CP to sign for a vet a min and throw the available exception at Isaiah Hartenstein with the promise of starting. Still don't think Isaiah goes for that, so you go across the hall (well, no longer will be across the hall at this point) and snatch away Daniel Theis. Give Max a 3/21 deal with year 2 being an ETO.

Basically running it back but with Theis and Paul added at the one and five slots, a healthy Vincent (still not high on him) and high floor/low ceiling rookies to absorb minutes during the season to try to keep LeBron and AD fresh.

[TimeisIllmatic]

What does Max Christie re-sign for? Would the Lakers let him go?

Probably a similar deal to what THT got (hopefully without the player option) although Max doesn't have the same leverage as THT did with Klutch.

[wegotthabeet]

Rui is a good fit with Barnes.

no he isn't.

JHS is an okay prospect.

no he isn't.

14th is worth more than a future first.

no it isn't. not in this draft.

Feels close enough to figure out smaller add ons if needed

nah.

[NYG]

Wow not asking a lot are you? We're talking about 2024-25 right?

Besides Russell leaving, it's mostly realistic, no?