Lakers Fans - Who Would You Like LA to Pick Up Now

[danfantastk32]

Good to see Pelinka stick with the path of improving the team but not at the expense of the future.

Pass on KT, DeMar and all the oldies.

I would trade a FRP for CamJo or Grant but also understand Pelinka wanting to save FRPs for after LeBron to get a second star next to AD.

Don’t let the pundits confuse you about Pelinka and the team.

Assuming Lebron leaves in 2 years....that'll make AD 33, with a pretty lengthy injury history. What kind of window with AD are you realistically expecting at that point?

[Syko_boB]

Davis Bertans just got waived - wish we had a roster spot. Potential of him reigniting that flamethrower is worth the min for sure

Nobody say Paul Reed pls he was talkin crazy about AD last year

I really hope we see a big improvement from Max Lewis and Castleton

Max's athletecism to bring some energy to the 2nd unit rather than bringing back the same vets on mins
And Castleton to add some real strength and rebounding down low & let AD roam the paint

Summer league starts today

Also hope Knecht isn't as flat footed as his draft position suggests as his shooting can make DLo much more expendable

[LakersSoul]

Good to see Pelinka stick with the path of improving the team but not at the expense of the future.

Pass on KT, DeMar and all the oldies.

I would trade a FRP for CamJo or Grant but also understand Pelinka wanting to save FRPs for after LeBron to get a second star next to AD.

Don’t let the pundits confuse you about Pelinka and the team.

Assuming Lebron leaves in 2 years....that'll make AD 33, with a pretty lengthy injury history. What kind of window with AD are you realistically expecting at that point?

Yeah, ADs injury history is on another level but we can deal with that when the time comes. For now, team has to maneuver around Bron retirement so that we don’t have post Kobe down cycle.

[Anderson Hunt]

Davis Bertans just got waived - wish we had a roster spot. Potential of him reigniting that flamethrower is worth the min for sure

Nobody say Paul Reed pls he was talkin crazy about AD last year

I really hope we see a big improvement from Max Lewis and Castleton

Max's athletecism to bring some energy to the 2nd unit rather than bringing back the same vets on mins
And Castleton to add some real strength and rebounding down low & let AD roam the paint

Summer league starts today

Also hope Knecht isn't as flat footed as his draft position suggests as his shooting can make DLo much more expendable

Don't sleep on Schifino either.

I believe all three youngsters (Lewis, Knecht, and Schifino) will all be empowered by the presence of Baby James. They will be primed and ready to show the Laker brass what a "real" young baller looks like.

I believe all three should get heavy and consistent rotation minutes with Baby James also getting minutes as a defensive specialist who can occasionally get hot from deep.

Unleash these young dudes. There is no better time than now when the "best player" on the team is also the dad to one of the, lesser-talented, pups. Let them all run and gun out of the second unit.

[danfantastk32]

Assuming Lebron leaves in 2 years....that'll make AD 33, with a pretty lengthy injury history. What kind of window with AD are you realistically expecting at that point?

Yeah, ADs injury history is on another level but we can deal with that when the time comes. For now, team has to maneuver around Bron retirement so that we don’t have post Kobe down cycle.

Yeah, but I'd like to make sure we're making the best of it. Either we're trying to win with Lebron, or we're wasting our time, agree? Because the surest way to have another "post Kobe down cycle" is to watch Lebron and AD either retire, or leave, or get hurt/old to the point of worthlessness without getting anything for them.

Had this team gone all in with picks and got someone to put along side Lebron and AD (someone actually legit...not CP3 or a really old and injured Klay....but someone like D-Mitchell, or.....I don't know...like a Devin Booker. Someone who's a difference maker, and who still had some tread on the tires) then I could understand the path we're taking. We're all in to win another title with this group. And more importantly....when it all ends in 2-3 years, you still have your Mitchell/Booker/whoever star player who's only 30...and you can either build around, or you can move to get picks back...and then start the rebuild.

But this?? What is this? I mean...what are we doing here?

The post above this, talks about giving our rookies and other young guys significant minutes. I agree......if we'd moved AD and Lebron. But to have one foot in the "future" and one foot in the "now" is completely the wrong way to go about things. Your either trying to win every game, to get the best seeding to can possibly get, or you need to be rebuilding. Certainly we don't want to be dickin around half in and half out. Either get a 3rd star....or rebuild. Holding onto these two to sell tickets is just pathetic.

[LakersSoul]

Assuming Lebron leaves in 2 years....that'll make AD 33, with a pretty lengthy injury history. What kind of window with AD are you realistically expecting at that point?

Yeah, ADs injury history is on another level but we can deal with that when the time comes. For now, team has to maneuver around Bron retirement so that we don’t have post Kobe down cycle.

Yeah, but I'd like to make sure we're making the best of it. Either we're trying to win with Lebron, or we're wasting our time, agree? Because the surest way to have another "post Kobe down cycle" is to watch Lebron and AD either retire, or leave, or get hurt/old to the point of worthlessness without getting anything for them.

Had this team gone all in with picks and got someone to put along side Lebron and AD (someone actually legit...not CP3 or a really old and injured Klay....but someone like D-Mitchell, or.....I don't know...like a Devin Booker. Someone who's a difference maker, and who still had some tread on the tires) then I could understand the path we're taking. We're all in to win another title with this group. And more importantly....when it all ends in 2-3 years, you still have your Mitchell/Booker/whoever star player who's only 30...and you can either build around, or you can move to get picks back...and then start the rebuild.

But this?? What is this? I mean...what are we doing here?

The post above this, talks about giving our rookies and other young guys significant minutes. I agree......if we'd moved AD and Lebron. But to have one foot in the "future" and one foot in the "now" is completely the wrong way to go about things. Your either trying to win every game, to get the best seeding to can possibly get, or you need to be rebuilding. Certainly we don't want to be dickin around half in and half out. Either get a 3rd star....or rebuild. Holding onto these two to sell tickets is just pathetic.

Yeah, understand.

The hard part is not gutting the team for that third player that will leave us without depth to win the chip and now we have nothing left and post Bron is looking like post Kobe.

Tricky and that’s why Pelinka is being extra cautious and calculating esp in the apron era.

[DanishLakerFan]

I'd say keep it relatively simple and get players that'll make us capable of winning during the Lebron-window without completely hurting the post-Lebron-era.

Unless we manage to get Tyus Jones to take a major discount i would:

D'Lo+JHS+Reddish+removal of protection of pick to Utah for Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton. Tanking move for Utah. Roll dice on JHS and hope LA are bad in '26.
Rui + Hayes and a protected future pick to Brooklyn for Dorian Finney Smith.

Those two deals save LA enough to use miniMLE, i think. Sign Lonnie Walker (and/or Gordon Hayward and/or Robert Covington).

Sexton - Reaves - DFS - Lebron - Davis
Vincent - Walker - Knecht - Vanderbilt - Kessler - Wood

[Danny Darko]

I'd say keep it relatively simple and get players that'll make us capable of winning during the Lebron-window without completely hurting the post-Lebron-era.

Unless we manage to get Tyus Jones to take a major discount i would:

D'Lo+JHS+Reddish+removal of protection of pick to Utah for Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton. Tanking move for Utah. Roll dice on JHS and hope LA are bad in '26.
Rui + Hayes and a protected future pick to Brooklyn for Dorian Finney Smith.

Those two deals save LA enough to use miniMLE, i think. Sign Lonnie Walker (and/or Gordon Hayward and/or Robert Covington).

Sexton - Reaves - DFS - Lebron - Davis
Vincent - Walker - Knecht - Vanderbilt - Kessler - Wood

with you on the first part

[JKiddy]

If you guys get Cam Johnson the league is not fair.

[LakersSoul]

If you guys get Cam Johnson the league is not fair.

Mid-20m salary for 3 years and 28 yo.

Much better than Grant altho Cam doesn’t rebound much either. Would be a solid pickup for 1 FRP.

Who to send would be tricky tho…

I still would like to see what we have with Rui, Vando and Gabe under JJ then make a move during trade deadline.

[TylersLakers]

At this point, I'm hoping for a Gabe + JHS + Cam + Draft compensation for a trade for the following:

- Dorian Finney Smith (Top Priority)
- Cam Johnson
- Wendell Carter
- Colin Sexton (if it's cheap)
- Dennis Schroder (if it's cheap)

I can't say there's anyone else I really want. I don't want to give up Rui + a 1st for Grant. Rui and a couple seconds for Grant? Sure. Rui and a 1st pick swap? Sure. But Rui PLUS an unprotected 1st is a no for me. I think Grant's the better player but by how much? Marginal. Grant rebounds worse and his appetite for defense is just as bad.

If we give up Gabe in a trade, Austin becomes our back-up point on offense and Vando essentially becomes our back-up point on D.

D-Lo/Reaves/Vando/LeBron/AD
DFS/Rui/Max/Wood off the bench
Knecht/Hayes/Lewis/Bronny deep bench

2 roster spots. I'd sign another guard with one. Leave the other one open for flexibility mid-season.

[SlimShady83]

I can't say there's anyone else I really want. I don't want to give up Rui + a 1st for Grant. Rui and a couple seconds for Grant? Sure. Rui and a 1st pick swap? Sure. But Rui PLUS an unprotected 1st is a no for me. I think Grant's the better player but by how much? Marginal. Grant rebounds worse and his appetite for defense is just as bad.

How do you guys still feel about Zach Lavine?... I'm not a huge fan esp the contract, but I think eventually Bulls will cave and just trade him either b4 the season OR via deadline.

[LakersSoul]

I can't say there's anyone else I really want. I don't want to give up Rui + a 1st for Grant. Rui and a couple seconds for Grant? Sure. Rui and a 1st pick swap? Sure. But Rui PLUS an unprotected 1st is a no for me. I think Grant's the better player but by how much? Marginal. Grant rebounds worse and his appetite for defense is just as bad.

How do you guys still feel about Zach Lavine?... I'm not a huge fan esp the contract, but I think eventually Bulls will cave and just trade him either b4 the season OR via deadline.

Hard pass…. Want us to get better and roster/salary healthy which we are now.

Roster continuity, mostly good contracts and depth. Kind of really rocking with our team and depth. Few tweaks needed after seeing the team play healthy for a full season.

Man, feels refreshing without day old Ham out here. Hopefully JJ utilizes the youth (Max, Rui, Vando and Knecht). These guys need to make a jump and soon.

Really excited about the future of Lakers basketball!

[LakersSoul]

PG:
AR/Gabe/Bronny/JHS

SG:
Max/Dlo/Cam

SF:
Knecht/Vando

PF:
Bron/Rui

C:
AD/Wood/Hayes

Loving the potential shooters, improved defenders, athleticism and youth movement.


Closing rotation:
AR/MAX/KNECHT/BRON/AD.

Little to no weakness as this has solid defenders., athleticism and shooters galore! We could even throw Wood in there to go BIG.

[SlimShady83]

Little to no weakness as this has solid defenders., athleticism and shooters galore! We could even throw Wood in there to go BIG.

7 guards, let's hope all or most can stay healthy, really need that Big, not sure a big bruising center Is really needed - just not that scared of Denver and don't think we'll face them In the PO's this year - Need someone though for Gobert/Kat, think we'll be facing them this coming year

Really hope Max has that break out year and gets the minutes he deserves

Will JJ mix and match It according to other teams OR stick to the same lineups?

[DanishLakerFan]

Kessler should be the target. For Hayes, Lewis, JHS and a pick.

Fits well in lineups next to Lebron, Rui, Wood and AD.

Gives LA a legit defensive anchor at all times. Is regular season insurance in case AD goes down. Gives LA a much needed 2nd big man to throw at Denver, Minny and Sixers.

[LakersSoul]

Little to no weakness as this has solid defenders., athleticism and shooters galore! We could even throw Wood in there to go BIG.

7 guards, let's hope all or most can stay healthy, really need that Big, not sure a big bruising center Is really needed - just not that scared of Denver and don't think we'll face them In the PO's this year - Need someone though for Gobert/Kat, think we'll be facing them this coming year

Really hope Max has that break out year and gets the minutes he deserves

Will JJ mix and match It according to other teams OR stick to the same lineups?

Wouldn’t worry about the number of guards. Bronny and JHS will spend most time on gleague so that’s down to 5 and in some lineups, Max could play SF.

[Godfather13]

PG:
AR/Gabe/Bronny/JHS

SG:
Max/Dlo/Cam

SF:
Knecht/Vando

PF:
Bron/Rui

C:
AD/Wood/Hayes

Loving the potential shooters, improved defenders, athleticism and youth movement.


Closing rotation:
AR/MAX/KNECHT/BRON/AD.

Little to no weakness as this has solid defenders., athleticism and shooters galore! We could even throw Wood in there to go BIG.

You think AR is a PG? lol

[LakersSoul]

PG:
AR/Gabe/Bronny/JHS

SG:
Max/Dlo/Cam

SF:
Knecht/Vando

PF:
Bron/Rui

C:
AD/Wood/Hayes

Loving the potential shooters, improved defenders, athleticism and youth movement.


Closing rotation:
AR/MAX/KNECHT/BRON/AD.

Little to no weakness as this has solid defenders., athleticism and shooters galore! We could even throw Wood in there to go BIG.

You think AR is a PG? lol

This isn’t the 80s, players are interchangeable.

Dlo is more of a prototypical point-guard but fits more as SG whereas AR is SG but plays more as PG alongside Bron since Dlo is not our closing PG because of his poor defense.

Guys have to stop thinking about “point guard”. It’s all interchangeable and most play both SG and SF (and some pg) as wings.

[Godfather13]

PG:
AR/Gabe/Bronny/JHS

SG:
Max/Dlo/Cam

SF:
Knecht/Vando

PF:
Bron/Rui

C:
AD/Wood/Hayes

Loving the potential shooters, improved defenders, athleticism and youth movement.


Closing rotation:
AR/MAX/KNECHT/BRON/AD.

Little to no weakness as this has solid defenders., athleticism and shooters galore! We could even throw Wood in there to go BIG.

You think AR is a PG? lol

This isn’t the 80s, players are interchangeable.

Dlo is more of a prototypical point-guard but fits more as SG whereas AR is SG but plays more as PG alongside Bron since Dlo is not our closing PG because of his poor defense.

Guys have to stop thinking about “point guard”. It’s all interchangeable and most play both SG and SF (and some pg) as wings.

Typing all that instead of admitting a minor error is hilarious.

AR doesn't have the handles, ball security or the playmaking chops to be listed as a PG - with or without Lebron. Gabe is the same.

And Bronny is a PG too now? Let's hear your explanation for that too