a center for Luka, a future center for the Lakers

[Astaluego]

It's no secret that the Lakers need a center..
Let's review some that could be achievable with the assets available (feel free to add any names to the discussion)...and assess what the best options would be.

D.Ayton..
26 years
Next season expiring a 35.5 million contract
14.4 ppg/10.2 reb/ 1 blk

Possible trade..?

R.Hachimura a PISTONS
because?
The Pistons need to shoot as much as they can, here they get a big wing who is shooting 42% from 3.

Maxi Kleber/S.Fontecchio/3 SRP(by Pistons)+ 1 FRP(Lakers) to BLAZERS
Because?
Blazers save $10M, get 4 SRPs and open up minutes for lottery pick Clingan

Ayton to LAKERS..
Ayton motivated with elite playmakers, he already showed that he can be elite.. He is expiring, so they maintain maximum flexibility for the summer of 2026.. and then they can sign him with the bird rights, at a more coherent salary..


Nic Claxton
25 years
3 years of descending contract (after this one) 25/23/20 million..
10.1ppg/7.5reb/1.4 blk

Possible trade..?
Maxi/Vincent/D.Knecht to NETS
Because..?
Early in their rebuild, they expend Clax's salary and get a newly drafted prospect in the 1st round

Claxton to LAKERS
Because..?
Pros: Super athleticism, vertical threat, ideal alongside Luka... excellent defense
Cons: Light weight, can be dominated by some heavier centers... average rebounder

Mitchell Robinson
26 years
expiring next year a little less than 13 million..
Possible trade..?

Maxi Kleber+ Lakers 31(unpro) to NETS
Because?
Nets have 3 first round picks and a good second rounder..they take on Maxi's salary + send the worst of their FRP in exchange for an unprotected player in 2031

Knicks FRP(by Nets) return to KNICKS
They recover their FRP which gives them commercial and financial flexibility to fill some gaps

Mitchell Robinson/SRP Nets 25(currently 36) to LAKERS

They are taking a risk with Robinson's health...on the court and healthy is all they need...his injuries do not seem to be chronic


thoughts..???

to be continued with some names.. Zubac/Duren/Gafford

[gswhoops]

If the Blazers can get value for Ayton they should do it yesterday.

[JRoy]

POR would do that in a heartbeat.

Too good for POR.

[Godaddycurse]

1st trade hardcaps lakers at 1st apron btw

[BlazersBroncos]

I think its an overpay for Ayton. Make it

PDX OUT - Ayton
PDX IN - Kleber, Simone, 1 DET SRP, 2 LAL SRP

LAL OUT - Rui, Kleber, 2 LAL SRP
LAL IN - Ayton

DET OUT - Simone, 1 DET SRP
DET IN - Rui

That would be a fine return for Ayton. A shooter, a 3rd string big w/ + locker room impact and a few SRP.

Think LAL actually would think about it at this cost, and DET would basically be getting a big upgrade at PF from Simone to Rui for only 1 SRP.

IMO the above is pretty fair. PDX aint getting a FRP for Ayton. Maybe if he was 20M rather than 35M.

[Stanq]

If the Lakers target a center from the Blazers is probably RW3. Even with the health concerns, I don't think the Lakers go for Ayton. He costs too much for his production, Luka already embarassed him once, and he doesn't seem the athletic type with great defense. Rw3 if healthy fits better with what the Lakers needs, and would cost Maxi+Milton+2nd and a swap (Blazers already tried asking for a first and missed)

Claxton is a great option for a lot of reason. Athletic, exactly the type of lob threat that trives next to Luka. He can protect the rim but gets bullied by big guys. Is quick but not so switchable. Decreasing salary is always a good think. I'd do it for Maxi + one of Rui/Vando/Vincent (depending on which will vary the draft capital).

Lakers are probably looking for a Jalen Duren type of C right now, that is gonna be good now but also for years to come, matching Lukas timeline. Claxton and RW3 are both 27, I think they want some one on a rookie contract (even if at the end of it) to try to maximize the roster around Luka now, and if it is a success formula, pay up.

[Mavrelous]

Lakers trade Rui for Tech
Ayton gives up 15M in a buyout agreement.
LeBron opts out and signs 1+1 at 40/yr
Lakers sign Ayton to the full MLE

Ayton at this contract is untradable, and Blazers want cap releif, a scenario similar to Kemba with OKC makes most sense, if there is a team out there offering full MLE

[gswhoops]

If the Lakers target a center from the Blazers is probably RW3. Even with the health concerns, I don't think the Lakers go for Ayton. He costs too much for his production, Luka already embarassed him once, and he doesn't seem the athletic type with great defense. Rw3 if healthy fits better with what the Lakers needs, and would cost Maxi+Milton+2nd and a swap (Blazers already tried asking for a first and missed)

Yeah I mean if you think about all the traits that you'd ideally have in a C next to Luka (athletic lob threat, good defender/rim protector, ok with not getting a lot of touches/plays run for him) it's basically the opposite of Ayton.

[chrbal]

With as few 3s as Rui actually takes, I can’t see Detroit going after him unless he’s being gifted to Detroit. Which I can’t see the Lakers doing.

[Stanq]

With as few 3s as Rui actually takes, I can’t see Detroit going after him unless he’s being gifted to Detroit. Which I can’t see the Lakers doing.

He is making them at a very high clip. Lakers just split the volume between a lot of players. Besides LeBron and Austin (and now Luka), 3s come from DFS, Gabe, so Rui just takes the ones that are available. But I can see his volume increasing in a team like the Pistons. I feel like he would be really good for Detroit - interested in a package for Duren?

[chrbal]

With as few 3s as Rui actually takes, I can’t see Detroit going after him unless he’s being gifted to Detroit. Which I can’t see the Lakers doing.

He is making them at a very high clip. Lakers just split the volume between a lot of players. Besides LeBron and Austin (and now Luka), 3s come from DFS, Gabe, so Rui just takes the ones that are available. But I can see his volume increasing in a team like the Pistons. I feel like he would be really good for Detroit - interested in a package for Duren?

You won’t need him after Len gets a random double double against the Hornets or Pelicans

[chrbal]

With as few 3s as Rui actually takes, I can’t see Detroit going after him unless he’s being gifted to Detroit. Which I can’t see the Lakers doing.

He is making them at a very high clip. Lakers just split the volume between a lot of players. Besides LeBron and Austin (and now Luka), 3s come from DFS, Gabe, so Rui just takes the ones that are available. But I can see his volume increasing in a team like the Pistons. I feel like he would be really good for Detroit - interested in a package for Duren?

You won’t need him after Len gets a random double double against the Hornets or Pelicans, and then there’ll be like 7 threads about how the Lakers are better off with Len

[SlimShady83]

I like the Idea of Ayton, he does earn too much, but him on the Lakers might do him wonders.

Claxton on the other hand no thanks, he DOES earn way too much for what he produces, rather go for someone like Day'Ron Sharpe If Lakers can't get Kessler, Turner, Poeltl

Wouldn't mind getting Duren, but never mentioned him because I don't think Pistons would trade him, but I'd be Intrigued would be high on my list also.

[Snakebites]

I don't think the Pistons trade Duren for anything the Lakers would realistically offer.

Not even sure that's a hypothetical. They inquired about Duren before moving forward with the Williams trade and those talks ostensibly went nowhere.

I don't view Duren as an untouchable piece, just pretty underwhelmed by the Lakers asset pool.

[oldncreaky]

With as few 3s as Rui actually takes, I can’t see Detroit going after him unless he’s being gifted to Detroit. Which I can’t see the Lakers doing.

He is making them at a very high clip. Lakers just split the volume between a lot of players. Besides LeBron and Austin (and now Luka), 3s come from DFS, Gabe, so Rui just takes the ones that are available. But I can see his volume increasing in a team like the Pistons. I feel like he would be really good for Detroit - interested in a package for Duren?

I think getting Rui for Tec and a SRP is about as close to "gifted" as we're going to get.

While overpaid, Rui's contract expires next year (i.e. before that hurts us), and if it doesn't work out he's either trade filler at the deadline, or expires. Rui isn't my first choice, but we could do worse. If I assume Rui shoots/plays at his career numbers -- 38% on approx 3.5 3PA/gm -- he's a good fit in DET. Not great, just good -- an upgrade on Tec.

[BlazersBroncos]

I like the Idea of Ayton, he does earn too much, but him on the Lakers might do him wonders.

Claxton on the other hand no thanks, he DOES earn way too much for what he produces, rather go for someone like Day'Ron Sharpe If Lakers can't get Kessler, Turner, Poeltl

Wouldn't mind getting Duren, but never mentioned him because I don't think Pistons would trade him, but I'd be Intrigued would be high on my list also.

I mean, he isnt perfect. He is overpaid. But he is only paid for 1 more season - so he keeps the powder dry for LAL making a big FA run in 2026.

I think moving spare parts and some SRP for Ayton - understanding that it keeps that 2026 FA window open - is much smarter for LAL than moving Dalton and their avaliable FRP for guys like Duren or Williams - both who will be due a extension summer 2026, and given the assets used to acquire you really have to resign them.

[babyjax13]

There is just no way Ayton returns anything if expiring players are coming back. I could see LA deciding to aggregate their less useful expiring, maybe add a second or cash, and Portland would take that just to get him off the team. I would love Ayton on the Lakers because he'd have to decide to care and we can see what he plays like when motivated, or because he can be pushed out of the league (with life-changing money) for someone who does care. I think the media and fans in LA would destroy him.

[Astaluego]

I really like a healthy Mitchell Robinson, though I'm not sure if that's possible... it was amazing to watch him dominate the CAVS twin towers a couple of years ago... or look for a similar archetype, someone bigger and stronger than Duren/Claxton (ironically Mark Williams).. Are Robinson's injuries a result of isolated bad luck or is he just made of glass?... Zubac/Poelt/Kessler would be great, I just don't think they're realistic with the LAKERS' assets... I think Ayton could be the most talented and with the highest ceiling of the accessible ones, but I'm not sure if his inconsistent performance is a result of playing for a lottery team or that he doesn't like basketball

[BlazersBroncos]

There is just no way Ayton returns anything if expiring players are coming back. I could see LA deciding to aggregate their less useful expiring, maybe add a second or cash, and Portland would take that just to get him off the team. I would love Ayton on the Lakers because he'd have to decide to care and we can see what he plays like when motivated, or because he can be pushed out of the league (with life-changing money) for someone who does care. I think the media and fans in LA would destroy him.

Its absolutley within reason to expect a few SRP for Ayton when your getting Simone and Maxi as the ballast.

Ayton expires, Simone expires, Maxi expires. A few SRP isnt insane to throw in to give PDX something to think of as an asset when moving a starting C for fringe rotation guys.

[JRoy]

There is just no way Ayton returns anything if expiring players are coming back. I could see LA deciding to aggregate their less useful expiring, maybe add a second or cash, and Portland would take that just to get him off the team. I would love Ayton on the Lakers because he'd have to decide to care and we can see what he plays like when motivated, or because he can be pushed out of the league (with life-changing money) for someone who does care. I think the media and fans in LA would destroy him.

That doesn’t seem likely.