Free agency and team building going forward

[DanishLakerFan]

So the trade deadline has passed and we're now looking at the buy-out market (and possibly still Mark Williams).

But how about this summer and beyond. How do you think the team should be built?

One course of action could be:

MLE for Marcus Smart (for POA-defense and to piss off Boston)
Rui+filler+pick for starting 5, such as Myles Turner.

Thoughts?

[Liam_Gallagher]

I think you nailed it with the Turner trade. They need a starting C, period.

Any news on Mark Williams? Is there a chance that trade could still be forced to go through?

[BliscoSantos]

I think Turner,Claxton and Duren will be the targets...Duren would be my first choice... Turner and Claxton have bigger contracts and are also more injury prone

[SlimShady83]

***** Kessler $4m 23years... All In what ever It takes, well except of course Luka

***** Day'Ron Sharpe 23 years $4M ... I'm very Intrigued with him, will cost 1 FRP and maybe even pick swap or something and of course salary matching.

**** Jakob Poeltl 29years $19mil Not sure If his available but worth a shot.

****I doubt Pacers trade Turner $20m 30years and think they will be happy to pay him his next contract In the offseason, but this Is the NBA and anything can happen.

**** Duren $4.5m 21 years old, good young center but I don't see Pistons trading Duren they need bigs as well.

*** Deandre Ayton 26years $$34m: Rui, Gabe, Vando trade straight up?? ... I'm not sure I'm willing to trade Vando, but I am very Intrigued with Ayton believe a new team would do him great esp the Lakers with Luka.

* Claxton $27m 25 years Is good but earns way too much for what he produces to get a trade going for him would be; Rui, Gabe and probably a FRP or pick swap of some sort.

In red Is who I'm targeting IN the offseason If right trades came around.

[SlimShady83]

Any news on Mark Williams? Is there a chance that trade could still be forced to go through?

They're going through some sort of mock trial? I don't know much about that stuff, might take some time.

[Beethoven]

Short term, grab biyombo when his 10 day (or after whatever number of 10 day contracts sas will give him) get doncic in relative shape and see what we can do in the playoffs

Short term for next season, see if we can get Kevin Durant. I have an inkling that he wants to play w lebron and doncic.

Long term: get wemby or chet holmgren paired up w Luca

Do it rob lowe

[Beethoven]

Short term, grab biyombo when his 10 day (or after whatever number of 10 day contracts sas will give him) get doncic in relative shape and see what we can do in the playoffs

Short term for next season, see if we can get Kevin Durant. I have an inkling that he wants to play w lebron and doncic.

Long term: get wemby or chet holmgren paired up w Luca

Do it rob lowe

If all the above,
This is at worst one championship.
At best 4 championships

(This may or may not include our standard default championship due in 2030.. )

[DanishLakerFan]

Short term.
Just get best availble guys that are bought out. Best case we can get CP3 and Nance. Worst case, we get no-one, but can still compete.

Long term.
Ideal targets should be able to both compete both during and after the "Lebron-window".
Walker Kessler, Jalen Duren, Nic Claxton etc. all would be solid guys to add, although i doubt Duren is going to be available.

Could just throw the kitchen sink (i.e. the Grant Williams package plus removal of protection) at Utah for Kessler. That would allow the Lakers to use full MLE at back-court depth.

[stan francisco]

So the trade deadline has passed and we're now looking at the buy-out market (and possibly still Mark Williams).

But how about this summer and beyond. How do you think the team should be built?

One course of action could be:

MLE for Marcus Smart (for POA-defense and to piss off Boston)
Rui+filler+pick for starting 5, such as Myles Turner.

Thoughts?

I’d love to see Marcus Smart here. Exactly whom we need.

Since Kessler is with Ainge, let’s go for Duren.

I agree with whomever said the idea of Turner is always better than Turner. Claxton, sure. Duren might be it.

There’s also a 7’3” slow and non-switchable defensive only center (Wemby/Holmgren/Edy stopper) in Europe whom Luka has played with before. No names, but Rob knows who he is. Off the bench, he’d be a great weapon to slow down a future Wemby attack.

[DanishLakerFan]

So the trade deadline has passed and we're now looking at the buy-out market (and possibly still Mark Williams).

But how about this summer and beyond. How do you think the team should be built?

One course of action could be:

MLE for Marcus Smart (for POA-defense and to piss off Boston)
Rui+filler+pick for starting 5, such as Myles Turner.

Thoughts?

I’d love to see Marcus Smart here. Exactly whom we need.

Since Kessler is with Ainge, let’s go for Duren.

I agree with whomever said the idea of Turner is always better than Turner. Claxton, sure. Duren might be it.

There’s also a 7’3” slow and non-switchable defensive only center (Wemby/Holmgren/Edy stopper) in Europe whom Luka has played with before. No names, but Rob knows who he is. Off the bench, he’d be a great weapon to slow down a future Wemby attack.

Could probably flip Reaves for Wendell Carter Jr. and even get a small asset back in the mix.
Perhaps a complete fit-for-fit Rui+Reaves+filler for KCP+WCJr+minor asset.

Rui and Reaves would do wonders for one of the best defenses in the league and fit their timeline a lot better. KCP and WCJr. would fit perfectly in LA as well as the point-of-attack 3s/D combo-guard and a versatile big who can stretch the floor, rebound and defend.

I do think Orlando would have to add something extra as well in a the for a deal like this because Reaves is quite easily the best player in the deal and fit a major need.

[stan francisco]

So the trade deadline has passed and we're now looking at the buy-out market (and possibly still Mark Williams).

But how about this summer and beyond. How do you think the team should be built?

One course of action could be:

MLE for Marcus Smart (for POA-defense and to piss off Boston)
Rui+filler+pick for starting 5, such as Myles Turner.

Thoughts?

I’d love to see Marcus Smart here. Exactly whom we need.

Since Kessler is with Ainge, let’s go for Duren.

I agree with whomever said the idea of Turner is always better than Turner. Claxton, sure. Duren might be it.

There’s also a 7’3” slow and non-switchable defensive only center (Wemby/Holmgren/Edy stopper) in Europe whom Luka has played with before. No names, but Rob knows who he is. Off the bench, he’d be a great weapon to slow down a future Wemby attack.

Could probably flip Reaves for Wendell Carter Jr. and even get a small asset back in the mix.
Perhaps a complete fit-for-fit Rui+Reaves+filler for KCP+WCJr+minor asset.

Rui and Reaves would do wonders for one of the best defenses in the league and fit their timeline a lot better. KCP and WCJr. would fit perfectly in LA as well as the point-of-attack 3s/D combo-guard and a versatile big who can stretch the floor, rebound and defend.

I do think Orlando would have to add something extra as well in a the for a deal like this because Reaves is quite easily the best player in the deal and fit a major need.

Personally, I’m done tearing up the whole team. We’ve stirred it up enough. I think Reaves should stay. He’s our Ginobili. Rui is a Fox/Horry type of guy that contributes way more than he costs. I want him to stay, too. Defensive dirty work, ice cold sniper. I’m not moving anybody else until the summer.

Klieber can shoot. So can Rui, DFS, LBJ, but not Vando. Not sure how Kleber competes on defense.

Let’s not replace the entire team just because of the AD and Max trade, not until Bron retires, is my opinion. At that point we’ll be forced to. For now small tweaks, like maybe buying out Kleber.

[DanishLakerFan]

I actually agree that another major overhaul isn't the way to go.

Keep it simple.

Put the Mark Williams-package on the market for best available big man (Kessler or Duren). Then use full MLE on best available player that can complement Luka.

[Astaluego]

I think Turner,Claxton and Duren will be the targets...Duren would be my first choice... Turner and Claxton have bigger contracts and are also more injury prone

The West is not like the East... Duren/Claxton are too small/light to face the elite teams of the West... Thunder (Chet/Hartestein) Mavs(AD/Lively/Gafford) Jokic/Zubac/Gobert/Sabonis are full of bigs that play physical..I like Mitchell Robinson

[Apz]

I think Turner,Claxton and Duren will be the targets...Duren would be my first choice... Turner and Claxton have bigger contracts and are also more injury prone

The West is not like the East... Duren/Claxton are too small/light to face the elite teams of the West... Thunder (Chet/Hartestein) Mavs(AD/Lively/Gafford) Jokic/Zubac/Gobert/Sabonis are full of bigs that play physical..I like Mitchell Robinson

Foesnt help at all tho when alwayd injured. Gor free? Sure. But no assets at all

[zuju]

Bitadze or WCJ and Johnathan Issac would be my choice

Issac has limited minutes. Literally another Vando but with taller and stronger build for bigs.

WCJ has the versatility as well with 3pt shot

[Doug_12]

I'd concentrate on the summer of '26 and make only those moves that are not adding extra salary. There's Jaren Jackson and Mikal Bridges, who can be available and if we don't add much salary we can realistically target them. Along those lines would I try to run another round with Knecht, Milton, the '31st and a few swaps to get a center who will either be on a cheap contract or have a low caphold in 2026. Like Kessler, Duren, Lively etc...

In an extremely optimistic scenario I can imagine running a rotation of
Vincent (BAE) / draft or vet min
Doncic / Reaves
Bridges / Vanderbilt
Jaren Jackson Jr / Lebron (MLE)
Kessler / Hayes

[BliscoSantos]

I'd concentrate on the summer of '26 and make only those moves that are not adding extra salary. There's Jaren Jackson and Mikal Bridges, who can be available and if we don't add much salary we can realistically target them. Along those lines would I try to run another round with Knecht, Milton, the '31st and a few swaps to get a center who will either be on a cheap contract or have a low caphold in 2026. Like Kessler, Duren, Lively etc...

In an extremely optimistic scenario I can imagine running a rotation of
Vincent (BAE) / draft or vet min
Doncic / Reaves
Bridges / Vanderbilt
Jaren Jackson Jr / Lebron (MLE)
Kessler / Hayes

Jaren Jackson Jr. would be amazing but with Wemby out he's gonna probably win the DPOY and qualify for the supermax...too bad the Lakers don't have a high pick in this draft...Duke's Khaman Maluach would be amazing....dude Will be a beast on D ,his O is still a Little raw
Capela could be a more realistic target in the summer...or maybe try getting Gafford...if Mavs go for KD in the summer he's definetly one of the Players going out

[Doug_12]

I'd concentrate on the summer of '26 and make only those moves that are not adding extra salary. There's Jaren Jackson and Mikal Bridges, who can be available and if we don't add much salary we can realistically target them. Along those lines would I try to run another round with Knecht, Milton, the '31st and a few swaps to get a center who will either be on a cheap contract or have a low caphold in 2026. Like Kessler, Duren, Lively etc...

In an extremely optimistic scenario I can imagine running a rotation of
Vincent (BAE) / draft or vet min
Doncic / Reaves
Bridges / Vanderbilt
Jaren Jackson Jr / Lebron (MLE)
Kessler / Hayes

Jaren Jackson Jr. would be amazing but with Wemby out he's gonna probably win the DPOY and qualify for the supermax...too bad the Lakers don't have a high pick in this draft...Duke's Khaman Maluach would be amazing....dude Will be a beast on D ,his O is still a Little raw
Capela could be a more realistic target in the summer...or maybe try getting Gafford...if Mavs go for KD in the summer he's definetly one of the Players going out

I'm not sure about that: Mobley has a very good case: is on the best team of the league, has a better DEPM, Defensive BPM and DRtg than Jaren Jackson - and he passes the eye-test too. Zubac also has a good case by having a mile-wide best DEPM (among the starters of his team) on the 3rd best defensive team. Dyson Daniels has the most steals&deflections combined by a wide margin and of course there is OKC as the best defensive team, who has a lot of great defenders. (Probably too much for any of them to win a DPOY, but still I can imagine Dort or Williams getting some love).

It's a very open race.

[LakerPhan]

I'm fine with the Lakers upgrading at the Center position.

But it ALL depends on the price!

They are doing pretty good right now, with Hayes, Vando, Rui and even LeBron swarming centers and getting them off their game.

My pure guess is that LeBron will retire AFTER next season, he probably wants to give the Luka plan one more year. So I would NOT be giving up too much. Reaves and Luka two years from now will still be a great pairing, so unless they get a 20 & 10 young, defensive center, no way I include Reaves.

Heck, when Lebron retires, they will most likely have the money to go after a front line center!

Lastly, I'm not sure why we even need Len, so he better stp it up...!

[stan francisco]

JJJ would be an insanely good pairing with Luka and Reaves after Bron is out. He’d be the perfect choice. Keep Hayes, Rui, Knecht, Vincent and DFS. Add Marcus Smart.