Official Build around Luka thread for Lakers.

[sonnyhill]

So conditioned Luka will win us the league? With this roster? Yeah let’s act Luka’s conditioning was the problem and not this roster full of holes lmao.

Surround Luka and LeBron with 3-and-D wings; get Luka to buy into both conditioning and defense; get LeBron to play on the block (watch JJ add some split action; similar to what Golden State does); and this team can compete.

Luka, a generational talent, can carry a team on his shoulders.

…without any roster changes??

Get 3-and-D wings to surround Luka and LeBron and the team can compete. Rob P has to get sharper on both the salary cap as well as roster construction.

[Michaellam1987]

As for JJJ, no way in hell we have enough assests unless another team is involved - We would have to use the FRP and all 5 pick swaps

But I do have a question for ya's if it comes down between Jarret Allen and JJJ who would you want?

Got a feeling Cavs will have to make some trades to stay under the tax.

Memphis has a rapidly declining and problematic Ja Morant.
They traded away their starting SG for picks and fillers, so the question is, what is their plan for JJJ?
Most good teams have 1-2 reliable bigs in their roster including OKC, Pacers, Denver, Clips, TWolves, NY etc etc.
Even the freaking Heat have 1-2. Boston might need one but their are desperate to shed salary. Bucks are in a down year without Dame. Houston just resigned Adams.
5 teams are rebuilding and not looking to spend $.
So which other teams are in NEED to trade for JJJ? Are they willing to trade picks and assets for him?

LAL has no feasible ways to trade for JJJ, so no, no and no. Unless you give up Luka

[Syko_boB]

Wonder what the highest 1st round pick we could get for the 2031st lightly or unprotected

There are some bigs projected in the lottery past Malauch & we already know the existing options in the league are scarce

We could aim for pick 13-18 & pick up the most ready big available

Something like

2031 LA 1st & a swap to Brooklyn
#19 & #27 Brooklyn picks to Atlanta
#13 Atlanta pick to LA

[Vae Victus]

Lakers cant properly build around Luka until 2 things happen. Lebron is off the books or willing to take a MLE sized deal to be the 2nd banana to Luke in his chase for another ring AND Reaves is NOT overpaid on his next deal. If Reaves is paid past 25mil he's no longer a positive value deal and will hinder future team building due to his salary. Reaves isnt good enough to be a true 2nd option, but can be great as an offensive 3rd option. However the team's lack of overall defense is gonna kill the squad in the playoffs and trading Reaves for a better athletic defender or similar impact big man will likely make a bigger positive impact for the. It's either trade Reaves or he takes a significant hometown discount.

If 2 year's from now squad is max Luka, max Lebron, Reaves paid 30mil, and the rest of the current role players, we're just gonna see a similar outcome. A decent 3-6 seed and likely 1st/2nd round knockout. Unless Luka goes god mode, cuz age 42/43 Lebron isnt gonna have much left in the tank.

With the way the current CBA is setup, you simply cant overpay non-superstars, otherwise you'll cap yourself out fast. Also you need to hit on your draft picks and be able to develop undrafted G-leaguers into useful end of bench rotation players or trade chips to aggregate into something better.

[tamaraw08]

Surround Luka and LeBron with 3-and-D wings; get Luka to buy into both conditioning and defense; get LeBron to play on the block (watch JJ add some split action; similar to what Golden State does); and this team can compete.

Luka, a generational talent, can carry a team on his shoulders.

…without any roster changes??

Get 3-and-D wings to surround Luka and LeBron and the team can compete. Rob P has to get sharper on both the salary cap as well as roster construction.

some "experts" are strongly advocating for Rob to get 2 Centers at all cost. I am not saying getting a quality big is not a must but the some fans are forgetting that one the reasons they won it all in 2020 was having 3&D guys like Green, KCP and Caruso. Even guys like Rondo and Morris hit 40% from 3, that playoff year. But sure, Lebron was younger and AD was healthy too but having guys who can really really defend and hit open 3's are absolutely needed.
Vando and Goodwin can defend but are huge liabilities on offense. Knecht can shoot but was exploited on the defensive end. The main reason all 3 barely played in the playoffs.

[Danny Darko]

I would retain jaxson as a backup if we can. Felt like he grew into the role and I think he'd be better in year two. If we can get Lopez I'd do that too though not super sexy.

I've seen a proposal where we give up rui and picks for maluach nr draft. That would be cool

[SlimShady83]

I would retain jaxson as a backup if we can. Felt like he grew into the role and I think he'd be better in year two. If we can get Lopez I'd do that too though not super sexy.

I've seen a proposal where we give up rui and picks for maluach nr draft. That would be cool

We can and his on the cheap I beleive , I like Hayes and he wants to stay on the Lakers

My dream as of late = Kessler/Collins trade
Sign Day'Ron Sharp/Laravia from FA

Kessler/Day'Ron Sharp/Hayes
Bron/Collins/Laravia/Vando, front court, can go big or small here .

Any chance of trading for Herb Jones though, would be nice ??

[zuju]

After drafting Hansen Yang, the Portland Trail Blazers has an abundance of bigs, Ayton, Rob Williams, Clingan and Hansen

Will there be any possibility to get Clingan or Ayton (preferably Clingan).

What package will you offer POR if you are Perlinka?

For me, offer to absorb Jeremi Grant's contract, give them RUI, AR KNECT and Kleber for Clingan. No AR involved if trade for Ayton

[tamaraw08]

I would retain jaxson as a backup if we can. Felt like he grew into the role and I think he'd be better in year two. If we can get Lopez I'd do that too though not super sexy.

I've seen a proposal where we give up rui and picks for maluach nr draft. That would be cool

I will take the 37 yr old Lopez over the young and lazy Ayton because Brook is also a lot smarter and is a better fit with his ability to stretch the floor.
Also prefer Nick Richards over injury prone Mark Williams and Rob Williams and any unproven rookie.
Nick is not great but adequate imo also cheap at 5 mil.
I will take Kobe Johnson if he is available at 55.
He is not flashy but can defend and hit 3’s.

[loveshaq007]

If LeBron would be open to playing with Paul. George, embiid, and maxey....


I would love to explore the trade of VJ, Kelly oubre on a multi-year deal, bona, yuba on a multi-year deal and Drummond for Lebron and bronny


We can then explore trading, kleiber, rui, and vando

[SlimShady83]

The Los Angeles Lakers are moving up in the second round of the NBA Draft tonight, acquiring the No. 45 pick from the Chicago Bulls for No. 55 and cash, sources tell ESPN."

Live as I type this now. 3:30am for me. not sure anyone posted yet.

[loveshaq007]

If LeBron would be open to playing with Paul. George, embiid, and maxey....


I would love to explore the trade of VJ, Kelly oubre on a multi-year deal, bona, yuba on a multi-year deal and Drummond for Lebron and bronny


Trade VJ and Drummond.... for Ace and THAT center


We can then explore trading, kleiber, rui, and vando

[tamaraw08]

The Los Angeles Lakers are moving up in the second round of the NBA Draft tonight, acquiring the No. 45 pick from the Chicago Bulls for No. 55 and cash, sources tell ESPN."

Live as I type this now. 3:30am for me. not sure anyone posted yet.

Eh, He did the same thing 2 summers ago, paid money to move up and draft Max Lewis which turned out to be a bust.
Hopefully their pick will not be wasted. Really want Rob to take a chance on Kobe Johnson but hey, I've been wrong a million times before.

[danfantastk32]

The Los Angeles Lakers are moving up in the second round of the NBA Draft tonight, acquiring the No. 45 pick from the Chicago Bulls for No. 55 and cash, sources tell ESPN."

Live as I type this now. 3:30am for me. not sure anyone posted yet.

Eh, He did the same thing 2 summers ago, paid money to move up and draft Max Lewis which turned out to be a bust.
Hopefully their pick will not be wasted. Really want Rob to take a chance on Kobe Johnson but hey, I've been wrong a million times before.

Looks like we got a couple guys. Don't know too much about them, but neither is a big. Down around the 40th pick, I guess you get what you can get. At least it's something. I'll have to learn a little about them before I pass any judgements.

[SlimShady83]

The Los Angeles Lakers are moving up in the second round of the NBA Draft tonight, acquiring the No. 45 pick from the Chicago Bulls for No. 55 and cash, sources tell ESPN."

Live as I type this now. 3:30am for me. not sure anyone posted yet.

Eh, He did the same thing 2 summers ago, paid money to move up and draft Max Lewis which turned out to be a bust.
Hopefully their pick will not be wasted. Really want Rob to take a chance on Kobe Johnson but hey, I've been wrong a million times before.

Looks like we got a couple guys. Don't know too much about them, but neither is a big. Down around the 40th pick, I guess you get what you can get. At least it's something. I'll have to learn a little about them before I pass any judgements.

Same I only follow NBA, I don't do Highschool/College or what ever else you guys in the US have haha. I'll wait until pre-season and a small handful of actual NBA games before making my mind - only highschool game I've ever seen was one back in the day, where my mate told me to watch Kobe Bryant game, he went nuts with like 35 points or something, I don't even remember who they were playing, but said I will follow Kobe where he goes, thank god he got traded to Lakers

Edit: I'm thinking of getting Leagupass early and watching Summerleague games, just because I love B-ball, but in saying that, might also wait for pre-season.

[SlimShady83]

Let's talk Free Agency ... Lakers I beleive Lakers have $14.2 million to spend maybe more, not sure correct me if I'm wrong.

Who are we targeting and could get?

Day'Ron Sharpe, Jake Laravia have been linked and Reaves putting in his work on this seems to be friends with them?

Capela on the cheap?

Turner would be Ideal, but I think Pacers resign him.

Anyone else you all keen on?

[loveshaq007]

Lonzo ball for Vando would have been ideal.... instead he was traded for Isaac okoro

[thomas1897]

The Lakers have to consider the very best player options to pursue. Does this mean an alternative to the master plan? The Lakers did do somethings good, (Luka) but can there be a better format to get the job done. Brook Lopez and Clint Capela combined would be the best option to seek. This would be the best answer to the center problem. Players such as Robert Williams lll has major problems of with injuries since entering the NBA. Deandre Ayton discipline and a difficult player to handle (behavior). Lopez and Capela both exhibit good attitudes and can split the position together and play as a double bigs. The cost factor should be Dorian Finney Smith, Gabe Vincent, Max Kleber, Jaxson Hayes and cash. Retaining the core of Luka, LeBron, Reeves, Hachimura, Vanderbilt and Knecht and young players. The option to make the deal work would be Dalton Knecht if needed. Addition to this deal getting an upgrade for Gabe Vincent would require a separate move. Can Shake Milton be a solution? New ownership has a new approach with more money and control on basketball operations. This is an excellent solution to the problem. Once this is done fill in the blanks with younger good talent. Nine players will make the core roster and plug in players free agents, minor trades, waived players from training camp and contract minimums will complete the roster. The coaching JJ Reddick and staff get everyone ready and in shape early as possible.

[SlimShady83]

I just looked on spotrac, I thought Maxi/Gabe/DFS were expiring conracts, I guess not anymore?

DFS 3years= $15m - rounding off
Gabe 2year = $11m
Maxi 3year = $11m

guess this was done just recently?

Edit: Reaves now has 3 years also. Vando 4 years Interesting.

[loveshaq007]

LeBron taking his option will severely hurt us in making a play for a solid roster