LAL/POR - It's Ayton

[Malapropism]

Ayton/Reath

For

Rui/Vincent/Kleber/2031 First (Top 20 protected, if not conveyed - 2 seconds)

LAL gets a center rotation for a late first very far out. It turns into 2 seconds if not conveyed so it does not hamper their ability to make further moves. Ayton can most likely be re-signed after this season at a lower price and would play nicely next to Luka.

For the Blazers, basically a swap of expirings for a very late first.

I was trying to make this 5 seconds, but the Lakers don't even have 5 seconds to trade.

[Texas Chuck]

Rui is more valuable than Ayton so why does LA owe 5 2nds? Or the first you asked for instead? Not sure where this idea is coming from that Ayton has value making max money not doing the things the Lakers would want their center to do -- defend and rim run for Luka.

I don't think the Lakers do this if they were getting the 5 2nds. Ayton isn't the right guy.

[Slava]

You can have the Mark Williams package for Clingan if you want to solve the blazers center congestion problem.

[JRoy]

Better to just let Ayton expire.

[Myth]

You can have the Mark Williams package for Clingan if you want to solve the blazers center congestion problem.

Blazers say no.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Hmm...Rui is the best player here. Why are they adding value?

[Apz]

Nah, as people said, no way lakers do this

[Myth]

Rui is more valuable than Ayton so why does LA owe 5 2nds? Or the first you asked for instead? Not sure where this idea is coming from that Ayton has value making max money not doing the things the Lakers would want their center to do -- defend and rim run for Luka.

I don't think the Lakers do this if they were getting the 5 2nds. Ayton isn't the right guy.

Agreed that Rui is worth more than Ayton, though there are also financial and roster spot considerations in this trade. Blazers take on $5M extra and Kleber’s $11M portion of the over $40M being sent is near dead weight at this point in his career. Not saying Lakers should do it, but I don’t think it is as lopsided as you make it sound.

[Texas Chuck]

Rui is more valuable than Ayton so why does LA owe 5 2nds? Or the first you asked for instead? Not sure where this idea is coming from that Ayton has value making max money not doing the things the Lakers would want their center to do -- defend and rim run for Luka.

I don't think the Lakers do this if they were getting the 5 2nds. Ayton isn't the right guy.

Agreed that Rui is worth more than Ayton, though there are also financial and roster spot considerations in this trade. Blazers take on $5M extra and Kleber’s $11M portion of the over $40M being sent is near dead weight at this point in his career. Not saying Lakers should do it, but I don’t think it is as lopsided as you make it sound.

I didn't say it was lopsided though did I? I asked where the OP thinks Ayton has more value? Then I pointed out Ayton isn't the right center for the Lakers and that even if the incentive was flipped I think they'd have no interest in Ayton (though they could take him and the incentive and flip him I guess?).

I didn't say Portland should give 5 2nds to make this swap. They should not. Guess I needed to be clearer on that. Sorry for the confusion.

[Pattycakes]

Blazers have no incentive to swap DA with Rui which is a downgrade for our needs. I think both teams are somehow good here

[ReggiesKnicks]

Blazers have no incentive to swap DA with Rui which is a downgrade for our needs. I think both teams are somehow good here

You don't need wing depth and shooting, but you instead need Centers?

[Mavrelous]

Yeah, Blazers never turn this down, Lakers shouldn't offer it.

[andalusian]

The Lakers do not want to go into the season with a Luka extension - and I suspect that he is a lot more likely to do that if there is a mobile center he can play with for pick and roll and lob target. Not sure DA is the best option for that, but he might be better for Luka than many other options.

Of course, the Lakers will try to convince Luka that they will get one sooner or later that is better than DA - but that may be why they want to go ahead with this option, it's not like they can not get out of the DA situation later if he does not work as a lob target for Luka, he is expiring after all.

[Astaluego]

Vandervilt+Milton WIZARDS

Carrigton/Johnson/Coulibaly/George/Sarr
Smart/Mccollum/Kispert/Vandervilt/Olynyc
AJ/Milton/Jones)Champagne/Gill

The Wizards get a defensive forward who is only 25 years old and should fit in well with their aging centers.

Holmes(Cut)+Maxi(Cut?)+Vincent+Knecht BLAZERS

The Blazers negotiate a buyout with Maxi and Holmes (which I assume saves them a few million), they get a decent 3D guard in Vincent, who also gives them good professionalism and a prospect at the beginning of his rookie contract, who is a specialist in what a priori on paper seems to be their biggest weakness...shoot

Jrue/Sharpe/Cámara/Avdija/Clingan
Scott/Vincent/Knecht/Grant/Yang
Banton?Rupert/Walker/Reath/Williams

Apparently it seems like a very balanced lineup and depth, defense and shooting

Ayton/Thybulle LAKERS .

They fill their most glaring holes, get an elite guard defender and a talented center in a contract year, worst-case scenario both expire... which should do players in 2026 free agency to the Lakers.

[Myth]

Blazers have no incentive to swap DA with Rui which is a downgrade for our needs. I think both teams are somehow good here

You don't need wing depth and shooting, but you instead need Centers?

I’d definitely do Ayton for Rui straight up. It’s only whatever the rest of a trade is that could make me pause. I think the only concern with the OP if you take the picks out from Portland’s position is extra money and likely needing to waive people and eat the money lost by doing so.

[Myth]

Holmes(Cut)+Maxi(Cut?)+Vincent+Knecht BLAZERS

The Blazers negotiate a buyout with Maxi and Holmes (which I assume saves them a few million), they get a decent 3D guard in Vincent, who also gives them good professionalism and a prospect at the beginning of his rookie contract, who is a specialist in what a priori on paper seems to be their biggest weakness...shoot

I like the trade, though I’d be looking for follow up trades before cutting players. Once they are cut or bought out, we are stuck with that money with no chance you flip it.

[Malapropism]

I honestly don't care about Rui it was just salary filler. Replace him with Vando who is 3 years of bad money and I'd still do it.

[Myth]

I honestly don't care about Rui it was just salary filler. Replace him with Vando who is 3 years of bad money and I'd still do it.

Why would Portland take 3 years of bad money for what may very likely be 2 2nd rounders?

[BlazersBroncos]

Let LAL keep Rui.

Ayton + Kris for Vandy + Vincent + Maxi + Dalton + protected swap.

Vandy doesnt hurt as much with PDX taking on Holiday IMO. Jrue, Grant and Vandy would all expire at the same time.

[Norm2953]

Yang is likely going to spend most of2026 in the G league unless there are injuries. Unless TL stays
healthy, its going to be Ayton and DC playing center in Portland in 2026

There is no need to give Ayton away for Portland can let all of these guys walk next summer