Whats the Lakers Next Step?

Moderators: BullyKing, Andre Roberstan, loserX, Trader_Joe, Mamba4Goat, pacers33granger, MoneyTalks41890, HartfordWhalers, Texas Chuck

nzahir
RealGM
Posts: 11,513
And1: 5,075
Joined: Nov 04, 2017
 

Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#1 » by nzahir » Wed Jul 2, 2025 9:57 pm

So after the Ayton signing, whats the Lakers next step?

They have the BAE left
They can also trade Rui+2 expirings in Gabe and Kleber, Vando, Knecht, 1st, swaps

They need a 1/2 or a 2/3 defensive minded guy who can also play offense

Realistic candidates:
KCP
Thybulle
Wiggins
Marcus Smart

Non realistic/would cost AR/other team pulls a Nico:
Derrick White
Herb Jones

Any other names I am missing?
In-N-Out 247
Senior
Posts: 607
And1: 481
Joined: Feb 07, 2019
 

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#2 » by In-N-Out 247 » Wed Jul 2, 2025 10:04 pm

well they certainly need another big - not sure who that'll be though
User avatar
babyjax13
RealGM
Posts: 34,902
And1: 17,417
Joined: Jul 02, 2006
Location: Occupied Los Angeles
     

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#3 » by babyjax13 » Wed Jul 2, 2025 10:05 pm

IMO, I like the idea of LeBron to Dallas and I think it rounds out both teams pretty well. Probably not this exactly, but something like:

LAL trades: LeBron
DAL trades: Washington, Gafford, Martin, Hardy, 2029 LAL 1st

DAL
Davis/Lively
LeBron/Davis
Flagg/Marshall
Christie/Klay/Exum
Russell/Williams

And if Kyrie is back in time for the playoffs I think they are a real contender (which I don't think that without LeBron)

Davis/Lively
LeBron/Davis
Flagg/Marshall
Klay/Christie/Exum
Irving/Russell/Williams

For LAL it gets them an actual starting 5 instead of having to rely on Ayton and ... Hachimura?

Gafford/Ayton
Washington/Hachimura/Kleber
LaRavia/Martin
Luka/Knecht/Hardy
Reaves/Vincent

They could follow up with something like flipping Kleber/Vincent/29 1st for Wiggins, or some other wing.
Image

JazzMatt13 wrote:just because I think aliens probably have to do with JFK, doesn't mean my theory that Jazz will never get Wiggins, isn't true.

JColl
BK_2020
RealGM
Posts: 16,948
And1: 15,684
Joined: Sep 08, 2020
 

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#4 » by BK_2020 » Wed Jul 2, 2025 10:09 pm

Nothing. They are already perfect.
User avatar
eminence
RealGM
Posts: 16,846
And1: 11,683
Joined: Mar 07, 2015

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#5 » by eminence » Wed Jul 2, 2025 10:09 pm

If someone will offer real value for LeBron then I'd deal him. Extend Luka whenever they can.

I don't see a way to get to contender status this season, but there are lots worse positions than resetting around Luka.
I bought a boat.
JB2
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,773
And1: 7,503
Joined: Mar 10, 2009

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#6 » by JB2 » Wed Jul 2, 2025 10:10 pm

Ideally, LeBron to NY.

Realistically, sign Horford to BAE and Melton to Min
kobe_vs_jordan
RealGM
Posts: 10,635
And1: 5,052
Joined: Jan 07, 2012
Location: Atl
   

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#7 » by kobe_vs_jordan » Wed Jul 2, 2025 10:14 pm

Trading lebron seems like wasting a year of Luka to me. Lakers ended 3rd last season . Don't see why they couldn't win more if they go all on a wing defender.

Smart , KCP, Wiggins would be my targets. See what team stumbles and make trade into the season if no targets avaialbe.
User avatar
zimpy27
Forum Mod
Forum Mod
Posts: 45,275
And1: 43,229
Joined: Jul 13, 2014

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#8 » by zimpy27 » Wed Jul 2, 2025 10:39 pm

Reaves | Gabe
Luka | Knecht
LeBron | LaRavia
Rui | Vando
Ayton | Kleber

Bench: Bronny, Goodwin, Thiero


Lakers gave BAE to use.
"Let's play some basketball!" - Fergie
SlimShady83
RealGM
Posts: 14,340
And1: 4,301
Joined: Jun 19, 2012

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#9 » by SlimShady83 » Wed Jul 2, 2025 10:55 pm

Offer Blazers ... Maxi and SRP for Robert Williams
My Go Team
Magic, Jordan, Pippen, Duncan, Shaq

My Counter
Stockton, Kobe, Bird, Rodman, Dirk

Today's Team
Luka, SGA, Tatum, Giannis, Wemby
Syko_boB
Junior
Posts: 315
And1: 87
Joined: Jan 23, 2019
 

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#10 » by Syko_boB » Wed Jul 2, 2025 11:04 pm

Offer Horford the BAE at $5M

This exception can also be used in trades for players making up to $5.1m

Maybe target Nick Richards & save PHX some money

Trade for Kevin Love if Horford doesn't sign? Duop Reath?

Send the pick or swaps with the exception/Miltons expiring for a young cheap wing like the Champagnie's or Ben Sheppard
free palestine
penbeast0
Senior Mod - NBA Player Comparisons
Senior Mod - NBA Player Comparisons
Posts: 30,154
And1: 9,771
Joined: Aug 14, 2004
Location: South Florida
 

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#11 » by penbeast0 » Wed Jul 2, 2025 11:15 pm

Make us a Smart offer then. Washington doesn't have him in their plans except as an expiring vet mentor.
“Most people use statistics like a drunk man uses a lamppost; more for support than illumination,” Andrew Lang.
One_and_Done
General Manager
Posts: 8,701
And1: 5,453
Joined: Jun 03, 2023

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#12 » by One_and_Done » Wed Jul 2, 2025 11:19 pm

babyjax13 wrote:IMO, I like the idea of LeBron to Dallas and I think it rounds out both teams pretty well. Probably not this exactly, but something like:

LAL trades: LeBron
DAL trades: Washington, Gafford, Martin, Hardy, 2029 LAL 1st

DAL
Davis/Lively
LeBron/Davis
Flagg/Marshall
Christie/Klay/Exum
Russell/Williams

And if Kyrie is back in time for the playoffs I think they are a real contender (which I don't think that without LeBron)

Davis/Lively
LeBron/Davis
Flagg/Marshall
Klay/Christie/Exum
Irving/Russell/Williams

For LAL it gets them an actual starting 5 instead of having to rely on Ayton and ... Hachimura?

Gafford/Ayton
Washington/Hachimura/Kleber
LaRavia/Martin
Luka/Knecht/Hardy
Reaves/Vincent

They could follow up with something like flipping Kleber/Vincent/29 1st for Wiggins, or some other wing.

The thing is, Lebron has to agree to go to Dallas.
Warspite wrote:Billups was a horrible scorer who could only score with an open corner 3 or a FT.
Karmaloop
General Manager
Posts: 9,668
And1: 1,767
Joined: Sep 24, 2009
       

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#13 » by Karmaloop » Wed Jul 2, 2025 11:19 pm

penbeast0 wrote:Make us a Smart offer then. Washington doesn't have him in their plans except as an expiring vet mentor.


If you're angling for any legitimate assets, you're not going to get it. Coming off a season in which he played in 34 games (54 in the last 2 seasons) and due almost $22M, he's closer to a buyout candidate than a player who is bringing anything back.
penbeast0
Senior Mod - NBA Player Comparisons
Senior Mod - NBA Player Comparisons
Posts: 30,154
And1: 9,771
Joined: Aug 14, 2004
Location: South Florida
 

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#14 » by penbeast0 » Wed Jul 2, 2025 11:26 pm

The problem is what does LA do to fit his salary in; I'd trade him into a TPE for a 2nd. But if we are swapping expirings, then it either has to be another good defense high character guy. If he's salary ballast for taking on someone less valuable then there has to be compensation for that. That's why I said to the guy who said bring in Smart to make an offer. I don't really see anything there that works well.
“Most people use statistics like a drunk man uses a lamppost; more for support than illumination,” Andrew Lang.
DNP-Old
Pro Prospect
Posts: 851
And1: 371
Joined: Jan 24, 2012
Location: Too far from home.

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#15 » by DNP-Old » Wed Jul 2, 2025 11:30 pm

Send Gabe, Maxi and Milton to the Jazz for Collins. Send Rui to the Bulls for Ayo and Smith. Send Ayo to the Magic for Goga, Sign Coffee with the BAE and Melton to the vet min.

Doncic/Melton/Goodwin
Reaves/Coffee/Brony
LaRavia/Knecht/Thiaro
LaBron/Collins
Ayton/Goga/Smith
"Be quick, don't hurry" -John Wooden-

"No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth" -Plato-
Karmaloop
General Manager
Posts: 9,668
And1: 1,767
Joined: Sep 24, 2009
       

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#16 » by Karmaloop » Wed Jul 2, 2025 11:38 pm

penbeast0 wrote:The problem is what does LA do to fit his salary in; I'd trade him into a TPE for a 2nd. But if we are swapping expirings, then it either has to be another good defense high character guy. If he's salary ballast for taking on someone less valuable then there has to be compensation for that. That's why I said to the guy who said bring in Smart to make an offer. I don't really see anything there that works well.


I mean, Vincent plus Kleber works pretty much straight up for Smart. Wiz add an additional 913k on their salary, but that's pretty insignificant and probably could be covered with cash if they wanted/needed. If Wiz want something back involving Smart, it's going to need to be them taking back long-term money. So a team could acquire Vincent and/or Kleber, and the 3rd team sends a bad contract and pick(s) back to Washington.
chrbal
RealGM
Posts: 21,518
And1: 1,966
Joined: Mar 02, 2001
Contact:

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#17 » by chrbal » Wed Jul 2, 2025 11:44 pm

Sign Marvin Bagley for frontcourt depth
User avatar
zimpy27
Forum Mod
Forum Mod
Posts: 45,275
And1: 43,229
Joined: Jul 13, 2014

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#18 » by zimpy27 » Wed Jul 2, 2025 11:46 pm

Lakers would give SRP for Smart
"Let's play some basketball!" - Fergie
User avatar
Texas Chuck
Senior Mod - NBA TnT Forum
Senior Mod - NBA TnT Forum
Posts: 92,280
And1: 98,046
Joined: May 19, 2012
Location: Purgatory
   

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#19 » by Texas Chuck » Wed Jul 2, 2025 11:47 pm

One_and_Done wrote:The thing is, Lebron has to agree to go to Dallas.


He's been tied to Dallas since at least 2023. But part of that was almost certainly Luka who he talked about for years as being his favorite player in the league. Obviously Kyrie/AD are also players he's wanted to play with.

I think if he was serious about leaving Dallas is probably as logical a spot as anywhere, but I don't really think he's leaving LA.
ThunderBolt wrote:I’m going to let some of you in on a little secret I learned on realgm. If you don’t like a thread, not only do you not have to comment but you don’t even have to open it and read it. You’re welcome.
Karmaloop
General Manager
Posts: 9,668
And1: 1,767
Joined: Sep 24, 2009
       

Re: Whats the Lakers Next Step? 

Post#20 » by Karmaloop » Wed Jul 2, 2025 11:48 pm

Just looking at the current Lakers' roster as currently constructed.

PG: Luka Doncic / Gabe Vincent / Bronny James
SG: Austin Reaves / Shake Milton / Jordan Goodwin
SF: LeBron James / Jake LaRavia / Dalton Knecht
PF: Rui Hachimura / Jarred Vanderbilt / Maxi Kleber
C: DeAndre Ayton

Clearly, the Lakers could use more size so I'd guess they probably are short one more big man. I think they're going to shop their expiring (Vincent, Milton, and Kleber) for whatever useful vet they can get that has a 2nd year on their contract. I think their ideal target would be Andrew Wiggins, but if the Heat continue to insist on Dalton Knecht or a FRP in return for him, they'll pivot elsewhere. Ideally, I think they're looking for a wing defender preferably one with a reliable jump shot. I could see them pivoting to someone like John Collins, but I can't imagine they'd give up much more than a SRP to acquire him. After that, I'd venture a guess they'll just go veteran minimum shopping. Guys like Melton, CP3, etc. will probably be discussed.

Return to Trades and Transactions