Official roster build: Update- Marcus Smart signs

[stan francisco]

normal Powell and Wiggins..... for rui, Vando, kleiber, knecht, and Milton (none of his contract is guaranteed)... and a first

I’d do that for Powell. Not a big Wiggins fan.

[wco81]

So the plan is to part ways with Lebron next summer?

But the Lakers want to go after a max contract player in the summer of 2027?

That means Luka carries the scoring load by himself for 2026-27 season with the promise to sign a big fish in the summer of 2027?

Because if they're preserving salary cap for 2027 free agency, they presumably wouldn't sign some big name player in summer of 2026?

Lebron was still second team All-NBA last season. Assuming he still produces in 2025-26, that's losing a lot of production for 2026-27?

He is an expiring so potentially could be traded during season but he has NTC and a team may not want to give up so many future assets for a 42 year old player.

[Danny Darko]

So the plan is to part ways with Lebron next summer?

But the Lakers want to go after a max contract player in the summer of 2027?

That means Luka carries the scoring load by himself for 2026-27 season with the promise to sign a big fish in the summer of 2027?

Because if they're preserving salary cap for 2027 free agency, they presumably wouldn't sign some big name player in summer of 2026?

Lebron was still second team All-NBA last season. Assuming he still produces in 2025-26, that's losing a lot of production for 2026-27?

He is an expiring so potentially could be traded during season but he has NTC and a team may not want to give up so many future assets for a 42 year old player.

I'm not sure the plan is to part ways, but the reality is:
1. 50+ mill a year is tough to team build, though if this year looks like a chip team that can survive depth issues with high end talent.... who knows maybe 1 more year.
2. While not ideal building for 2027 there is still the possibility of in season trade that gets us maybe not a haul but meaningful pieces and assets.
3. yeah you let that huge salary just go next year and make some depth and trade-able assets happen.

What are you doing with this contract and player that makes more sense? Happy to send him your way to finish with steph, but Kuminga does not excite me and I don't know how it happens with that giant contract and GS assets, so what's up that works?

[wco81]

They have to break it off with LBJ at some point and they can’t let him dictate when he will leave because they have to be able to plan.

But if they don’t contend this upcoming season, the following season could be grim because not only do you lose Byron’s 25 PPG, AR could leave for big money as well, so the Lakers might be without 2 of their top 3 scorers in 2026-27.

All to bet that they could sign Jokic or Giannis in July 2027.

If they pull it off, that’s great but it seems Jokic will re-sign in Denver unless they regress from this last season.

[stan francisco]

I’d take Steph for Bron.

If I were the new owner and looked in the five year lens, I’d envision a Luka / Giannis duo or a Luka / Jokic duo. That would be my goal. All else over the next few years would be marginal. ‘How soon can we get one of them here, Rob?’, would be my first question.

LeBron should’ve either A) given us a senior citizen discount or B) announced his next season retirement so we could create a farewell year a la Kobe.

But he didn’t.

He said to Laker Nation instead that he wanted 33% of the payroll (for 15 players) to himself. He also said he expects to contend this year or he might demand out (hurting our chances for years), because he doesn’t dig not being first fiddle. It’s a career first but dude, you’re 40 and have aging tendons like everyone else. Why not throw in an extra year for that money, is it because Kobe didn’t? Kobe was a Laker only his whole career. Different levels of respect.

Too bad they weren’t a bit wiser in this, Rich Paul ad Bron. I’d even argue they were penny wise and dollar foolish, long term.

As much respect as I have for Bron’s brilliance on the court, sometimes his off-court moves are small-minded. Help yourself finish your career here, dude! Promise us next year for $20M. Something.

At this point, he’s been here for so long that we should expect another contention year from him, not the other way around.

[loveshaq007]

VJ and PG .... PLEASE!! if we trade LeBron

LeBron, Vando, bronny


down to flip PG and Dalton for smart, whitmore ,and CJ

[LAKESHOW]

I dunno. If we kept everybody intact. Then just added a Ayton and a Horford, would that be enoigh to overcome the West? If not, then there's some ingredient missing that would send it over the top. What would that ingredient be, and does he even exist?

[SlimShady83]

VJ and PG .... PLEASE!! if we trade LeBron

LeBron, Vando, bronny


down to flip PG and Dalton for smart, whitmore ,and CJ

lol, one could only hope. I don't care who we get for Le-Bronny, as long as they're gone

[stan francisco]

I’m convinced Bron is a Laker all season and plays well. Hoping for durability.

[stan francisco]

Our current options, roughly:

Luka | Vincent | Davis | Bronny | Steward
Reaves | Bazley | Goodwin | Milton
LaRavia | Knecht | Adou | Swider
Bron | Rui | Vando | Dixon
Ayton | Hayes | Jemison | Koloko | Klieber

Seems to me that we should trade all of our expirings. I’d put Rui, Milton, Vincent, Klieber out there until the trade deadline, hope to get a one solid player in return. It wouldn’t lessen our chances much with:

Luka | Bronny | RJ Davis
Reaves | Bazley | Goodwin
LaRavia | Knecht | Adou
Bron | Vando | Dixon
Ayton | Hayes | Jemison

Not a big enough difference over 82 games without the expirings, so who can we get for the four?

I’m assuming / hoping we’re getting Smart via buy-out. Then we should make a trade with Utah for Kessler. If they’re tanking in July already why wouldn’t they take four expirings?

Luka | Bronny | RJ Davis
Smart | Reaves | Bazley
LaRavia | Knecht | Adou
Bron | Vando | Dixon
Ayton | Kessler | Hayes

With solid coaching, we could compete with that. We have a good coaching staff.

Luka in shape. Reaves with more muscle. LaRavia breakout year. Knecht breakout year? Davis, Adou, Dixon all have 4 years plus in college. Bazley is in NBA shape, ready to go. Bron stays healthy… It’s possible.

[Landsberger]

Accidentally was listening to ESPN radio today and apparently 4 teams have reached out to the Lakers about Lebron. They speculated GS and NY. Possibly Cleveland in a multi-team trade.

I know it's the offseason and ESPN is garbage but interesting nonetheless. If someone is reaching out I hope Bron takes his talents elsewhere.

[SlimShady83]

Accidentally was listening to ESPN radio today and apparently 4 teams have reached out to the Lakers about Lebron. They speculated GS and NY. Possibly Cleveland in a multi-team trade.

I know it's the offseason and ESPN is garbage but interesting nonetheless. If someone is reaching out I hope Bron takes his talents elsewhere.

Most recent one is, LeBronny to Dallas lols, I'm not fussed where, as long as they're gone

[Anderson Hunt]

Doncic and Reaves is not a winning fit.

Reaves should've been traded at the deadline when his value was at its highest.

The front office's hard-on for Reaves costs this teamthe assets they would've gotten for Reaves and Bradley Beal, a better shooter and better defender than Reaves.

Pelinka lacks vision and an eye for fit.

His chronic myopia pigeonholes this team's ceiling.

He's simply not that smart.

Can someone tell me why Hayes was given a two-year contract?

[LAKESHOW]

We may have to reconsider the Wiggins Deal. He would cover the need for speed and experience on the wing

[tamaraw08]

Doncic and Reaves is not a winning fit.

Reaves should've been traded at the deadline when his value was at its highest.

The front office's hard-on for Reaves costs this teamthe assets they would've gotten for Reaves and Bradley Beal, a better shooter and better defender than Reaves.

Pelinka lacks vision and an eye for fit.

His chronic myopia pigeonholes this team's ceiling.

He's simply not that smart.

Can someone tell me why Hayes was given a two-year contract?

I heard that Jeanie is totally in love in keeping this guy so imagined her telling Rob not to move him at any cost.
Also I don't think many teams are really impressed with him that they are willing to give up good assets just to acquire him.
Spurs had a chance to sign him to a decent contract without giving up anybody but they didn't.
Rob may not be genius or in Presti's class but I don't think he is that stupid. When Kawhi rejected him, he buckled down to work to sign smart 3&D guys like Danny Green, Avery Bradley, Caruso and kept KCP to perfectly complement Lebron.
The horrible Westbrook trade was from James and AD's terrible idea of getting another playmaker.

[Anderson Hunt]

Doncic and Reaves is not a winning fit.

Reaves should've been traded at the deadline when his value was at its highest.

The front office's hard-on for Reaves costs this teamthe assets they would've gotten for Reaves and Bradley Beal, a better shooter and better defender than Reaves.

Pelinka lacks vision and an eye for fit.

His chronic myopia pigeonholes this team's ceiling.

He's simply not that smart.

Can someone tell me why Hayes was given a two-year contract?

I heard that Jeanie is totally in love in keeping this guy so imagined her telling Rob not to move him at any cost.
Also I don't think many teams are really impressed with him that they are willing to give up good assets just to acquire him.
Spurs had a chance to sign him to a decent contract without giving up anybody but they didn't.
Rob may not be genius or in Presti's class but I don't think he is that stupid. When Kawhi rejected him, he buckled down to work to sign smart 3&D guys like Danny Green, Avery Bradley, Caruso and kept KCP to perfectly complement Lebron.
The horrible Westbrook trade was from James and AD's terrible idea of getting another playmaker.

Excuse #1 - Jeannie Buss told Pelinka to keep Reaves at all cost.
Excuse #2 - No one really wants Reaves anyway, so they can't get anything of value back for him.
Excuse #3 - Rob isn't dumb because he signed Bradley, Caruso, and Green.
Excuse #4 - James and Davis told Pelinka to trade for Westbrook at all cost.

All I see are excuses, and you didn't answer my question:
Why is Jaxon Hayes signed to another two-year contract?

[tamaraw08]

Doncic and Reaves is not a winning fit.

Reaves should've been traded at the deadline when his value was at its highest.

The front office's hard-on for Reaves costs this teamthe assets they would've gotten for Reaves and Bradley Beal, a better shooter and better defender than Reaves.

Pelinka lacks vision and an eye for fit.

His chronic myopia pigeonholes this team's ceiling.

He's simply not that smart.

Can someone tell me why Hayes was given a two-year contract?

I heard that Jeanie is totally in love in keeping this guy so imagined her telling Rob not to move him at any cost.
Also I don't think many teams are really impressed with him that they are willing to give up good assets just to acquire him.
Spurs had a chance to sign him to a decent contract without giving up anybody but they didn't.
Rob may not be genius or in Presti's class but I don't think he is that stupid. When Kawhi rejected him, he buckled down to work to sign smart 3&D guys like Danny Green, Avery Bradley, Caruso and kept KCP to perfectly complement Lebron.
The horrible Westbrook trade was from James and AD's terrible idea of getting another playmaker.

Excuse #1 - Jeannie Buss told Pelinka to keep Reaves at all cost.
Excuse #2 - No one really wants Reaves anyway, so they can't get anything of value back for him.
Excuse #3 - Rob isn't dumb because he signed Bradley, Caruso, and Green.
Excuse #4 - James and Davis told Pelinka to trade for Westbrook at all cost.

All I see are excuses, and you didn't answer my question:
Why is Jaxon Hayes signed to another two-year contract?

you might want to double check your source about that 2 year contract because all I see is a 1 year commitment.
Also If you think the guy who passed the Bar Exams, formerly employed by a very distinguished Arn Tellem as dumb and stupid then blame Kobe, You know that workaholic icon who is very picky with professionals he worked with?

[SlimShady83]

I got a feeling Horford is coming FA. Just a feeling

Still need another trade for 3nD player, who's out there via trade? Something like, Maxi, Knecht and a SRP for a 3nD player??

[Anderson Hunt]

James for ...

Christie
Thompson
Gafford
Washington

PG - Doncic - Reaves - Vincent
SG - Christie - Vanderbilt - James
C --- Ayton - Gafford - Hayes
PF - Washington - Hachimura - Kleber
SF - Thompson - LaRavia - Knecht

[LAKESHOW]

I believe Pelinka has gotta pull the wiggins trade. No way around it. We ain't guarding KD and Finn Smith with Rui and laravia.

Bron
Luka
Reaves
Wiggins
Horford/Ayton