What Should Lakers Do Next?

[JRoy]

Trade Lebron to Miami for every single 1st and swap they have and Wiggins with two other young prospects to get something before he leaves town after this year.

Since you cannot win with this roster just get everything you can around Luka and increase the overall talent and future assets to be a real contender in 2027/28.

LeBron has NTC, doesn’t he?

[JKiddy]

Trade Lebron to Miami for every single 1st and swap they have and Wiggins with two other young prospects to get something before he leaves town after this year.

Since you cannot win with this roster just get everything you can around Luka and increase the overall talent and future assets to be a real contender in 2027/28.

LeBron has NTC, doesn’t he?

Yes, and there are only 2 teams he can go to that would not taint his legacy, Miami or CLE.

[mademan]

Trade Lebron to Miami for every single 1st and swap they have and Wiggins with two other young prospects to get something before he leaves town after this year.

Since you cannot win with this roster just get everything you can around Luka and increase the overall talent and future assets to be a real contender in 2027/28.

LeBron has NTC, doesn’t he?

Yes, and there are only 2 teams he can go to that would not taint his legacy, Miami or CLE.

ya but he also wants to win. Miami with Lebron minus Wiggins and every asset they have is very, very mid.

[JKiddy]

Bam, Herro, LeBron, and say Kuminga signing there in a S&T would be very interesting.

[nzahir]

Bam, Herro, LeBron, and say Kuminga signing there in a S&T would be very interesting.

How does Kuminga S&T work and they get Lebron? Also not an ideal fit

Miami just doennt have enough talent I think

Lakers are way more talented

But interested to see the plan since the East is a ton weaker

[Bornstellar]

They should play out the season as is, let LeBron walk, go into the summer with tons of cap space, and retool correctly around their young superstar. No trade they will make this season is going to catapult them to top tier contender status so no reason to start trading picks to give LeBron one last hoorah. Just be patient for once and sign some impact players next summer. The 2026 FA class looks stacked compared to this season

[Cappy_Smurf]

They should make a terribly short-sighted trade to try and compete immediately, therefore handicapping their ability to improve over the next several years.

Come on, do it.

Double dog dare ya.

[SkyHook]

Trade Lebron to Miami for every single 1st and swap they have and Wiggins with two other young prospects to get something before he leaves town after this year.

Since you cannot win with this roster just get everything you can around Luka and increase the overall talent and future assets to be a real contender in 2027/28.

Even if LeBron waived his NTC to go back to the Heat, he doesn't have anywhere near this kind of value anymore.

[nzahir]

They should make a terribly short-sighted trade to try and compete immediately, therefore handicapping their ability to improve over the next several years.

Come on, do it.

Double dog dare ya.

Na the Lakers wont

As a Lebron fan I dont think that makes sense for LA even

I think trading Knecht though is fair game

Keeping 3 1sts for this summer makes sense

[nzahir]

They should play out the season as is, let LeBron walk, go into the summer with tons of cap space, and retool correctly around their young superstar. No trade they will make this season is going to catapult them to top tier contender status so no reason to start trading picks to give LeBron one last hoorah. Just be patient for once and sign some impact players next summer. The 2026 FA class looks stacked compared to this season

Is it stacked?

What FAs in 2026 make a lot of sense and are better than Bron?

A lot of pgs that dont fit like Fox and Trae

Mikal isnt leaving NY

2027 is the main FA class with Giannis and Jokic if they opt out

Thats the one LA should be targetting

If we can trade for guys with 2 years thats fine imo b/c it wont ruin the Lakers plan of going after Giannis or Jokic

I don't think Jokic walks, but maybe Giannis depending on what happens these years

[Bornstellar]

They should play out the season as is, let LeBron walk, go into the summer with tons of cap space, and retool correctly around their young superstar. No trade they will make this season is going to catapult them to top tier contender status so no reason to start trading picks to give LeBron one last hoorah. Just be patient for once and sign some impact players next summer. The 2026 FA class looks stacked compared to this season

Is it stacked?

What FAs in 2026 make a lot of sense and are better than Bron?

A lot of pgs that dont fit like Fox and Trae

Mikal isnt leaving NY

2027 is the main FA class with Giannis and Jokic if they opt out

Thats the one LA should be targetting

If we can trade for guys with 2 years thats fine imo b/c it wont ruin the Lakers plan of going after Giannis or Jokic

I don't think Jokic walks, but maybe Giannis depending on what happens these years

I said stacked in comparison to this years FA class which was pretty abysmal

[nzahir]

They should play out the season as is, let LeBron walk, go into the summer with tons of cap space, and retool correctly around their young superstar. No trade they will make this season is going to catapult them to top tier contender status so no reason to start trading picks to give LeBron one last hoorah. Just be patient for once and sign some impact players next summer. The 2026 FA class looks stacked compared to this season

Is it stacked?

What FAs in 2026 make a lot of sense and are better than Bron?

A lot of pgs that dont fit like Fox and Trae

Mikal isnt leaving NY

2027 is the main FA class with Giannis and Jokic if they opt out

Thats the one LA should be targetting

If we can trade for guys with 2 years thats fine imo b/c it wont ruin the Lakers plan of going after Giannis or Jokic

I don't think Jokic walks, but maybe Giannis depending on what happens these years

I said stacked in comparison to this years FA class which was pretty abysmal

True, but not that great next year for LAL

If Lebron has multiple years left and would take a massive paycut.....Giannis or Jokic could join

Luka, Giannis, Lebron, and Reaves would be pretty insane

[mademan]

They should play out the season as is, let LeBron walk, go into the summer with tons of cap space, and retool correctly around their young superstar. No trade they will make this season is going to catapult them to top tier contender status so no reason to start trading picks to give LeBron one last hoorah. Just be patient for once and sign some impact players next summer. The 2026 FA class looks stacked compared to this season

Is it stacked?

What FAs in 2026 make a lot of sense and are better than Bron?

A lot of pgs that dont fit like Fox and Trae

Mikal isnt leaving NY

2027 is the main FA class with Giannis and Jokic if they opt out

Thats the one LA should be targetting

If we can trade for guys with 2 years thats fine imo b/c it wont ruin the Lakers plan of going after Giannis or Jokic

I don't think Jokic walks, but maybe Giannis depending on what happens these years

Giannis isn walking either. FA superstars walking is a thing of the past, imo. Nobody is giving up the ridiculous amounts of money that only their current team can give. If Giannis (or Jokic for that matter) plays and retires elsewhere, it'll be a trade after he gets the extension

[DanishLakerFan]

First and foremost: Extend Luka Doncic.
Then build a team that is capable of competing for a title, while making sure they're players in free agency in 2027.

Basically, the 2026 free agency is kinda weak, so they should make sure the books are relatively clean in 2027 so they can make a move at Giannis, Joker, Donovan Mitchell etc. Untill then, they should try to compete for a title and do their best to put the correct players next to Luka. They've done pretty well in that regard so far, but Reaves - as good as he is - could be problematic as he could sign somewhere else or sign at a price that takes them out of the running for the major FA's. Lebron could be a part of the next two years. Or not.

[zimpy27]

I think it's more likely that LeBron stays a Laker than not next season.

[JHFVF07]

If Luka is signed, next off season, if NYK blinks I try to steal Mikal(even if for a overpay). Re-sign Reaves and fill the roster with 3-D guys. Not waiting for Gianis or Jokic.

Luka/Reaves/Bridges and good pieces around them should be a contender for the next 5 years.

[R-DAWG]

Two questions that are going to determine the answer here:

(1) Are they willing to take on salary?
(2) Are they willing to trade lightly-protected/unprotected future picks?

Knecht is fine, but he's not the needle mover that most Lakers fans think. If they want to pursue someone serious they've gotta put picks on the table.

If I’m the Lakers, assuming Luka extends, I would be willing to take on salary for a short term upgrade and push the cap space summer a year or two, but I would only trade a future pick if it’s for a long term fit next to Luka.

I think that's a totally reasonable approach; but then I think the Lakers need to temper their expectations of what Vincent/Kleber/Knecht/2nds brings back. No one is giving up a guy who's worthy of being in a playoff rotation on a fair contract for that package.

I was thinking something like Quentin Grimes on an overpay in a sign and trade. A third team would be needed to absorb one of Kleber/Vincent along with a 2nd, with Philly getting the other plus Kenecht. Lakers would give Grimes something like a 3 year, $63mm deal starting at 22mm, with a player option in year 3. This also opens up 2 vet min slots for LA.

Reaves/Grimes/Luka/Lebron/Ayton
Smart/LaRavia/Rui/Vando

[R-DAWG]

DJJ is the best target IMO

I dont see LAC doing it though, unless they fall apart for some reason (injuries?)

We are city rivals in some way and hes their backup SF

If he was available though, sure

Hes not perfect, but not a lot of options

Okoro is another name, but meh and only 6'5

If were going for someone below 6'6, just go get KCP

Other route is go get a sharpshooter, such as Grayson Allen (but contract too long for Rob) and outscore teams

The KCP thing is interesting. The math works doing Kleber/Vincent for KCP, and KCP has an extra year on his deal so Memphis might even throw in a 2nd.

Lakers might be a little tight getting to 14 standard contacts under the 2nd apron.

[Crazy-Canuck]

Bam, Herro, LeBron, and say Kuminga signing there in a S&T would be very interesting.

Team would struggle to defend the wizards in a 7 game series.

[JKiddy]

I likely agree unless they trade for or sign two key defenders.

I think LAL lets LeBron walk after this year. But, if LeBron wants out now he might push for a deal before the season so he doesn't bitch come the trade deadline and look bad for it.