What Should Lakers Do Next?

[meekrab]

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.

And Miami does this why? Trades do have to make sense for both sides.

[nzahir]

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.

The math works if you sign someone near trade deadline I think

Also can move Knecht in here

Ask Memphis back for a 2nd and use 2 2nds for Reath in a 3 teamer

Stretch big who can play next to Vando as an option

Or Knecht to Portland for Reath and a 2nd

Gabe, Kleber, and 2 2nds for kcp if they don’t want Knecht

Another target or trade idea is Ayo and Jalen Smith

[Karmaloop]

Pretty sure the Lakers are done barring some sort of surprise trade coming.

[SlimShady83]

Step 1 sign Luka August 2nd
Step 2 destroy the NBA
Step 3 first round = Clippers clean sweep, 2nd round Denver, 3rd = Dallas If healthy.
Step 4 win the championship, thank Nico and laugh at the rest of the league Lakers/Knicks finals
Step 5 Say good bye to Bron, waive Bronny and be done with the Lebronny faze finally.
Step 6 sign another star after Lebronny = Giannis

Realisticallly and speaking of trades, I think Lakers might be done, until mid season.

Unless someone wants Maxi, Knecht and Gabe.

I rarely if ever bump threads ... But this is just the start

Step1 completed

[DanishLakerFan]

Primary objectives this summer:
1. Resign Luka. They did.
2. Address holes in roster (point of attack defense, get a big and wing depth). Added Smart, Ayton and LaRavia.

Now id say the next decisions should be based on what Lebron's plans are. I hope he's staying for two more years, so they can plan on making a splash in free agency in 2027 as well as make a few moves now in order to compete for the next two years. Keeing Reaves is going to be tough if Lebron sticks around beyind 2026, so i would probably try to find a trade for him.

[Daddy 801]

Primary objectives this summer:
1. Resign Luka. They did.
2. Address holes in roster (point of attack defense, get a big and wing depth). Added Smart, Ayton and LaRavia.

Now id say the next decisions should be based on what Lebron's plans are. I hope he's staying for two more years, so they can plan on making a splash in free agency in 2027 as well as make a few moves now in order to compete for the next two years. Keeing Reaves is going to be tough if Lebron sticks around beyind 2026, so i would probably try to find a trade for him.

LeBron for 2 more years is good. LeBron for two more years at his current salary is not good. He needs to be pad like 10 million if he wants to sniff a ring again.

[MadNESS]

The way I see it, this should have been the Lakers offseason Checklist:

Extend Luka (Done)
Get Starting Caliber Center (Done)
Get Defensive Guard (Done)
Find A Cheap Young Hustler Guy Who Can Shoot (Done)
Retain DFS (Failed)
Figure Out LeBron Situation (Unknown) - Must be staying?
One Consolidation Trade (Not Done)

Bonus:

Trading Up In the Draft (Done)

I’ll take 4 out 7 plus a bonus, still can get 2 of those, maybe 3.

[JB2]

The way I see it, this should have been the Lakers offseason Checklist:

Extend Luka (Done)
Get Starting Caliber Center (Done)
Get Defensive Guard (Done)
Find A Cheap Young Hustler Guy Who Can Shoot (Done)
Retain DFS (Failed)
Figure Out LeBron Situation (Unknown) - Must be staying?
One Consolidation Trade (Not Done)

Bonus:

Trading Up In the Draft (Done)

I’ll take 4 out 7 plus a bonus, still can get 2 of those, maybe 3.

Good recap - especially agree with a consolidation trade - ideally for a wing who can defend.

That said, I actually love the way they handled LeBron which is by taking off the white gloves.

[gswhoops]

Primary objectives this summer:
1. Resign Luka. They did.
2. Address holes in roster (point of attack defense, get a big and wing depth). Added Smart, Ayton and LaRavia.

Now id say the next decisions should be based on what Lebron's plans are. I hope he's staying for two more years, so they can plan on making a splash in free agency in 2027 as well as make a few moves now in order to compete for the next two years. Keeing Reaves is going to be tough if Lebron sticks around beyind 2026, so i would probably try to find a trade for him.

LeBron for 2 more years is good. LeBron for two more years at his current salary is not good. He needs to be pad like 10 million if he wants to sniff a ring again.

Based on the way this offseason has gone, I don't think he's going to be inclined to take a paycut to help the Lakers out. If he ends up playing for $10M a year it's probably somewhere else (Cleveland? Miami?)

[Daddy 801]

Primary objectives this summer:
1. Resign Luka. They did.
2. Address holes in roster (point of attack defense, get a big and wing depth). Added Smart, Ayton and LaRavia.

Now id say the next decisions should be based on what Lebron's plans are. I hope he's staying for two more years, so they can plan on making a splash in free agency in 2027 as well as make a few moves now in order to compete for the next two years. Keeing Reaves is going to be tough if Lebron sticks around beyind 2026, so i would probably try to find a trade for him.

LeBron for 2 more years is good. LeBron for two more years at his current salary is not good. He needs to be pad like 10 million if he wants to sniff a ring again.

Based on the way this offseason has gone, I don't think he's going to be inclined to take a paycut to help the Lakers out. If he ends up playing for $10M a year it's probably somewhere else (Cleveland? Miami?)

If he takes a pay cut and LA can bring in 1-2 guys with the additional money they could be legit. He would be silly to leave at that point.

[DanishLakerFan]

Primary objectives this summer:
1. Resign Luka. They did.
2. Address holes in roster (point of attack defense, get a big and wing depth). Added Smart, Ayton and LaRavia.

Now id say the next decisions should be based on what Lebron's plans are. I hope he's staying for two more years, so they can plan on making a splash in free agency in 2027 as well as make a few moves now in order to compete for the next two years. Keeing Reaves is going to be tough if Lebron sticks around beyind 2026, so i would probably try to find a trade for him.

LeBron for 2 more years is good. LeBron for two more years at his current salary is not good. He needs to be pad like 10 million if he wants to sniff a ring again.

Based on the way this offseason has gone, I don't think he's going to be inclined to take a paycut to help the Lakers out. If he ends up playing for $10M a year it's probably somewhere else (Cleveland? Miami?)

The trick for LA is to play two timelines. One right now and one that starts with free agency in 2027, so there might not be a need for Lebron to take less as they would be over the cap regardless. The trick is finding players that help them compete on both timelines.

[nzahir]

The way I see it, this should have been the Lakers offseason Checklist:

Extend Luka (Done)
Get Starting Caliber Center (Done)
Get Defensive Guard (Done)
Find A Cheap Young Hustler Guy Who Can Shoot (Done)
Retain DFS (Failed)
Figure Out LeBron Situation (Unknown) - Must be staying?
One Consolidation Trade (Not Done)

Bonus:

Trading Up In the Draft (Done)

I’ll take 4 out 7 plus a bonus, still can get 2 of those, maybe 3.

What consolidation trade would you like to see get done?

[JHFVF07]

I think we should wait till deadline for sellers, try to grab a good wing (3-D) from a team that decides to tank, using our expirings and pick.

[zimpy27]

The way I see it, this should have been the Lakers offseason Checklist:

Extend Luka (Done)
Get Starting Caliber Center (Done)
Get Defensive Guard (Done)
Find A Cheap Young Hustler Guy Who Can Shoot (Done)
Retain DFS (Failed)
Figure Out LeBron Situation (Unknown) - Must be staying?
One Consolidation Trade (Not Done)

Bonus:

Trading Up In the Draft (Done)

I’ll take 4 out 7 plus a bonus, still can get 2 of those, maybe 3.

What consolidation trade would you like to see get done?

Kleber+Gabe+Knecht for KCP maybe.

PG: Smart (30) | Reaves (18)
SG: Reaves (18) | KCP (30)
SF: Luka (36) | LaRavia (12)
PF: LeBron (36) | Rui (12)
C: Ayton (30) | Rui (18)

[MadNESS]

The way I see it, this should have been the Lakers offseason Checklist:

Extend Luka (Done)
Get Starting Caliber Center (Done)
Get Defensive Guard (Done)
Find A Cheap Young Hustler Guy Who Can Shoot (Done)
Retain DFS (Failed)
Figure Out LeBron Situation (Unknown) - Must be staying?
One Consolidation Trade (Not Done)

Bonus:

Trading Up In the Draft (Done)

I’ll take 4 out 7 plus a bonus, still can get 2 of those, maybe 3.

What consolidation trade would you like to see get done?

KCP?
Ellis?
Brooks?
Middleton after buy out?
Not sure haven’t really surveyed out deals…

[SkyHook]

The way I see it, this should have been the Lakers offseason Checklist:

Extend Luka (Done)
Get Starting Caliber Center (Done)
Get Defensive Guard (Done)
Find A Cheap Young Hustler Guy Who Can Shoot (Done)
Retain DFS (Failed)
Figure Out LeBron Situation (Unknown) - Must be staying?
One Consolidation Trade (Not Done)

Bonus:

Trading Up In the Draft (Done)

I’ll take 4 out 7 plus a bonus, still can get 2 of those, maybe 3.

What consolidation trade would you like to see get done?

Kleber+Gabe+Knecht for KCP maybe.

PG: Smart (30) | Reaves (18)
SG: Reaves (18) | KCP (30)
SF: Luka (36) | LaRavia (12)
PF: LeBron (36) | Rui (12)
C: Ayton (30) | Rui (18)

I don't see Memphis considering this at all.

[PistolPeteJR]

The way I see it, this should have been the Lakers offseason Checklist:

Extend Luka (Done)
Get Starting Caliber Center (Done)
Get Defensive Guard (Done)
Find A Cheap Young Hustler Guy Who Can Shoot (Done)
Retain DFS (Failed)
Figure Out LeBron Situation (Unknown) - Must be staying?
One Consolidation Trade (Not Done)

Bonus:

Trading Up In the Draft (Done)

I’ll take 4 out 7 plus a bonus, still can get 2 of those, maybe 3.

What consolidation trade would you like to see get done?

Kleber+Gabe+Knecht for KCP maybe.

PG: Smart (30) | Reaves (18)
SG: Reaves (18) | KCP (30)
SF: Luka (36) | LaRavia (12)
PF: LeBron (36) | Rui (12)
C: Ayton (30) | Rui (18)

Frankly, I'd pump the brakes on KCP, who knows what he is at this point? Especially because I'd like to see what Kleber and Knecht look like to start the year with Luka.

[Vae Victus]

Yea lakers are gonna stand pat at this point and see where they’re at when the trade deadline rolls around. If the team is rolling, then make a deal to bolster the chances of a chip. If the team is struggling, selling off pieces to get ready for a 2026 offseason reset/retool makes the most sense. Luka is already locked up for 2 more seasons, it sucks to waste one of his prime years but it really just depends on how the team gels around him.

[nzahir]

Yea lakers are gonna stand pat at this point and see where they’re at when the trade deadline rolls around. If the team is rolling, then make a deal to bolster the chances of a chip. If the team is struggling, selling off pieces to get ready for a 2026 offseason reset/retool makes the most sense. Luka is already locked up for 2 more seasons, it sucks to waste one of his prime years but it really just depends on how the team gels around him.

I dont see why we would struggle honestly

Luka is a top 4 guy at worst when healthy and even has top 1 potential

Lebron should be an all nba 2nd or 3rd team guy, pretty good for a #2 option

Reaves is a good 3rd scoring option and not many teams have abetter 3rd ball handler

Ayton is a legit starting C who can punish switches and get rebounds, unlike Hayes. While being a lob threat. Defense is just okay though, so I hope theres more effort there

If Smart is healthy, he is a great fit next to these guys in the startijg lineup

The bench is my main concern vs top teams though

I think Rui is a solid 6th man

But then its tough. Can Laravia be a palyoff rotation guy? I think yes. But he is closer to your 8th, 9th, or even 10th man vs 7th, probably so

So we need to upgrade Gabe for that 7th man. Have Laravia be the 8th/9th man and get a backup C who is better than Hayes or at least does something different like stretch the floor

Vando is more of a situational playoff guy who can play 10-15 min, but matchup specific maybe and depends how he fits in the team and what other guys we add

[loveshaq007]

Vando, kleiber, dalton and FRP swap (unprotected) for cam Thomas, and d sharpe