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LakerTom wrote a new post
Lakers offseason: How will L.A. build around LeBron James, Luka Dončić with limited options? https://t.co/7MDJ5H67pm— LakerTom (@LakerTom) May 12, 2025
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LakerTom wrote a new post
AUSTIN REAVES FOR WALKER KESSLERThe Lakers need a championship caliber center who can anchor their defense and give Luka the vertical lob threat and rebounding power player he needs to win championships with the Lakers.The Lakers give up two talented young players in Austin… https://t.co/cBBEog7VGA pic.twitter.com/Rd9eYzinwF— LakerTom (@LakerTom) May 12, 2025
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Today is the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery as one team lands Cooper Flagg at No. 1:Hornets: 14%Jazz: 14%Wizards: 14%Pelicans: 12.5%Sixers: 10.5%Nets: 9%Raptors: 7.5%Spurs: 6.7%Rockets (via Suns): 3.8%Blazers: 3.7%Mavericks: 1.8%Bulls: 1.7%Kings: 0.8%pic.twitter.com/oOjTYLWGGG— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 12, 2025
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LakerTom wrote a new post
walk with me 🚶 pic.twitter.com/KA6PfVUsiQ— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) May 12, 2025
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Shams Charania joins ESPN's 'Get Up' to break the news that Giannis Antetokounmpo is open to exploring his options outside of Milwaukee."He is the biggest domino in the NBA right now. He's a 30-year-old in the prime of his career. His potential availability is something all 29… pic.twitter.com/6MeMPKH8nB— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 12, 2025
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That trade would make the Bucks happy? Come on man😂
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![Profile picture of Jamie Sweet]()
This is the kind of move I expect to happen this summer. Problem is every single contending team would like to add young, upcoming two-way players and it’s not like nobody else knows what this guy can do.
Still, 76ers being in the bind that they are, might be time for them to explore an Embiid for Giannis move and maybe the fall out is we get Grimes…somehow?
Still want to see how the playoffs shake out before getting into trades because some teams may opt to blow it up if they come up short.
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They might be interested but he is a restricted free agent. And the 76ers want to keep him. We don’t the cap space to make an offer that the 76ers wouldn’t match. Another click baiter.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
PURE DOMINATION FROM INDY IN GAME 4 🏁The @Pacers take a 3-1 series lead! pic.twitter.com/WmZ2Ab5pYw— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 12, 2025
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Both are true lol
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LakerTom wrote a new post
PURE DOMINATION FROM INDY IN GAME 4 🏁The @Pacers take a 3-1 series lead! pic.twitter.com/WmZ2Ab5pYw— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 12, 2025
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Michael H wrote a new post
Aloha,
I have been reading all of these trade proposals and they all seem to be direct trades. But there may more opportunities for the Lakers helping a team in a trade. For instance, the Mav’s have a huge problem. Kyrie will be out for most if not all of next season. And they do not have another PG under contract. With perhaps only the tax payer mid level at their disposal, they may not be able to find that point guard in free agency. While I am not sure Dallas would have the guts to trade with the Lakers again, it might be different if we were helping them get what they need.
DLO is a free agent with the Nets and will probably get closer to the full MLE than the mini one. With his history working with AD he might be the perfect fit to run the team while Kyrie heals.
The trade. Lakers send Gabe, Skake (Which is on a non guaranteed contract) and out 1st to the Nets. The Nets sign and trade DLO and send him to the Mav’s. The Mav’s send Gafford to us. We could substitute Dalton for Shake and the first. I wouldn’t give them both Dalton and the first.
We have a Center, the Mav’s have a point guard and the Nets have another asset. Everyones happy.
We could do the same with Brogdon with the Wizards, and both the Magic and Pistons have extra bigs and need shooting. I’m thinking this is more likely the way the Lakers will aquire the center as opposed to a direct trade.
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I tend to agree, according to what the Lakers have actually said there are 3 players who ain’t leaving: LeBron, Luka and Austin. That tracks for me, Austin is worth a lot more than his current deal. So there’s that.
a Rui, IMO, is right on the cusp of that list. You don’t get players that steady and solid on both ends off the scrap heap. Give him shots, he gets results. Forget about him a little bit, he doesn’t complain and competes on D.
A after that, I’d like to keep DFS (playoff struggles are a bit of a concern tho) but after that whatever works best around Luka. Due to restrictions on so very many of our draft picks I’m not expecting a blockbuster move (sorry DJ but keep on dreaming) and I think, due to both our lack of draft assets and the fact that one of our biggest contracts will not be traded (LeBron) no matter what we’re in a weird holding patterns.
I expect us to try and move Vando, Shake, Kleber and Vincent. I’m not sure what the return on that package is but I know it’s neither Myles Turner or JJJ.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Plaschke: A painful truth: Lakers must trade Austin Reaves https://t.co/O4nUROqmqx— LakerTom (@LakerTom) May 11, 2025
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Bill argues the Lakers should trade Austin Reaves. The argument against is the only players who averaged at least 20 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists this season are (sorted by win shares) Shai, Jokic, Giannis, Tatum, Harden, LeBron, Reaves, Dame, Luka, Cade, Fox and LaMelo. https://t.co/X3N6sxJ8IX— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) May 11, 2025
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Bill Simmons says Austin Reaves is getting traded this offseason:"When Reaves gets traded this summer — and he WILL get traded – the stuff they [Lakers] get back for him is gonna make it seem worse that they [Mavericks] didn't get him in the trade." (@BillSimmons) 🧐 pic.twitter.com/d7zLQm8VWb— Lakers Better (@LakersBetter) May 12, 2025
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Michael H wrote a new post
Aloha,
I keep seeing Austin in all of these trade rumors and for me most of them are crap. And the couple that could make sense are click bait fantasy that will never happen.
A question that comes up is, who will be the star to replace LeBron. For me that’s not an issue to trade for. When LeBron does hang it up we will have a ton of cash available.
And perhaps we already have his replacement. The only players who averaged at least 20 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists this season are (sorted by win shares) Shai, Jokic, Giannis, Tatum, Harden, LeBron, Reaves, Dame, Luka, Cade, Fox and LaMelo.
Now how many of those players are 3rd options. Just Austin, heck Dame and perhaps LeBron now are the only 2nd option on the list. The rest are first option players. By the way they are all stars
Typically when Austin had to step into the number two option he had big games. When he had to step into the number one option he had even bigger games.
For those that can’t understand why the Lakers do not want to trade him, that’s why. They know what they have. I know there are defensive issues but having decent paint protection would go a long way in solving that.
I firmly believe the Lakers have a championship core. They need to add a decent center, not necessarily a star center. I believe we can add what we need without breaking up that core.
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Lakers can only keep Austin Reaves if they trade for a second tier center like Gafford or Claxton. If they want a legitimate championship center like Jackson, Turner, or Kessler, they’re going to have to include Austin Reaves in the trade.
The harsh reality that Lakers fans need to understand is there is simply no way Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are a starting backcourt for a legitimate championship caliber team.
Lakers have two options. If he accepts $22M per year extension and agrees to come off the bench as 6th man, Reaves would be a great fit as Lakers 6MOY candidate. If he wants $40M per year, then it won’t be for the Los Angeles Lakers.
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![Profile picture of Michael H]()
The big difference between you and me Tom, is I look for trades for guys that are actually available. There isn’t any legitimate indication that JJJ is available. There is nothing out there. Danny considered trading Kessler after a disappointing 2nd year. Then he had a breakout year and now appears to be a firm pillar of their rebuild. And the Pacers will keep Turner. He wants to stay. And they will look to add a little to that core. As for not competing with both Austin and Luka, that’s your opinion. I watched the games too. We lost because we lacked paint protection and depth. And depth is another reason to not send out multiple pieces of our core for one guy with no way to replace them. Keep in mind, Austin played on an injured toe that typically would have kept him on the bench for 3 weeks if it were the regular season. Luka had a flu a game and an injured back the next and Lebron hurt his knee in that last game. Give me a solid center like Gafford or Carter Jr and a little more depth, over one guy that opens more holes than he fills. We lack the cap space and assets to fill them.
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Another thing, JJJ averaged 22 points 5.6 boards and 2 blocks. Austin averaged 20 with 4.5 board and 5.8 assists. Rui averaged 13 as a 4th option and 5 boards. In about the same 30 minutes as Triple J. Offense does count. Now add a guy like Gafford which I highlighted because he actually maybe available. He averaged 12 points, 6.8 boards and 1.8 blocks in 21 minutes a game. Now tell me. Are we better keeping Austin and Rui while adding Gafford or we are better trading them for Triple J. I’ll keep our depth every day. By the who is your back up point guard if you trade Austin. What forward can we afford to replace Rui. One has to think about those things when considering a trade.
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It’s this kind of boxed in thinking that makes no sense to me. As if Reaves hasn’t improved some facet of his game every season, was better than advertised on defense after the ASB and Luka trade, and is a bargain (even with a looming extension). Rob has maintained that he’s untouchable, I’ll go with that line.
If he were included in a trade for a true superstar…sure, I can see them moving Reaves. Other than that…nope.
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You can’t go shopping for a Mercedes on a Kia budget. You can’t depend on the stupidity of the GM just because the Mav’s GM was stupid.
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As in never lol
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“Everyone is available for the right price and or trade.”
Yes, and Max Kleber, Gabe Vincent and our whopping 2 draft picks are not very much to offer when compared to a host of what other team’s are. Nico Harrison is a buffoon and I expect him to be fired before the next season begins. No other GM on planet Earth would have done what he did. He doesn’t deserve the title and yay for the Lakers for being the beneficiaries of his stupidity. It’s not a stratagem that has legs, though.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
CELTICS HOLD THEIR LEAD TO WIN GAME 3 IN MSG ☘️Knicks lead series 2-1. pic.twitter.com/qF9B78aNDl— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 10, 2025
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Anthony Edwards drops 36 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST as the Timberwolves get the 102-97 WIN over the Warriors & TAKE A 2-1 SERIES LEAD 😤Julius Randle: 24 PTS, 10 REB, 12 AST, 3 STL pic.twitter.com/YVxxAAs7ei— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) May 11, 2025
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Michael H wrote a new post
Aloha,
As usual as soon as the Lakers season ended, the click baiters came out in force. And as usual they are targeting trades for star players, regardless of how far fetched that trade may be.
The Lakers are not in a good position to trade for a star player. The minute the ink dried on the Luka trade, our limited remaining draft capital took a major hit. We now had a young superstar to replace the aging one.
I look at some of these trades and they are throwing in all of these trade swaps to make the deal. How valuable are those swaps? This team was the third seed even with all the chaos it endured. How valuable is a swap next year or in 2028 going to be? The answer, not very.
I see these made up JJJ trades, even though there hasn’t been a peep from the Griz about trading their 25 year old rising superstar. I’m sure they covet our one remaining 1st round pick and a bunch of meaningless swaps for him. Austin is a fine player but they already have Bane at the 2 and they would now be in the same boat we are, trying to find a quality starting center. If for some reason, they decide to trade him, they could do much better than the Lakers. Be real.
I really doubt that the Lakers can land any star with the package we have to offer. The rescinded Mark Williams trade is more in line with what the Lakers can do.
The truth is, we don’t need a star. We have a solid core, that with a couple of modest addition, like a decent center, can compete for a championship. It seems lost on the pundits that this was a very good team that lost in a playoff series that was hard fought, with 3 games lost in crunch time. We were close.
The Lakers will have the whole summer and training camp to work out the bugs. While that midseason trade was a huge win for the Lakers, we had to try and make it work on the fly and it left us with a glaring hole to fill. Now we can fill out the roster and have some time to make all the pieces fit.
So if you are waiting for the JJJ trade or Embid or Turner all I can say is, don’t hold your breath. You’ll pass out.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
WHICH CENTERS ARE ACTUALLY AVAILABLE?Rob Pelinka has long loved to use the analogy that you cannot buy a house that's not for sale. It's his go-to excuse for why the Lakers did not acquire a quality starting center four, three, two, and one year ago.The problem is trading… pic.twitter.com/R1PZL5l7Vf— LakerTom (@LakerTom) May 10, 2025
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LakerTom wrote a new post
DONCIC & REAVES CANNOT BE STARTERSON LEGITIMATE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMIf the Lakers are serious about winning an NBA championship, they need to realize that they either need to trade Austin Reaves or move him to the bench as their 6MOY candidate. No way he and Luka can be starting… https://t.co/5ptQd2a6zV pic.twitter.com/AZij0yV0p7— LakerTom (@LakerTom) May 9, 2025
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