LAKERS TARGETING JOKIC SUMMER OF 2027!With no superstar projected to be available in 2026 free agency, it will be interesting to watch Nikola Jokic and other NBA superstars to see if they actually jockey to be free agents to join the Lakers the summer of 2027, when the Lakers… https://t.co/3bLZmLwZce pic.twitter.com/RCewVFk8NI— LakerTom (@LakerTom) July 16, 2025

Wiggins would still be top option for starting small forward if the Heat would not demand a first round pick. They may still give up and trade him for expiring contracts.

C’mon Tom. You obviously spend an inordinate amount of your free time curating content for this space. But you do the site a disservice when you post stuff like this. A 5 second Google image search would tell you this Pic is at least 2 years old. Do better.

I’m really starting to believe the Trade Machine was the worst invention ever to be unleashed upon humanity…

And in other ”news” the Celtics are Peter Pan’s best potential landing spot and Voltron is favored to land in Miami.

If. He. Wanted. To. Leave. He. Would. Have. Waived. His. Option. And. Became. A. Free. Agent.

It’s almost like nobody has followed his career and how he’s operated off the court over the last 20 years. The sample size isn’t small. His Ego will not allow him to let it appear like he got run off by Luka or that the Lakers sent him away. So there’s very little chance that he asks to be traded.By opting in he’s put the ball into Pelinka’s court forcing him to either:

1. Really go “ALL IN” and include Rui, Reeves, & Knecht in trades, plus Draft Capital, & taking back an unfavorable contract (or two) to throw a Hail Mary to win this season.

Or.

2. Do nothing or make minor moves that don’t get them any closer to a ring and risk losing both him AND Luka next summer.

That’s how big his Ego is…He’d rather let Pelinka take the fall for failure this upcoming season and probably never get that 5th ring.

Also, going to GSW or the Knicks still wouldn’t make him a favorite to win a ring next season anyway. OKC will be the runaway favorite and frankly, they really didn’t play that well offensively the entire postseason. If they get that end of the floor crackalackin by next spring they might pull off a Moses Malone “Fo, Fo, Fo” (+Fo).

Love Portland’s move to draft Hansen Yang 16th in first round.
This kid is going to be the next Joker. Great feel for the game.

There have always been good big man passers who move the play forward. Kareem was an underrated passer, Sabonis 1.0, and of course Pau Gasol. What we’re seeing more of are offensive philosophies built around these players whereas they previously just augmented a good system.

Shake can be waived prior to next Thursday, anything else will take a pick which we don’t have.

Another guy I’d waive Shake for.

Bronny James Highlights vs Clippers :17 Points 6-10 FG3-5 3PT5 Rebounds5 Assists+5 +/-Bronny was easily the best player on both ends for the Lakers tonight. When he comes off the floor the Lakers Summer League team, they just look really bad. And as soon as he is… pic.twitter.com/e9BT0OxqqZ— LakeShow Highlights (@LSH_lakeshow) July 15, 2025

Dalton looks like he is trapped in his own mind. Sounds like he’s putting in work…..too much? Anyhow, Bronny has looked solid against other G-Leaguers.

That is madness. The Wizards currently have 18 players under contract. A 2for one trade now leaves them with 4 players to cut. All for no draft considerations. Right. How about this, the Wizards according to the buzz are likely to cut him or buy him out to help get to 15 players. Why don’t we sign him then.

The beauty of the trade is the depth, diversity, and balance of the 15-player roster. Unlike the current roster, this roster is actually 15-players deep.PG: Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart, Jordan Goodwin SG: Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, Bronny James SF: Matisse Thybulle, Jake… pic.twitter.com/fug04QmXCl— LakerTom (@LakerTom) July 14, 2025

I’ve never been a fan of R.Pelinka but he normally does the “best he can” with what he’s given himself to work with. We tend think he’s been dealt a bad hand sometimes but he’s the guy shuffling the cards.

Stepping back & looking at where we are and how we got here. The Luka deal fell into Pelinka’s lap literally a coupla days before it happened…so there was absolutely no plan in place on how to deal with Luka being a Laker; there couldn’t be. The entire trajectory of the franchise changed overnight. It’s like trying to do a U-Turn with a cruise ship at sea…it’s gonna take some time.

Nothing that’s happened this summer has brought us any closer to OKC; in fact more teams have leapfrogged us. Luckily, no longterm damage has been done…..so far.

The problem is convincing Luka to stay patient and trust Pelinka & Buss (dammit!!) and sign that extension. He’s saying all the right things so far but it don’t mean shyte until they put pen to paper.

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Nearly a decade after helping deliver the Cleveland Cavaliers its first NBA championship, LeBron James and Kevin Love may be on the verge of writing one last chapter together. This time, it could be in Los Angeles, repping the purple and gold.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Love is eyeing glamour markets like the Los Angeles Lakers or the Miami Heat as possible landing spots in free agency. While both cities offer appeal, only one offers a chance to reunite with the teammate he shared undeniable chemistry with, and that is none other than James.

James and Love’s connection

The connection between James and Love was not just built on friendship or off-court trust. In fact, it was one of the most effective, underrated partnerships of the 2010s.

At their peak, they operated like clockwork. Love’s outlet passing, high-IQ spacing, and unselfish play meshed seamlessly with LeBron’s all-encompassing skill set. Their pick-and-pop game created consistent mismatches, and Love’s ability to stretch the floor opened up driving lanes that made LeBron nearly unstoppable.

Even now, as both players enter the final chapters of their careers, that chemistry still matters. The current Lakers roster is in need of exactly what Love can provide.

What Kevin Love brings to the table

Chances are the veteran big man is not going to be giving you 20 points, as last season, Love averaged just 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in limited minutes for the Heat. Those numbers are not jaw-dropping, but they do not need to be.

What Love brings is shooting, floor balance, and the kind of two-man synergy with James that does not need months to develop.

Love knows where LeBron wants the ball. LeBron knows where Love will be on the floor. That kind of trust is rare, and in high-pressure postseason settings, it can be the difference between advancing or going home early.

Los Angeles means more to Love than just reuniting with James
A return to Los Angeles would also mark a homecoming for Love, a Santa Monica native and UCLA alumni. Who would not want to retire in the city they grew up in, surrounded by family, familiar streets, and the memories that shaped them? This is a full-circle opportunity for Love and the kind of ending that feels written for someone who has given so much to the game.

Beyond the sentimental angle, the basketball fit makes sense. The Lakers need more shooting in the frontcourt. They need veterans who understand their roles.

And no one understands how to play next to LeBron better than Love does. What if that chemistry still sparks the way it did in Cleveland? The league might be in for one more surprise from a duo that knows how to deliver.

I mean…great? Rather trend younger but this might be the LeBron buddy in the locker room kind of moment.