Viewer for Reddit

Looking at all the Playoff Teams in the NBA. I think Lakers in the last 2 seasons have been the team that had the least to work with. Pretty much everybody in the Playoffs has a Center/ Big men to work with. And if they didn’t they have something to compensate for that But for the most part All the top teams have Big Men. Even the Warriors as small as they are they still have an All Time defender in Draymond Green, who gives most Big Men Hell unless their Elite.

View Poll

Yeah, this playoff exit stings, no doubt. But honestly, I’m feeling pretty good about where we’re headed. Luka showed again that he’s that guy, and some of the younger players stepped up in ways that matter long-term. Chemistry started clicking late, even if it was a little too late.

This loss should light a fire under both Luka and JJ. Luka’s got to take this as motivation to tighten up the little things — conditioning, leadership, decision-making in crunch time. And JJ needs to treat this as a chance to grow too. Rotations, defensive schemes, offensive adjustments — he’s got to evolve if we’re going to take the next step.

If they both come back smarter and more focused, we’ve got the pieces to make a serious run next year and set up something even bigger down the line.

Seem like this consensus among Lakers fans is that Reeves isn't the best fit along Luka/Lebron and that with his relatively high value he should be moved for a better fitting piece.

So what do you think might be a realistic return for Reeves and who would you accept for him as a better fit on this team?

Can the Hawks defer their draft pick this year so we can get it or no? I remember last year the Pelicans deferred their first round draft pick and it led to us getting Dalton but they used our pick to trade to the Hawks in the Dejounte Murray trade, so are they able to defer the pick so we can get it or no?

Early Luka had flash, but he wasn’t fully optimized. From 2022 to early 2024, before injuries crept in, he was in his best shape — not skinny, but strong. That filled-out frame let him bully smaller guards, absorb contact, and control the game with surgical pace. He had the skill and the size to impose his will. His defense was passable. His conditioning was solid. The best I’ve seen him was last season before he got hurt. He can get to it again.

Example: https://youtu.be/ZMWcqpLVc10

Over the next 13 seasons he won 3 MVPs and 5 championships.

The Luka trade was always a trade for the future. If we evaluated based on first year post season performance then the Kareem trade would be one of the worst in league history.

Be patient and believe in the Don (who's 26 btw).

Plus, you could ask them from any other top 15 players in the league. No matter the age, you shouldn't expect a star player to do that. If they did, they've sacrificed and we thank them for it, but if they didn't, we shouldn't act upset about it.

Celtics fan here with nothing to hide, not looking to start any drama. Genuinely just curious because I can’t figure it out. Obviously he’s no AD but surely they could’ve used his size out there?

After what has been happened in Dallas, I doubt Luka is very trusting at the moment. He wants to build a legacy and his efforts for the past years already have been demolished by a stupid GM. I would totally understand if he asks for NTC. Would you give it to him though?

Got bored on the train so decided to put on the GM cap. Also assuming what LeBron said about the paycut is just hardball to force Pelinka to make moves and that he's going to take one if we can build a good roster (for my own sanity)

———

Trades:

• Dalton Knecht, 2031 1st and 2032 swap rights to the Utah Jazz for Walker Kessler
  • Basically the move we tried to do prior to the Mark Williams trade, except this time we're attaching an even more valuable 2032 swap which hopefully tips the scale
• Rui Hachimura to the Orlando Magic for Goga Bitadze, Cole Anthony and #25
  • I love Rui big time, but I think we can find a real contributor at #25, Cole's salary to be used in a different trade and Goga is an excellent buy-low candidate. He looked great in Orlando before he got injured and has been getting DNPs afterwards, and is a good backup when healthy imo. Orlando pick up a 6'8 240 knockdown shooter for two guys that don't really play minutes and a late first
• Trade 2028 and 2030 swap rights to OKC for 2nd least favourable 2026 1st and 2027 OKC 2nd
  • What Dallas did for Gafford basically, gaining another first to move in a trade
• Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent and 2nd least favourable 2026 1st to the Miami Heat for Andrew Wiggins
  • We get another athletic 3&D wing who can guard POA, something we sorely lacked. DFS is clearly more comfortable guarding bigger wings, and Wiggins excels at guarding 1-3, and their complimentary skillset should help shore up our defense. Wiggins would essentially be our Dallas DJJ but better. Miami get the return of Gabe, a first and an expiring in Kleber which seems a fair return
• Cole Anthony, #55, 2027 OKC 2nd and 2032 LAL 2nd to LA Clippers for Derrick Jones Jr
  • DJJ, whose minutes have been dwindling over the last two months, would be another great buy-low option. We've established that Luka and him have great chemistry, and he'd join our team of long athletic 2-way wings that can shoot. Clippers need backup PG minutes (Dunn's not much of a playmaker) which is where Cole comes in

———

Resignings:

• Accept Jordan Goodwin's TO
  • Good player
• Waive Shake Milton's non-gtd
  • Bad player
• Have DFS decline his PO to sign a longterm deal at 4/58 (13m starting salary, 4th year PO)
  • He might get a tad more elsewhere, but hopefully LA, Luka and longterm security is enough for him to choose to essentially retire here
• Resign LeBron to 2/75 with a 2nd year PO and NTC (36.4m starting salary)
  • It cannot be understated how crucial this paycut is to any good offseason plan. He does this and I am personally building him a statue

———

Draft/Free Agency:

• Draft Labaron Philon at #25
  • Good young player that can defend and kinda shoot, can play both the 1 and 2 and hopefully becomes our next Christie with some playmaking chops. Has experience playing to a high usage bad defending guard (Sears) and still making an impact on both ends, and played winning basketball at Bama
• Sign Nickeil Alexander-Walker to 4/60.4
  • Underrated 3&D guy who the Wolves are unlikely to be able to keep, he probably will get multiple full MLE offers but a starting spot and the LA pull will hopefully be enough. Can run backup point if needed and is able to guard 1-3 at 6'5 with a 6'10 WS
• Sign James Wiseman to a 1y min
  • Athletic young 3rd string big

———

Rotation:

• PG: Luka Doncic | Austin Reaves | Jordan Goodwin
• SG: Nickeil Alexander-Walker | Labaron Philon | Bronny James
• SF: Andrew Wiggins | Derrick Jones Jr
• PF: LeBron James | Dorian Finney-Smith | Jarred Vanderbilt
• C: Walker Kessler | Goga Bitadze | James Wiseman

While I love Reaves and I think he could give us All Star level production one day, for this team specifically our bench is in need of his scoring and creation. This is modelled after the 2024 Mavs, with shooting and defense everywhere you look, the potential to go 12 deep in the regular season, and perfectly constructed around the strengths and weaknesses of Luka. Two excellent athletic roll men that can defend the rim, athletic 3&D wings in NAW, Wiggins, DJJ, DFS and Philon, and our big 3 carrying our offense. I'd book this team to have a 60 win season imo, and for Luka to have a MVP caliber year .

I can see the big defensive problem with Luka and Reaves as the starting backcourt and that it means we would have to surround them with elite defenders and a rimprotector.

But it feels like you all are not looking into the further future with that trade idea. Right now it would make sense because there is LeBron as secondary playmaker, but he will retire in 2 years max, personally I think next season is his last push for a chip and then a farewell tour is the most likely outcome.

Luka needs a number two that can create out of the advantage he creates and run the offense when he rests.

Who will fill the secondary playmaker role next to Luka when Bron is gone?
I dont see a better option offensively than Reaves, he is litterally Luka Lite. He can initiate the offense when Luka sits, he is a really good PnR player that will fit with the center that Luka needs, he is a good playmaker and ISO scorer on bigs.

So my question to you all is:

Who do you think should be the player that will be Luka´s Nr.2?

P.S. I am really interested in your thoughts, but please no delusional comments, like we get Jokic in FA after LeBron retires

Edit: Funny to see all of the reaction and willingness to trade him, when THIS was just a couple of months ago.

Edit 2: ~50 comments and not one suggestion or name mentioned who it could be. Everything is about trading Reaves now and hoping for a FA after LeBron retires. I dont see star-players waiting to be a second option behind Luka in the future. If you think someone like Ant, Shai or Jokic will fall into your lap, you are as delusional as the other NBA-subs think you are.

I feel like if no elite options are available, Steven Adams is a must grab. Watching the Rockets in the playoffs, I know he's not much of a scorer, but you don't really need that with Luka, Lebron, and presumably AR if he stays. Adams gives half decent rim protection and the rebounding presence that the Lakers desperately need. I know he's not a starting worthy center, but rn Jaxson fucking Hayes is the starter. He'll also probably be really cheap.

Lakers season is over. Talk about the other playoff series, what offseason moves we should make or whatever you want.

That's what Santa Rob will get us.

If we can get Claxton and Ziaire Williams from Brooklyn in a deal, we get our defensive wing and C in the starting lineup.

We can then get Adams as a backup and bruiser in FA for MLE.

AR is Ginobili

My lakers are gone Clippers got embarrassed by Westbrook LA Kings got ruined by the Oilers…again Rams lost to the eventual champions lol chargers (jk i don’t watch nfl but im sure they’re doing fine)

Dodgers are our only hope 😭

Look at Sengun and Adams, absolutely tearing it apart in the rebounds. Crazy paint lockup. They got Steph mf Curry and Jimmy buckets choking. They bout to put this game on the textbooks that'll be used to teach basketball defense. If this team had even one of them, it would've been a milk run against the wolves. I feel like if we even get 2 okay bigs for defense, that luka and bron offense would go crazy.

• Luka

• Goodwin (he's on a 2.3 million contract which is crazy good)

• DFS: he has a player option... would be neat if he opted out of it and re-signed for a longer deal but lower annual pay; could shave a few million off thmillion, 3 mill lets say

• LeBron: take a Lil cut to shave a few million off the cap. I doubt there's a situation he takes a significant cut, so maybe 5 mill?

• Rui

• Reaves

• Bronny... he's a package w/ LeBron so whatever.

Lakers rn have a payroll of 189 million, if they can shave off around 10, that puts them around 179. The luxury tax next year is projected at 187, and the 1st apron will be around 195-ish...

So the Lakers should have some decent flexibility tbh to bring in good role players. They don't have "3rd star" money, but they should be able to get good rotation players.

Gabe + Kleiber are both on 11 million expiring deals... Vanderbilt will have a harder contract to move, and Knecht is on a rookie deal and has potential as a top tier shooter so he probably has some value. Plus they still have a 1st to trade and some swaps.

Overall, I think therr are 6 good rotation pieces to keep, and there's actually some decent cap space and contracts/picks available to package for better role players. Looking forward to the offseason

Pretend you're the GM of the Lakers, what are the somewhat realistic moves you'd try to do this offseaon that'll fix all our most glaring issues and make the team contenders on paper?

We can grab Steven Adam’s in free agency and make a move for Clayton and then make a move for Trey or herb in New Orleans. We’re coming back next year with dogs that can do the dirty work and finish on O.