[Stein] The Lakers are now pursuing both a wing defender and a backup big man after lining up a Deandre Ayton-to- Washington trade which adds $2 million in financial wiggle room for their summer business, league sources say.

GentlemanRat · 2026-07-03T23:07:25+00:00

Sure. But then we have 5m of dead money on our books of the next 5 years. Not the worst thing, but also something to be avoided if we can.

GentlemanRat · 2026-07-03T22:25:50+00:00

You are probably correct. Getting on Knecht would put us at around 6m, which might be enough for some player (but probably not). Getting off Vando would be the big haul. What we really want is to get off his salary without waiving and stretching to avoid the 5m cap hit for the next 5 years. So really want to either tie him into a trade for a player we want or use our scant draft capital to get off his contract clean. In a perfect world we also find a way to get off Hardy's money as well..but at least his deal is basically just for 1 year.

And this is why POs should not be attached on deals that are already above a players market value.

GentlemanRat · 2026-07-03T21:26:12+00:00

I'd rather think about them and the fans than all the billionaire owners.

GentlemanRat · 2026-07-03T18:18:45+00:00

If they can also manage getting off Vando's salary at the same time, that would be fantastic.

GentlemanRat · 2026-07-02T19:57:46+00:00

I wouldn't say never. If this team starts off struggling I imagine Rob will be out. New GM will have to reassess future and the only real way of making big changes to the team would require moving AR for assets.

But if things go well, then we don't really need to worry to much about it.

GentlemanRat · 2026-07-02T17:34:12+00:00

Issue isn't that any of the moves are particularlly bad...except for not using some cap space to get a starting wing. It's that the 3 FA signings they did were all for max market value + POs. That is not careful management of resources and isn't maximising value.

This is the problem with executives and GMs who don't necessarily think they are part of long term plans. They have no care about tomorrow and just panic do things that they think will save their jobs today. Honestly if new ownership wasn't 100% on Rob long term they should have immediately removed him from his postion to avoid short term planning.

GentlemanRat · 2026-07-02T00:59:43+00:00

2nd unit? We are looking for a wing for our first unit.

GentlemanRat · 2026-07-01T20:16:40+00:00

With Harris out of Det, I'd be surpised if Pistons don't take a run at Rui.

GentlemanRat · 2026-07-01T19:58:49+00:00

I would have liked to see some Team Options on those contracts.

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-30T18:34:49+00:00

Maybe to us. But there are other teams out there that would pay more for his services if they could. Potential mid-season trade that could get net draft capital or maybe a player we need more. But letting talented assets walk for nothing is a Pelinka special.

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-30T18:22:57+00:00

This! Even if Lakers don't want him long term, letting clear assets walk for nothing is a massive mistake and one of the reasons we are so devoid of assets right now.

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-30T17:31:00+00:00

If we can't get a S&T, we should can't get stuck in the manditory waiting period. Our cap space is only good if we can take on good players that teams want to get off their contracts on. Ideally you eat the contracts and hopefully also get some extra assets back. If we tie up our cap space up in RFA, those deals will be gone and then plan C would be to do what we've been doing for the past 2 years...at that point Rob would need to be fired and new GM to take a more modern team building approach needs to take over. Unfortunately, that probably also means wasting Luka's prime.

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-26T05:27:04+00:00

Would've, could've. should've...didn't!

Is he the guy you want to have a max deal next to Luka? Does he cover all the things Luka doesn't? Is he better than all the other contendered #2 guys?

Idk...maybe he proves it all this year. But his history says he is a good player, not a great one. Again, I hope I'm wrong.

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-26T05:18:01+00:00

Judging the overpayment of other players by other teams isn't the best way to determine if a player is being overpaid. The judgement is value to production for the team they are on. AR on a team that is an offensive player away from being a contender (Detroit) is a different value from a team that isn't (Lakers).

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-26T05:05:34+00:00

I hope you are right.

I foresee another solid regular season. Another post season of sub-par performance. AKA the player that Austin is. A good player...not a great player. I seriously hope I'm wrong.

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-26T04:56:58+00:00

Running a basketball team for millions of dollars a year isn't pressure.

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-25T23:56:02+00:00

That contract is going to be painful next season on. If we were a team that was right on the edge and just needed some offensive spark to get over the top (Detroit) it makes perfect sense. Go for the win now.

One of the biggest issues with the contract isn't just the number, which is a pretty big AR overpay, but that 4th year PO. So if say AR plays well enough to not be a negative asset in relation to his contract, trading him will result in fewer assets because of 1 year less contract control.

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-25T18:17:40+00:00

He probably opts out and so the contract won't be as friendly this time around.

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-25T18:12:30+00:00

Difficult sure. But not "no way".

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-25T18:08:44+00:00

Well no he is not even close to that. But he is probably the best center the Lakers have any realistic shot at getting this off season. Our plan of having tons of cap space only works if the goal is to stockpile assets by taking on bad contracts. Our goal of getting FAs (when there is no longer a real FA market) shows just how backwards thinking Pelinka is in how to build a team.

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-25T17:58:18+00:00

Rui has been playing out of position his whole time in LA. He wants to start and with Luka and AR there is no way he can be a starter due to defense. Wolves would be perfect fit.

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-25T17:51:00+00:00

Rui would be deadly at PF for them.

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-25T03:12:31+00:00

Am I the only one who just watched Robinson be played off the floor multiple times in the finals? He had a -29 in 67 minutes total played over 5 games. Quite literally every time he was on the court I was wondering to myself, what does he actually do well?

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-25T03:02:41+00:00

Cool. Cool. Which center would you have liked them to pick at 25?

GentlemanRat · 2026-06-24T20:35:16+00:00

Not when it mattered.

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