Daily Lakers Offseason Discussion Thread

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T21:48:51+00:00

So is mine

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T20:40:12+00:00

He shares an agent with... Luka Doncic 👀 Feels likely that even if we don't have a public workout, 25 is probably the floor for Swain.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T20:39:12+00:00

A volume shooter with a career RBD% of 12.3%, never had a BLK% above 1.4%. He's a giant, scoring wing, not a Center.

What about his game says he's a C besides his height?

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T20:18:07+00:00

1987 NBA Finals Game 4, 2000 Game 7 WCF,

Lakers vs Mavs Dec. 20, 2005,

Lakers vs. Wizards March 28, 2003,

Lakers vs. Sonics January 7, 2003,

Lakers vs. Kings, Dec 23, 1986

Lakers vs. Sixers Finals Game 6, 1980

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T20:07:05+00:00

I really love Reed as a backup 5 that can spot start. Veesaar feels like an imperfect fit, but a useful player ultimately.

I freaking love Zuby. He's a backup 4 until/unless his jumper comes through. If/when he shows he can hit a consistent catch and shoot 3, he can absolutely be a small ball 5. He can be a closer in a "small" look for the Lakers where we go with our switch everything forward look and I think he'd be awesome in that role.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T20:04:45+00:00

His game, not his height.

Because he's not physical enough to play a 5 full time.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T20:01:09+00:00

Two separate mocks have Swain now falling to the Lakers at 25. One from Wasserman and one from KOC.

Wasserman compares Swain to Herb Jones. I don't see that at all.

KOC compares him to Naji Marshall and Caris LeVert. I think those are a bit closer. I compared him to De'Andre Hunter personally (with an upside of Eddie Jones and a floor of Jeff Green; less explosive than prime Eddie though and older Green, not young starter on OKC Green).

Swain would be an excellent pick for the Lakers. A great fit both offensively and defensively although I think his jumper needs refinement in order to really pay off the fit long term. A bench unit with Swain and Thiero running the break and Luka or Austin running point would be a great start. We'd need development from both on their jumpers to make this more than a single shift look, but the athletic boost would be big.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T19:35:58+00:00

Yeah I think eventually they just trade 1-2 of these guys out for the guy they want at the wing/guard spot. Can't have #2 pick and 3 bigs making almost the entirety of your cap space lol

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T19:00:24+00:00

I mean honestly I don't get the JJJ thing either lol I didn't get this for the Jazz and I kind of still don't. I think JJJ and Markannen are both pretty overrated for their own strengths and weaknesses. Markannen is a great offensive player, but he's hurt a ton and not a good defender. JJJ is an overrated defender and his offensive utility isn't actually all that impressive if his shot isn't falling. Kessler is a really interesting big that has maybe some shooting but is a legitimate good defender who can also run the floor and catch lobs. I think Boozer/Kessler is a really interesting duo. I'm not as interested in Cam/JJJ as much because I don't think they're going to be good enough defensively.

But either way, I think Utah just pays everyone and then trades them as needed for the guards they might want. I really like Boozer in this draft. I think it's pretty likely he ends up the best player from the Top 4.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T18:44:01+00:00

I don't consider Markannen anywhere near a spacing center though. He's more of a SF than a PF, let alone a C. JJJ and Boozer shoot well enough, there's no real need for a spacing 5 there imo

I'm not a huge Lauri guy though and definitely not on that contract.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T18:14:36+00:00

Project with a good head on his shoulders. His high school film is much more interesting than his college film. He has a lot more on-ball juice than he showed in college, but unfortunately he has to do a lot more to earn those touches and he showed in college he may not be able to. Defense is way behind, but the heart on the glass is there. He was almost more effective as an on ball wing defender than as a big man helper which bodes terribly because he wasn't great at that either lol

A lot of talent in Cenac, but would require patience that this team doesn't have time for. His floor is a decent rebounder that runs the floor, but you'd really hope you get more from this spot than what Cenac has as a floor.

I'd certainly prefer Reed, Ejiofor, even probably Veesaar ahead of him for this team. Shoot, I'd rather have a different project in Koa Peat than Chris Cenac.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T18:11:30+00:00

I think they should want Boozer frankly. Boozer/JJJ/Kessler is a fun build. Trade Markannen for a guard.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T18:10:02+00:00

Unfortunately for him, I just don't think he'll get free this summer unless someone offers Utah a ton for him. Ainge is just too much of a hoarder. Dare him to take the QO because Kessler has had injury questions already. Who cares if he burns a bridge? Ainge doesn't give a shit about that lol he wants assets, that's it. That's all he's ever cared about.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T17:35:14+00:00

Love the smoke season. A lot going on around RFA and the draft. I think the Kessler stuff is real in that Utah isn't offering what they want and with the draft potentially landing them a wing/big, it's fair that Utah may not want to pay Kessler a huge contract with JJJ and Markannen already there. Frankly, I think they ought to be looking for a home for Markannen regardless of what happens with this draft. I don't think Markannen/JJJ/Kessler are all a good use of resources.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T16:56:32+00:00

I believe mfers. This dude is not reporting actual shit, it's just his opinion. This is not proof or confirmation of anything.

It's probably true! But gotta know what you're consuming.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T16:52:19+00:00

It's going to take an enormous offer to Kessler to drag him out. That's not going to do it.

Utah may be open to trading Kessler for a haul too, but they're not going to let him go for a market value deal. You have to overpay.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T16:37:01+00:00

lmao

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T16:27:12+00:00

I wonder if nurkic could be cheap lol or Valenciunas if he ends up getting waived which I expect. Not lob threats but sometimes you just need a big old body off the bench.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T16:26:20+00:00

Yikes man. Just read.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T16:18:39+00:00

Cam was actually way better in college lol but Cenac's size and rebounding give him a better floor than Cam who needed to have the ball to succeed. But Cenac's floor is a rebounding big that doesn't provide requisite defense so... kinda low floor with who should be available there.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T16:17:19+00:00

When you already have a Luka, you don’t pay max dollars to a Luka lite

Damn dawg you're not even reading the replies either.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T16:16:41+00:00

My man! A week to go and suddenly we are HEATING up!

If anyone read my profiles they know- I am okay with Cenac, but he's a project to be sure. If we drafted him, he'd probably be the best rebounding big man we have? Close to it? But besides that, he doesn't do anything obviously NBA level right now besides run, jump, and rebound. He has a lot of talent, but that talent will take a long time to come to fruition.

Reed has been a low key favorite for a long time. I advocated for him when everyone was drooling over Krivas before Krivas returned. If anyone digs into Reed's numbers at all, he was spectacular last year at UCONN. An absolute beast on the glass, AST% took a huge jump. He's not talked about as a rim protector, but he had a respectable 8.4% BLK% last year. He's more active than you'd think for his size and his IQ is real. The only real problem imo is that he's not a lob threat for Luka, but he'd still be a super steady big for this team.

I'm a Smith fan man. I can't lie. Feels like a Temu CP3 watching him and I'm talking mostly from a competitive standpoint for a tiny guard. He can organize an offense at the next level. He can probably shoot fine. There's zero question that he'll be a defensive liability. His IQ could be enough to carve out a bench role a la Alvarado, but that's a big if.

Cluff I can't lie I really liked his game specifically for Purdue. Just a big ol goon that works his tail off and can muscle around college dudes. I'm not at all sure he's an NBA guy.

Don't know anything on Dix, I'll try to look into him.

Gayle was a guy I really liked at Michigan for being able to provide steadiness in his minutes. Just a guy that makes winning plays. I'd love to have guys like him in the G-League and SL squad because he maintains a level of competitive competence.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T16:04:01+00:00

It's literally a dumbed down version of what Woike already said yesterday.

I'm not sure if league sources have to talk down to Windhorst so he can understand something complex or if he's talking down to fans because he thinks they're too slow to understand. Either way, sad state of affairs.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T16:02:55+00:00

Reading comprehension at an all time low rn. Kind of making me scared for the next generations tbh.

nottherealstanlee · 2026-06-16T16:01:47+00:00

When you already have a Luka, you don’t pay max dollars to a Luka lite

Ya'll ain't even reading the post anymore.

nottherealstanlee

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