Trade & FA 2025-26: Free Agency Starts 5pm CST/6pm EST

[omahen]

I know you were just using it as an example but didn't think of Jrue to the Lakers.   Aren't they pretty tied to Reaves or has that changed some?  Reaves better suits the Luka timeline, but he is in line for a big pay raise after next season.

Jrue would probably help more now, I think.   Although he is sort of on the Lebron timeline.   If Jrue is healthy and they find a capable starter that should be a real good team.   I am just not sure it is a contender and it opens up many more questions down the road imo.

I think Lakers should build for years after LeBron, not for remaining years with LeBron. He is awesome for a 40 year old, but he still is a 40 year old and if we forget about the age and just look at max contracts, he is not that great anymore. Based on this I think Reaves will only be traded for a long term very quality piece. I could see a trade for a more average player only if some considerable assets would also be coming back, that would give Lakers flexibility later to go after Robin. I don't think JRue at his age would be that guy anymore. This would be going all-in on a couple years of LeBron and Luka might just demand a trade or walk afterwards. To a team, that will be able to contend for the rest of his prime.

Personally, I see a lot of Brunson in Reaves. Always underapreciated, underestimated. But, he is a fighter and seems to me also a winner. Always plays with a chip on his shoulder as nothing was ever gifted to him.  One of Lakers podcasts showed lineup data the other day (small sample alert) and Luka-Reaves lineups without LeBron, surrounded by three defenders, were in the 95+ percentile in the league on both sides of the court.