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

[KillerLeft]

I disagree honestly.

Gafford is quite literally the picture perfect center to pair next to Luka. The lakers getting him transforms that team into a heavy contender. 

…offensively. Defensively, they’d be on a dead-end road, imho.

But, whether or not it would be good for the Lakers doesn’t concern me, honestly. I know some disagree, but I don’t believe there’s a big enough future here for Gafford in terms of best-case-scenario role or salary structure. I think they have officially reached the perfect and possibly last time to move him gracefully and get value in return. The perception that he’s an ideal fit with Luka (or a good one, at least) is what makes it plausible that LA might consider a package like that. Many, many teams wouldn’t. 

If you don’t have an interest in the two role players, another team will. Expand the trade so they land somewhere else. Sell them off in separate deals. Whatever. 

Just my opinion, and partially driven by a sneaking suspicion that an unprotected 2031 LAL first might end up being a pretty nice get.