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

[Chicagojk]

It will be interesting to see what the Lakers do this offseason at C. I don't think they have enough or Gafford or Claxton. At least I don't think. I don't believe Reaves is a part of any of these conversations either. Nets have proven they will hold on to players. They wanted multiple first round picks for Claxton. They won't get that, but not sure a 31 first is enough to get them to move.

I was under the impression the market would be flooded with centers, but I was listening to a podcast who said guys like Jarrett Allen and Gafford may very well be valuable for youngish, productive centers without huge salaries. The market is filled with older players, guys with higher contracts, and a few injured guys. So maybe they had a point.

I keep on coming back to Ayton for the Lakers. He is probably a tease and not sure what the package would be. I am not sure Portland gives him away and they want to compete next year. Not sure they want him either. Also not sure if the Lakers would give up a first round pick for him. May be a staring battle. I personally think if Ayton ever works out he needs to play with a clear alpha who is close to his age. He thought PHX was his team (may be a little delusional too) and the last two years in Portland have been in no mans land. If he ever figures it out, I believe it will be on a team where he is playing with a similar aged alpha.