06-09-2025, 09:08 AM
(06-09-2025, 07:46 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: 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.
Non star players are rarely traded for more than one (unprotected) FRP, usually less. Of course there are many that don't get traded, because their teams rather hold on to them. Brooklyn is such an example. They didn't want to trade DFS previous season, claiming they want two firsts for him. Lakers paid 3 SRP in the end, combined with Russell they were enthusiastic to move from. Similar story Nets had with Cam Johnson last season. Valuing him at at least 2 FRP value, however there are rumors now they would be open to trade him for a lottery pick (#9 or #10 were mentioned), with Nets willing to eat a bad contract and also giving up #19.
As I wrote a while ago, I think for Lakers it is far more important to build for seasons after next one than for the next one. They are not just an average center away from contention. I agree Lakers don't have a great negotiating position for a center, but on the other hand I see way too much focus on it. I would rather get a stop gap solution like Capela for tax MLE, for example, if there is a good wing available for FRP and Knecht (for example Herb Jones). Lakers have a lot of flexibility moving forward and there might be several good center FAs in 2026 (Poeltl, Robinson, Gafford,...).
Nick Claxton is most often mentioned. Decent player, overpaid but declining contract. If BKN decides to go full tank again, it imho comes down to what other teams would offer for him. Lakers have expiring salaries, FRP and Knecht. Would someone else offer more assets? Would someone else offer more assets to BKN to take worse contracts?
Ayton is for sure an interesting one year gamble. But, you don't pay much for such a gamble and Portland might not be enthusiastic about it. Fair price would be likely something like expiring salaries for expiring salaries with a pick swap. Perhaps a team like OKC would gamble on that swap paying a bad FRP for it, like Mavs did when trading for Gafford. Perhaps someone would value Hachimura at FRP value if he is part of that expiring salary.
Under the radar target could be Duren. Lots of rumors Detroit is looking at shooting bigs like Reid or Turner. So perhaps, if they are able to land one of those two (I think Turner is totally unrealistic, so Reid), they might be willing to trade Duren. He is a player that is worth the Mark Williams package. Gafford is imho not.
Who knows what Toronto would do in the end, and Poeltl could become available pending on their other moves.