06-10-2025, 02:32 AM
(06-10-2025, 12:25 AM)F Gump Wrote: If Lakers aren't in win now mode and don't feel any high urgency to make something happen while they have the best of Luka-LBJ duo, that's fine. I agree they have MULTIPLE issues to solve, not just C. How they prioritize that, and when, that's certainly a question of importance to them. I don't have any dog in the hunt on what the LAL thinking needs to be (or is "most likely"). Because I have no fondness for anything Laker-related, I'm not one to objectively speak to their best direction. Lakers suck no matter what they do.
In the case in which they are NOT in a complete win now mode (as you opine), imo Gaff is not necessarily their answer UNLESS they see him (as I do) as a player who can help both now and later (because I think he is affordably priced on his contract and will stay that way, relative to his play). I think not only his play but also his contract and team-oriented attitude stand to offer a significant extra value for whoever has him, and will help him bring a better return IF the Mavs decide to trade him.
I hope they don't, however. I think he has been a significant asset to their ability to win, and would leave a hole.
Looking ahead, if LAL wanted to "wait" for him, I don't think Gaff will be gettable as a FA in 2026. I expect the Mavs will either lock him up to an extension, or trade him to a team who will do so. And I don't think the Mavs willing-to-trade price should be lower than Reaves/FRP (although I'm not eager to solve any problem for LAL so would still be uneasy even at that price).
Lakers will of course try to compete. But, they will not mortgage their future for a short LeBron window, as that would imho more or less guarantee that Luka walks in a couple of years. Their moves will imho either be (prefferably) moves for players that are longer term pieces for a team once LeBron is gone or cheap stop-gap solutions while waiting for the right opportunity. Plan A related to center is imho try to get someone with a young center on a rookie deal to bite for that Mark Williams package. Kessler, Duren - this kind of players. Plan B might be Claxton, Poeltl, Gafford and similar, if the price is not crazy. Plan C is a stop-gap solution. Either someone like Capella for tax-MLE or some question mark center that would be cheap to trade for.
Ayton, that was mentioned, falls into that plan C category. He is a name (former 1st pick) that could appease everyone (fans, Bron, Luka) that Lakers did something and brought a center. He is expiring so they leave their flexibility for next season, where they have max cap space with only a handful contracts on their roster. If he plays well, they sign him long term. If not, they could move him at TDL or just let him walk in the summer. Make him a scapegoat for not winning a title
