Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[loki]

There are several restricted free agents the Lakers have already done their due diligence on, sources familiar with the team's thinking told ESPN. Two of them, Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons and Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz, would satisfy Doncic's directive to secure an A-list center. Two others, Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets and Tari Eason of the Rockets, are the type of 3-and-D archetypes who any team needs in order to succeed in the modern NBA.

ESPN

I don't see how they land Duren or Kessler. There might be some tension between those players and their current teams over the exact $ amount, but I suspect they will be matched almost no matter what.

Watson would be a solid addition if Denver can't shed enough salary to match. I suspect they'll be able to move Cam Johnson and Zeke Nnaji though. If LA goes the Eason route I think they'll regret paying him pretty quickly.