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

[FireNicoHarrison]

So we trade our NBA Finals core to LA in 1 years?
Wow that's more than stupid.

No thanks, let Fakers& Luka with that old ass LeBron and a bunch of overrated players.

[DL2RimRocker]

So we trade our NBA Finals core to LA in 1 years?
Wow that's more than stupid.

No thanks, let Fakers& Luka with that old ass LeBron and a bunch of overrated players.

I tend to agree for the most part, but if we're basically trading Gaff for LeBron I wouldn't be overly upset.
Klay, Hardy, and Powell would be addition by subtraction as far as I'm concerned.

[FireNicoHarrison]

I tend to agree for the most part, but if we're basically trading Gaff for LeBron I wouldn't be overly upset.
Klay, Hardy, and Powell would be addition by subtraction as far as I'm concerned.

Yes your trade is not bad but PJ&Gaff are too much for 1 year LeBron rental...

[omahen]

I will shed some tears for Luka tomorrow, if/when it happens. I feel so bad for him.

Ayton is obviously not perfect. But, I am more comfortable having him at least as a stop gap solution than spending everything on someone like Kessler. Ayton as a fourth or fifth starter is just fine, imho.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Ayton is obviously not perfect. But, I am more comfortable having him at least as a stop gap solution than spending everything on someone like Kessler. Ayton as a fourth or fifth starter is just fine, imho.

Agree.

Sign Ayton without give some assets is a no brainer for the Lakers and i think it's done. Unfortunately.

Fuck the Fakers.

[Chicagojk]

Stein is reporting DLO will sign a two year contract. I assume this will include a player option. It would be great if it was a team option or just a two year contract, but I assume it will be a player option.

He is also reporting, Mavs will look to move off Omax to sign Exum. Can the Mavs get a bidding war for Omax where they get a second round pick back? It will show Nico's negotiating. Still young player with not much left on his contract. Will someone want to take a small gamble they can turn him into a rotation player.

I assume Lakers are the clear lead for Ayton, but I expect many others to register interest. IMO, he needs to play on a team with a player he sees as a clear alpha. The PHX thing was tricky. He was the #1 pick, saw himself as core building blocks, than there was some ego stuff with him with Paul and the coach. He just wasn't ready to accept the role he should have been in. I am surprised he did not play better in Portland. That is sort of a flag, but you could explain that as well if you were looking for reasons. He clearly has not brought it every night and there is legitimate concern if he will ever bring it. I do think he would be a great signing for LAL and a few others though. He needs to change what he thinks he is though and accept what he should be.

[Chicagojk]

Something I have never said before, I really like the Hornets move so far. I really like Kon. Probably not my fourth best prospect but he is really good. All their other moves have been good for me. They need a starting center. Big year for Lamelo to prove he can be a winning type player and not all flash/injured. He may be the next to move if he does not show he can do this.

[omahen]

Stein is reporting DLO will sign a two year contract.  I assume this will include a player option.  It would be great if it was a team option or just a two year contract, but I assume it will be a player option.

He is also reporting, Mavs will look to move off Omax to sign Exum.  Can the Mavs get a bidding war for Omax where they get a second round pick back?  It will show Nico's negotiating.  Still young player with not much left on his contract.  Will someone want to take a small gamble they can turn him into a rotation player.

I assume Lakers are the clear lead for Ayton, but I expect many others to register interest.  IMO, he needs to play on a team with a player he sees as a clear alpha.  The PHX thing was tricky.  He was the #1 pick, saw himself as core building blocks, than there was some ego stuff with him with Paul and the coach.  He just wasn't ready to accept the role he should have been in.  I am surprised he did not play better in Portland.  That is sort of a flag, but you could explain that as well if you were looking for reasons.    He clearly has not brought it every night and there is legitimate concern if he will ever bring it.  I do think he would be a great signing for LAL and a few others though.  He needs to change what he thinks he is though and accept what he should be.

I think this buyout thing is not a coincidence and I think Ayton already has his next team. I expect it will be Lakers, but it is of course also possible he has a deal with someone else.

The big question now is, will he sign for full MLE or the little one.

[omahen]

Something I have never said before, I really like the Hornets move so far.  I really like Kon.  Probably not my fourth best prospect but he is really good.  All their other moves have been good for me.  They need a starting center.  Big year for Lamelo to prove he can be a winning type player and not all flash/injured.  He may be the next to move if he does not show he can do this.

I think Charlotte would need a very high character guy at center, as they already have a bunch of very questionable characters (LaMelo, Bridges, Williams). It would make sense to overpay a vet like Capella or Lopez on a short term deal with the hope to install some order in the lockerroom.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

It's the first day of Free Agency, fellas. Let the madness continue....

[Smitty]

[Stein/Fischer] Houston has emerged as the foremost threat to sign Dorian Finney-Smith away from the Lakers. There were strong suggestions Sunday that Houston is preparing a four-year offer for Finney-Smith perhaps at a figure shy of the full MLE amount. The Lakers remain hopeful of retaining him.

[Smitty]

@esidery
Expect strong mutual interest between the Lakers and Deandre Ayton when he is officially eligible to sign with a new team.

Ayton wants to join a contender, plus he would love the idea of potentially playing alongside fellow 2018 draft class member Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/cal...d=msedgntp&pc=


Ainge is being called out for the latest trade. LOL

[HoosierDaddyKid]

@esidery
Expect strong mutual interest between the Lakers and Deandre Ayton when he is officially eligible to sign with a new team.

Ayton wants to join a contender, plus he would love the idea of potentially playing alongside fellow 2018 draft class member Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

He's probably the best 5 available without a trade. I don't know the others that are FAs besides B Lopez, and he's old.  I could see it happen.

[Winter]

Brooks Lopez - Games played the last 3 years - 78, 79, 80
DeAndre Ayton - Games played the last 3 years - 67, 55, 40

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Brooks Lopez - Games played the last 3 years - 78, 79, 80
DeAndre Ayton - Games played the last 3 years - 67, 55, 40

Ok, that's fair. But Ayton is 26 yrs old, Lopez is 37.

[Winter]

Ok, that's fair. But Ayton is 26 yrs old, Lopez is 37.

No question, Ayton is the better choice when he plays. I just don't like his playing history.

[Smitty]

There would NOT be a trade market for LeBron James if he requested a trade from the Lakers, per
@BobbyMarks42

[Chicagojk]

There would NOT be a trade market for LeBron James if he requested a trade from the Lakers, per
@BobbyMarks42

Yeah, it just doesn't make sense.  He will be a Laker next year.

[Mavs2021]

[Stein/Fischer] Houston has emerged as the foremost threat to sign Dorian Finney-Smith away from the Lakers. There were strong suggestions Sunday that Houston is preparing a four-year offer for Finney-Smith perhaps at a figure shy of the full MLE amount. The Lakers remain hopeful of retaining him.

Haha that did not take long for KD to play GM again.