Latest news with #NBATrade
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers part ways with LeBron for star guard, 39% 3-point shooter in this wild trade
Is LeBron James going to request a trade out of Los Angeles? The Lakers are certainly not committed to building around LeBron anymore. Nobody would blame either side if they decided that parting ways was best for both sides. That's why everyone has been keeping their ear to the ground for LeBron trade rumors. One LeBron trade was proposed by Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report. He created '3 Trade Packages To Bring LeBron James Home to Cleveland Cavaliers,' and this one could be worth considering. 'Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: F LeBron James, G Bronny James, 2027 first-round pick (top-2 protected from Dallas Mavericks, via Hornets) and save $27.4 million Los Angeles Lakers Receive: PG Darius Garland, G/F Max Strus Charlotte Hornets Receive: C Jarrett Allen Brooklyn Nets Receive: F Grant Williams, F Dean Wade, 2027 first-round pick (lottery-protected from Miami Heat, via Hornets)' This trade could work out for everyone. LeBron would head home and instantly make the Cavaliers even more favored to win the Eastern Conference. He would also get to bring his son along with him. The Lakers would receive Darius Garland and Max Strus in return for giving up their second-best player. It might still be worth it. Garland is a budding young star, and Strus is the perfect Lakers role player. Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp This LeBron-Cavaliers trade has the potential to make everyone happy. The Cavaliers would probably be the ones to hold this up as giving up Garland, Allen, Strus, and Dean Wade would probably be too rich for their blood. More NBA: LeBron James trade idea to Cavs involves 2x All-Star, role players to Lakers
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sources: Lakers head to Las Vegas with intent to spark trade negotiations
The post Sources: Lakers head to Las Vegas with intent to spark trade negotiations appeared first on ClutchPoints. After a flourish of activity early in free agency, landing Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia, the Los Angeles Lakers have stalled out a bit with work still clearly needing to be done. According to sources with an understanding of their offseason plans speaking on the condition of anonymity, the team is hoping to reignite trade talks as the entire league embarks upon Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League. Previous trade targets include Andrew Wiggins and Robert Williams, among others, and a couple new names have garnered some attention given how the rest of the offseason has played out to this point. Sources say Matisse Thybulle, Marcus Smart (though most teams are watching to see if he's going to be bought out), Ayo Dosunmu and others are names the Lakers have had preliminary conversations with teams about availability and price, though no offers have been made. 'Rob (Pelinka) likes Vegas because he can just pull so-and-so aside and have a conversation that would otherwise take a little planning,' an Eastern Conference executive said. 'Summer league has become a real opportunity for all of us in that way.' As far as goals go, the Lakers are looking to open at least one and ideally a couple roster spots, plus gain full access to their bi-annual exception with a little room under the first apron, which they will be hard-capped at heading into the season. Ideally, sources say they would accomplish all that and land a more natural starting small forward (Rui Hachimura has played out of position the last couple years) while bolstering a bench that was among the least productive in the NBA a year ago. Lakers reserves were so bad that JJ Redick infamously made no substitutions in game four of their series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He got so desperate that he inserted Maxi Kleber into their final game of the year even though he'd never even practiced for the Lakers. As currently constructed, the Lakers rotation runs about nine players deep, in terms of guys Redick would enter the season trusting to varying degrees: Starters Luka Doncic Austin Reaves Rui Hachimura LeBron James Deandre Ayton Bench Jake LaRavia Gabe Vincent Jarred Vanderbilt Jaxson Hayes Deep Reserves Jordan Goodwin Dalton Knecht Maxi Kleber Trey Jemison (two-way) Shake Milton likely to be traded or waived Shake Milton is almost certainly either going to be traded or waived before his July 20 guarantee date, according to sources close to the team. Let's say Milton is waived; that would leave the Lakers with one open roster spot and just under $4 million separating them from the first apron. They wouldn't be able to use their full bi-annual exception and, if they use whatever chunk of it they can, they'd be right up against the hard cap. Goodwin's contract isn't fully guaranteed until January 10, so he could technically be waived to open another roster spot and gain access to that full bi-annual exception. If he's waived, too, the Lakers could use that $5.1 million on a free agent and enter the season with an open roster spot and about $1.1 million separating them from the first apron hard cap. The Lakers did like Goodwin quite a bit last season and, given his low cap number, there's a good chance he'd be claimed off of waivers, so if the Lakers did go this route, it would be after turning over every other stone. Pelinka has typically preferred to enter campaigns with an open roster spot and a first-round pick in his back pocket. He also would probably prefer a little more space between him and the first apron given how much more difficult it can be to open cap space during the season. There's also the reported plan to maintain cap and draft flexibility for the next couple seasons as the Lakers are monitoring Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic's situations. It should also be mentioned the Lakers are keeping a very close eye on the buyout market. Bradley Beal is obviously the player the rest of the league is monitoring, but given how teams are operating in this new CBA, basically any veteran on an expiring contract is considered a candidate to be bought out. As a result, even while De'Anthony Melton has long been linked to the Lakers, sources say they're looking to maintain flexibility in case the right name becomes available, as Ayton did a week or so ago. The NBA will descend upon Las Vegas in a matter of days. Having the whole league in one place at the same time is a great way to stir up another wave of action. Pelinka and the Lakers hope to ride that wave to a deeper, more balanced roster that will hopefully convince Doncic to sign his extension in August and James to stop taking pictures with Cleveland Cavaliers. Related: Cooper Flagg vs. Bronny James set to make NBA Summer League history Related: Lakers rumors: Insider thinks LeBron James is 'venting' instead of eyeing trade
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers trade proposal lands Marcus Smart in Wizards deal
The post Lakers trade proposal lands Marcus Smart in Wizards deal appeared first on ClutchPoints. The 2025 edition of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas has begun, and the Los Angeles Lakers' search for upgrades up and down their roster continues along. According to ClutchPoints Senior Lakers insider Anthony Irwin, LA is 'hoping to reignite trade talks' during Summer League, with one of their potential targets being former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart. Smart, however, is no longer the player he once was. In fact, the Memphis Grizzlies had to attach a first-round pick just so they could get rid of Smart and his contract, and the Washington Wizards obliged. Smart once had one of the best contracts in the league, and yet here he is, having little to no trade value whatsoever, which could then pave the way for the Lakers to snag him for cheap. He's in the final year of his deal making around $21 million, and Smart, if not traded, appears likely to be headed for the buyout market. But the Lakers would have many competitors in such a scenario, and trading for Smart allows them to get ahead of the competition in what could be a comeback season of sorts for the 2022 DPOY. Here's the package the Lakers must put together to acquire Smart in a trade with the Wizards. Lakers upgrade their backup point guard Lakers acquire: Marcus Smart Wizards acquire: Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, 2032 second-round pick Towards the end of the 2024-25 season, Gabe Vincent began to round into form for the Lakers, looking like the man they signed off free agency from the Miami Heat in 2023. It was a major bounce-back for Vincent, who played in just 11 games for the Lakers in his disastrous first season in LA. At the end of the day, Vincent, while a solid 3-and-D bench point guard, could not recapture the form he had for the Miami Heat now that he's on the Lakers. He averaged 6.4 points on 40 percent shooting last year, and he looms as a huge trade chip for the Lakers now that he's in the final year of his contract making $11 million. What made Vincent valuable for the Lakers last season was that he showed up for the majority of the season, suiting up in 72 games and providing some much-needed backcourt versatility for the Purple and Gold. Giving him up for Smart requires the Lakers to take a risk and have faith that the 2022 DPOY isn't damaged goods quite yet. That requires a lot of positive thinking, as the Grizzlies, the team that acquired Smart to be their de facto Dillon Brooks replacement, had to give up a first-rounder just so they could get his contract off the books. Smart hasn't been at his best physically over the past few seasons, picking up a knock here and there which added up to a ton of missed time Last year, Smart played in just 34 games, and over the past two campaigns, he suited up in just 54 contests. Availability may not be the best ability, but it sure does matter a lot, and for a Lakers squad that's looking to compete for a championship in the loaded Western Conference, Smart would need to play a ton of minutes in the event that he lands in LA — putting him at risk of picking up injuries. There is a chance that the 31-year-old won't be able to return to his DPOY form, although even then, he would represent an upgrade over Vincent. But it's not quite clear if the Lakers could afford to play it safe with Smart by giving him occasional rest days and not overworking him. LA may not have such luxury, especially if they're trading away a valuable bench piece in Vincent in the process. But at the very least, Smart showed that he can still play solid basketball for stretches. His shooting percentages improved towards the end of last season when he was with the Wizards, and in LA, he won't be tasked to do much of anything other than to defend, hit open shots, and ruffle opponents' feathers. The expectation for Smart should the Lakers trade for him would be for him to play at least 65 games, play 20 minutes a night, and act as a key piece of a Purple and Gold squad that aims to recapture the defensive heights they reached last year. With the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith, acquiring a multi-positional defender is a must for the Lakers, and Smart, while undersized relative to Finney-Smith, has shown he can battle against the premier scorers of the association — provided he remains healthy, of course. For the opportunity to perhaps facilitate a career revival for Smart, the Lakers, in this scenario, will be giving up Maxi Kleber and a 2032 second-rounder as well. That second-rounder is seven years out, so that should not matter too much for a team looking to win now. Kleber could be a valuable stretch big option, but one would think that the Lakers would want to keep Jarred Vanderbilt over Kleber instead when choosing who to include for salary-matching purposes. Related: Lakers' Bronny James catches more attention after lighting it up vs. Celtics Related: Sources: LeBron James retirement buzz gets louder at NBA Summer League
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Potential LeBron James to Warriors, Jimmy Butler to Lakers Trade Has $57 Million Issue
Potential LeBron James to Warriors, Jimmy Butler to Lakers Trade Has $57 Million Issue originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Since arriving in Los Angeles back in 2018, LeBron James has helped redefine the Lakers' identity, guiding the franchise to its 17th NBA championship in 2020 and adding another Finals MVP to his decorated resume. Even in his 22nd NBA season, the 40-year-old superstar showed little sign of slowing down, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists, while shooting 51.3% field goal in 70 games last season, proving that he is still one of the most efficient and durable players in the league. Still, there has been talks all summer about James' future and whether his run in purple and gold might be nearing an unexpected end after His agent, Rich Paul, said that James wants to 'compete for a championship.' Later, it was reported by ESPN's Dave McMenamin that four teams had already reached out to gauge what it might take to pry James away from Los Angeles. A follow-up report from Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson revealed the Golden State Warriors were one of those teams. That said, McMenamin also noted that there has been no trade discussions between James and the Lakers yet. This stance was confirmed on Wednesday when Dan Woike and Joe Vardon of The Athletic released an article reinforcing McMenamin's report. 'LeBron James hasn't had buyout, trade discussions with Lakers,' they wrote. 'Both sides expect that he will be with team for training camp.' As it pertains to a potential James to Warriors trade, there is one reason it will not work — the Lakers do not want to take back Jimmy Butler's contract. "The team has been resistant to taking on longer-term contracts in an effort to maintain flexibility," The Athletic wrote. "... if the Lakers were to, hypothetically, trade James to the Golden State Warriors for Jimmy Butler, who is nearly 36, they would have Butler under contract for the 2026-27 season at nearly $57 million." Of course, while all signs point to James remaining on the team next season, there's still the possibility that he could walk in free agency next summer or that the Lakers could look to move him midseason—though being traded is something that's never happened in his legendary career. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Does Jaylen Brown's future lie away from the Boston Celtics?
Every summer, Jaylen Brown's name is floated in trade talks. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP is often viewed as a dispensable member of the Boston Celtics' rotation, despite being one of the top forwards in the NBA and a key player in Joe Mazzulla's rotation. This summer has been no different, despite the fact that Brown is set to embrace a leading role on the Celtics roster due to Jayson Tatum's injury-induced absence. Recently, Brown sat down for an interview with Noa Dalzell of Celtics Blog. During the discussion, he noted how he hasn't always felt capable of being his true self around the city, noting politics as a potential reason. 'It's been a long journey here in Boston,' Brown said. 'I've had to deal with a lot. I feel like I haven't been able to be myself in certain capacities — because of the politics, and because maybe people feel uncomfortable with who I am.' Those comments were quickly used to create a new wave of potential trade talk surrounding Brown. In a recent episode of "WEEI Afternoons," the concept of Brown potentially being traded, either this season or next, was a primary discussion point among the two hosts. You can watch the full discussion by clicking on the embedded video above. Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on: YouTube: Website: This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Does Jaylen Brown's future lie away from the Celtics?
