Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I think the only thing the Lakers have left to trade is a 2032 pick swap.

I shouldn't care about other teams but I don't want to gift them PJ Washington, who is exactly what they need, unless we're getting a significant asset in return.

[FireNicoHarrison]

In other words, we really want him but have nothing to offer so please give us another handout.

Exactly.

No more gift for the Fakers. I'm sorry.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I think the only thing the Lakers have left to trade is a 2032 pick swap.

I shouldn't care about other teams but I don't want to gift them PJ Washington, who is exactly what they need, unless we're getting a significant asset in return.

I thought it was interesting that the Lakers suddenly took Cam Car r out of Summer League games. I know that there's a delay in trading him because he signed his deal, but I wonder if he's available. 

PJ for expirngs, the swap and Carr isn't nothing. If they threw in the two 2nds they got for Ayton it's worth considering. Then again, that feels more like Gafford value than a very good 3-D guy like PJ.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I thought it was interesting that the Lakers suddenly took Cam Car r out of Summer League games. I know that there's a delay in trading him because he signed his deal, but I wonder if he's available. 

PJ for expirngs, the swap and Carr isn't nothing. If they threw in the two 2nds they got for Ayton it's worth considering. Then again, that feels more like Gafford value than a very good 3-D guy like PJ.

Carr's restriction gets lifted on 8/1 according to Spotrac.  They would have to send Vanderbilt (contract runs this season and next) and is viewed as a negative contract to make the math work.  I suspect people will argue it is a horrible contract, but is is shorter than PJ's and creates more room under the cap by the summer of 2028.

Carr looks much more ready than any of our Euro prospects, so you are right, he's not nothing.  It would be interesting to see what additioanal draft capital might be attached (if this were a thing).  I could see part of the agreement being a (wink-wink) agreement to buy out Klay so he can move back west and be closer to his boat.

[omahen]

Carr's restriction gets lifted on 8/1 according to Spotrac.  They would have to send Vanderbilt (contract runs this season and next) and is viewed as a negative contract to make the math work.  I suspect people will argue it is a horrible contract, but is is shorter than PJ's and creates more room under the cap by the summer of 2028.

Carr looks much more ready than any of our Euro prospects, so you are right, he's not nothing.  It would be interesting to see what additioanal draft capital might be attached (if this were a thing).  I could see part of the agreement being a (wink-wink) agreement to buy out Klay so he can move back west and be closer to his boat.

Lakers are not trading Carr

[Smitty]

I would take Carr for PJ straight up and I’m probably the biggest PJ fan. Forget where he was drafted. I had him as the 14th best prospect in a loaded draft. That’s the kind of value I’d need to even consider moving PJ though. Doubt the Lakers would do it. It’s the only thing they have asset wise that’s even a conversation starter.

[omahen]

I started writing a very long text about Lakers remaining things, but I gave up I will be much shorter. I think Knecht is gone this summer. Either he is part of a bigger trade or he gets traded somewhere else at the end of all other deals. The other potential move will be Vando with assets for a wing (Kuminga, Dort, perhaps PJ). If there is nothing on the table they will go with a vet min signing to replace Knecht spot and look for the wing with MLE next summer. Hardy contract with the team option is giving them expiring deal and trade flexibility for next two seasons. He will be traded at one point if something good comes along (more likely TDL) or they will see their needs next summer. They don't need him for playing purposes, imho

Keeping their MLE for next season is very important as it will be the only viable way to improve after spending all the assets. That is why PJ contract (especially if Vando is not included) is creating problems for Lakers next season.

[F Gump]

PJ for expirngs, the swap and Carr isn't nothing. If they threw in the two 2nds they got for Ayton it's worth considering. 

That's really just PJ for Carr, and the rest (a swap that becomes worthless unless LA becomes a bad team, and 2nds that usually yield a meh player) is window dressing. 

So would I give up PJ for Carr, whose initial NBA value is pick 24? No.

[DanSchwartzgan]

So, we have a no-chance the Laker's trade Carr for PJ post and a Carr isn't enough value for PJ post.

[omahen]

Since Lakers formalized all of their summer moves, they don't have cap space anymore. Before that they could theoretically still open it by waiving/stretching Vando, Hardy or trading Knecht into someones cap space. There was really no huge rush to formalize Reaves. So I think this means they already know where they are with remaining options.

[omahen]

So, we have a no-chance the Laker's trade Carr for PJ post and a Carr isn't enough value for PJ post.

Did you expect anything different?

[Smitty]

So, we have a no-chance the Laker's trade Carr for PJ post and a Carr isn't enough value for PJ post.

Probably means it’s fair value. Like I was alluding to. Of course, it depends on how you view each player. I will say, just because he was drafted #23, doesn’t mean that’s where the Mavs had him on their board. They could of had him anywhere 10-24, or 26+. Again, Carr is the only asset the Lakers have that’s even a ’conversation starter’ IMO.

[Winter]

I don't think I've ever seen a team draft a player, play him in Summer League, and then trade him before the season starts. There's a certain logic to it for both teams, I admit, and LA is in a strange position - having to cater to first LeBron and then Doncic. But the whole thing seems like fictional fan-wish.

Does this rumor have an origin story?

[KillerLeft]

I don't think I've ever seen a team draft a player, play him in Summer League, and then trade him before the season starts. There's a certain logic to it for both teams, I admit, and LA is in a strange position - having to cater to first LeBron and then Doncic. But the whole thing seems like fictional fan-wish.

Does this rumor have an origin story?

It is fictional fan-wish, for sure, but fun to talk about. I totally agree the Lakers aren't looking to trade the guy they just drafted. I'd put this at a 0% chance of happening, but it still offers us a chance to further clarify how we each see the Mavs' situation. 

I'm torn on this one. I'm not nearly as high on Carr as some, but I do like his physical gifts, so I'm not totally confident in my assessment. I don't like that he had to transfer away from a good program to Baylor in order to get a big role. I did a medium dive on that, and it kind of seemed like the former team didn't think he was working hard enough to figure out how to succeed in their system and that his defensive effort wasn't up to their standards. Obviously there are a multitude of things that could explain a bad fit between a program and player, but my eyebrow raised a little bit on that stuff, and I think that's part of why he was drafted so late (relatively). 

BUT, he is a first round prospect loaded with athletic ability who'd fit right into the area of the Mavs roster we all feel is light at the moment. And, PJW is in the part of the roster that's so loaded with players who expect roles that I'm still struggling to envision how it works out for everyone, including the team. 

BUT, it's PJW we're talking about. I think it's reasonable to expect something really good in return. End of day, I suppose it's just about how much potential the Mavs see in Carr and how badly LA wants an athletic forward to pair with Doncic. Even if this was a real life conversation, I'd guess LAL will look for a more affordable solution, asset-wise, because Smitty is right - there's nothing else in their cupboard that even comes close to getting me interested.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Carr and a FRP is an ok price for PJ.
Nothing less.

[Winter]

It is fictional fan-wish, for sure, but fun to talk about. I totally agree the Lakers aren't looking to trade the guy they just drafted. I'd put this at a 0% chance of happening, but it still offers us a chance to further clarify how we each see the Mavs' situation. 

I'm torn on this one. I'm not nearly as high on Carr as some, but I do like his physical gifts, so I'm not totally confident in my assessment. I don't like that he had to transfer away from a good program to Baylor in order to get a big role. I did a medium dive on that, and it kind of seemed like the former team didn't think he was working hard enough to figure out how to succeed in their system and that his defensive effort wasn't up to their standards. Obviously there are a multitude of things that could explain a bad fit between a program and player, but my eyebrow raised a little bit on that stuff, and I think that's part of why he was drafted so late (relatively). 

BUT, he is a first round prospect loaded with athletic ability who'd fit right into the area of the Mavs roster we all feel is light at the moment. And, PJW is in the part of the roster that's so loaded with players who expect roles that I'm still struggling to envision how it works out for everyone, including the team. 

BUT, it's PJW we're talking about. I think it's reasonable to expect something really good in return. End of day, I suppose it's just about how much potential the Mavs see in Carr and how badly LA wants an athletic forward to pair with Doncic. Even if this was a real life conversation, I'd guess LAL will look for a more affordable solution, asset-wise, because Smitty is right - there's nothing else in their cupboard that even comes close to getting me interested.

That's a reasonable take. My take is similar in that I think Carr's projected skills (and age) contribute to the roster's needs surrounding Flagg. I don't think PJs skills really do because of some redundancy. (just my opinion). On the other hand, PJ is a known commodity and Carr isn't. So PJ should yield a good pick. The addition of the pick is absolute in my mind. 

At this point, the Mavs FO just needs to do a deep dive on Carr, but I don't see any signficant issues outside of that. I do think I know enough about Masai now to know this deal won't happen unless it clearly favors us. So I would likely favor it... at least until I hear a good reason not to.

[mvossman]

Carr and a FRP is an ok price for PJ.
Nothing less.

Might as well just say don’t trade PJ.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

[Stein/Fischer] On Kuminga & Lakers: “The iron is losing its hotness”. On PJ Washington: “He is NOT someone Lakers are looking to reunite with Luka”.

What omahen said is what I've heard on the Lakers podcasts. That the Lakers are desperate to maintain their MLE for next year. Kinda crazy you're so tapped out of assets you are waiting on next year's MLE. The podcasters/fans made the point isnt PJ a better player than what you could get with a MLE one year from now.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Does some of this explain our reported interest in Hachimura?

[Chicagojk]

What I find interesting about this Mavs rebuild is I can see several of these guys who may be on the market as nice fits in a few years when this team is good. It does include a lot of “ifs” though. The major ones are health and Masai/schmitz being able to find younger good talent in the backcourt.

For instance if you told me that pj/morez/aldama/lively/ cisse or young cheap center was your front court. That could potentially be awesome. They would need health and our front office would need to find or develop two players. A 2/3 and a 1/2.