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Los Angeles Lakers

All articles tagged with #los angeles lakers

Hawks float Kuminga–Lakers sign-and-trade for Vanderbilt swap
sports2 days ago

Hawks float Kuminga–Lakers sign-and-trade for Vanderbilt swap

Atlanta is reportedly willing to facilitate a sign-and-trade that would send Jonathan Kuminga to the Lakers in exchange for Jarred Vanderbilt and the Lakers’ 2032 first-round pick swap. The Hawks would gain assets while avoiding Kuminga’s option, and the Lakers would evaluate the deal’s value and potentially move Vanderbilt to create cap flexibility, given their tight roster and limited draft capital. Kuminga averaged 12.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season with 33.3% from three, leaving room for a potentially improved deal if numbers align.

Reaves reveals LeBron text after Lakers exit: golf day spoiled
sports2 days ago

Reaves reveals LeBron text after Lakers exit: golf day spoiled

Austin Reaves shared his first text to LeBron James after James announced he’d leave the Lakers, joking that he was having a great day on the golf course until LeBron ruined it. Reaves had just signed a $185 million extension with Los Angeles and said there’s nothing but love and respect for James, hoping to catch him on the golf course when he visits.

Suns Lock in Core as Lakers Add Depth, Clippers Fortify Frontcourt
sports3 days ago

Suns Lock in Core as Lakers Add Depth, Clippers Fortify Frontcourt

Phoenix Suns re-sign Mark Williams, Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin to emphasize continuity after a 45-win season, while trading Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale to Charlotte for Miles Bridges. The Kings’ Bobby Jackson won’t return as an assistant. Meanwhile, the Lakers added Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton, with at least one roster spot still open. The Clippers signed Rui Hachimura to bolster the frontcourt, but may still hunt for a center, as Kawhi Leonard–Toronto trade chatter persists and potential fits like Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick are weighed."

Cavaliers Poised to Bring LeBron James Back in Free Agency
sports4 days ago

Cavaliers Poised to Bring LeBron James Back in Free Agency

ESPN insider Brian Windhorst says there’s little optimism among teams about beating Cleveland in LeBron James’ free‑agency sweepstakes, with chatter centering on a Cavaliers reunion as the likely next chapter for the four-time champ after a 2025–26 season with the Lakers in which he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 60 games, missed opening night due to sciatica, and helped LA advance to the playoffs before a second‑round exit to Oklahoma City.

Ayton Traded to Wizards as Lakers Frontcourt Shakeup Continues
2026-free-agency7 days ago

Ayton Traded to Wizards as Lakers Frontcourt Shakeup Continues

The Wizards reportedly acquired Deandre Ayton from the Lakers in exchange for Jaden Hardy and two future second-round picks (2031 and 2032). Ayton, who averaged 12.5 points and 8 rebounds last season, had opted into the 2026-27 contract but was moved on by L.A. as it reshapes its frontcourt amid broader offseason upheaval that includes LeBron James reportedly planning to play elsewhere and Austin Reaves re-signing.

Luka Doncic's Dallas homecoming: a plausible 2028 reunion
sports7 days ago

Luka Doncic's Dallas homecoming: a plausible 2028 reunion

This opinion piece argues that Luka Doncic could return to the Mavericks in 2028 after a stint with the Lakers. It ties the potential reunion to the Lakers’ roster shake-up and LeBron-era uncertainty, Doncic’s aging-prime window, and Dallas’s anticipated rebuild around a young core (including Cooper Flagg). While speculative and lacking concrete smoke, the piece outlines a plausible path for a Dallas homecoming once the current regime is gone and the team is ready to chase championships with Doncic back in the fold.

Westbrook Saga Fissured LeBron’s Lakers Run
sports8 days ago

Westbrook Saga Fissured LeBron’s Lakers Run

LeBron James reportedly helped broker the 2021 Lakers trade for Russell Westbrook to revive title hopes, but the move backfired as Westbrook struggled and LA missed the playoffs, fueling scrutiny and a growing rift. ESPN noted a disconnect between James and the Lakers after the failed deal, with franchise owner Jeanie Buss frustrated James didn’t take accountability. The friction persisted into James’ eight-season tenure, which appears set to end as he signs elsewhere in free agency.

Kessler-Lakers swap boosts Jazz’s Gobert haul as rebuild accelerates
sports8 days ago

Kessler-Lakers swap boosts Jazz’s Gobert haul as rebuild accelerates

The Utah Jazz traded restricted free agent center Walker Kessler to the Los Angeles Lakers for two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033) and two first-round swaps (2028 and 2030), and Kessler agreed to a four-year, $130 million contract. The move further enlarges the return from the Gobert deal, underscoring Utah’s ongoing rebuild and their accumulation of future picks as they build around a young core.

Westbrook Trade Sparks Lingering Rift Between LeBron and Lakers
sports8 days ago

Westbrook Trade Sparks Lingering Rift Between LeBron and Lakers

ESPN reports that the 2021 Russell Westbrook trade helped trigger a relationship rift between LeBron James and the Lakers that never fully healed. LeBron reportedly told the team he planned to play elsewhere in 2026-27, ending his eight-season tenure in L.A. after a disappointing 33-49 season the year Westbrook arrived. Westbrook was later moved on, and owner Jeanie Buss reportedly cited accountability issues linked to the trade. While there’s no noted personal rift with Luka Dončić, James is eyeing a final, meaningful chapter with a new team for his 24th season.

OutKick accuses Stephen A. Smith of racial bias after Lakers 'three White dudes' remark
sports9 days ago

OutKick accuses Stephen A. Smith of racial bias after Lakers 'three White dudes' remark

OutKick reports that Stephen A. Smith ridiculed the Lakers’ revamped roster for having “three White dudes,” prompting accusations of anti-White bias. The piece argues his comments rely on a privileged, race-based narrative and contrasts them with White players’ recent NBA success, while noting Smith’s remarks were shared on social media and that ESPN has yet to respond at publication. The article frames the situation as part of a broader debate about race in basketball and accountability in sports media.

Lakers land Walker Kessler in significant sign-and-trade with Jazz
sports9 days ago

Lakers land Walker Kessler in significant sign-and-trade with Jazz

Los Angeles Lakers acquire center Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade, sending back two unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 plus first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030. Kessler signs a four-year, $130 million contract with a player option in year four and a full trade kicker, as the Lakers reboot their roster in a post-LeBron era.