Snowtime no showtime, it’s a coke wave like the 80s oww: Your GOAT franchise Boss Angeles Lakers 2025-26 Regular Season Thread

[RoCKetSity256]

lol I was referring to the Lakers and LeBron regarding the class and grace. Everything Riles did after the Lakers has nothing to do with the Lakers.

Oh ok I see now I was wondering why you even mentioned that it went over my head lol.

Again tho, interesting he brings this up considering at this stage of his career he doesn’t help us against athletic players either. If we were talking about 2016 or even 2018 LeBron then it’s a different story. But he’s just as much a part of that team weakness as Austin and damn near double the age and pay. Why shoot the messenger when they shot themselves?

And you aren’t wrong here and I don’t think his intentions are to single anyone out or throw anyone under the bus. People are getting excited about this team I’ve already seen Stephen a basically say this is at least a WCF team. To win though some moves need to be made and that’s all I’m taking it as he’s saying. The team is close to being competitive frfr and people don’t need to get complacent with just Luka and Ar because they are shining right now. We know the playoffs are turned up a notch compared to the regular season.

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

Oh ok I see now I was wondering why you even mentioned that it went over my head lol.

And you aren’t wrong here and I don’t think his intentions are to single anyone out or throw anyone under the bus. People are getting excited about this team I’ve already seen Stephen a basically say this is at least a WCF team. To win though some moves need to be made and that’s all I’m taking it as he’s saying. The team is close to being competitive frfr and people don’t need to get complacent with just Luka and Ar because they are shining right now. We know the playoffs are turned up a notch compared to the regular season.

All good, and hopefully this isn’t to single anyone out because honestly some of us have made the same observation. To me, this team is a bench scorer, a better backup big, and another athletic defender away from being a truly solid team. OKC would eat our lunch rn, but with those moves we’d be in better shape.

To me, we can potentially get this without making any dramatic roster changes. Now if you told me a chance at Giannis is really there and it costs Austin then sure let’s entertain it. But even then, it should be a deal that doesn’t set us back in the present or future and Austin is a huge piece for the future. We can’t be impulsive with the trades anymore.

 

[seraphx]

All good, and hopefully this isn’t to single anyone out because honestly some of us have made the same observation. To me, this team is a bench scorer, a better backup big, and another athletic defender away from being a truly solid team. OKC would eat our lunch rn, but with those moves we’d be in better shape.

To me, we can potentially get this without making any dramatic roster changes. Now if you told me a chance at Giannis is really there and it costs Austin then sure let’s entertain it. But even then, it should be a deal that doesn’t set us back in the present or future and Austin is a huge piece for the future. We can’t be impulsive with the trades anymore.

I don't think Giannis and Luka work. Both want to play their own way and are ball dominant. Giannis also don't like to set screens etc. and need the ball too. he couldn't figure out how to pair well with Dame who is much more accommodating than Luka is. Team needs a few wings too. Unironically I think Jaxson has been pretty good this year.

 

[dubsmith_nz]

Yes we need a better bench, but Rich coming out and being that blunt about it is wild. We may not have enough to win it all right now, but we can def make the WCF with the team we have.

 

[areohbee824]

Find a way to get Herb Jones, highly likely Pels will trade him. Not the fix all but another young player that will make an impact on defensive end and someone that fit the current timeline

 

[seraphx]

Yes we need a better bench, but Rich coming out and being that blunt about it is wild. We may not have enough to win it all right now, but we can def make the WCF with the team we have.

It's all optics tbh. Rich saying the same thing every reporter/blogger is saying. OKC look damn near unstoppable and the Lakers are a few pieces away.

 

[10bandz]

omg this shyt never ends

now nikkas putting a spin on this nikka Rich Paul's bytch ass comments


nikka took direct shots at the franchise for no reason and downplaying austin and nikkas talking about oh thats what ever blogger/reporter is saying

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

I don't think Giannis and Luka work. Both want to play their own way and are ball dominant. Giannis also don't like to set screens etc. and need the ball too. he couldn't figure out how to pair well with Dame who is much more accommodating than Luka is. Team needs a few wings too. Unironically I think Jaxson has been pretty good this year.

That’s my only worry. We’d have to bank on Giannis being flexible to make the pairing work. But I do agree, Jaxon has been good but I’d like it if he were in a three man rotation like what we had in 2020.

I also agree we need a few wings. I’d also love to see us get a scoring spark off the bench. I’m not too confident in our bench scoring rn. It forces us to have to stagger minutes between Luka/AR/Bron which in theory isn’t bad but I’d like to be able to preserve them for the postseason.

 

[10bandz]

I've been on the Austin for Giannis train but I am not so sure anymore. Chasing hella superstars might be outdated. We got our superstar, and presumably got our 2nd tier "star" in AR. Now we build around that. The era of trying to pair different superstars together through inorganic means just might be over.

At this point, I don't think we should make a major move during the season under any circumstance. Obviously we got a lot of time between now and the deadline, so we'll see as we go along.

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

I've been on the Austin for Giannis train but I am not so sure anymore. Chasing hella superstars might be outdated. We got our superstar, and presumably got our 2nd tier "star" in AR. Now we build around that. The era of trying to pair different superstars together through inorganic means just might be over.

At this point, I don't think we should make a major move during the season under any circumstance. Obviously we got a lot of time between now and the deadline, so we'll see as we go along.

Yeah, I think the good thing is we aren’t in a desperate spot where we have to make that kinda move. It would’ve been nice if we could just sign him in the offseason. Plus generally, it might be easier to work a deal in the offseason if we really want to.

But I do think, even as he enters the back end of his prime, that Giannis solves an athleticism issue that we have rn. But creativity with trades and the buyout market might help things along. What I’d love to see is a great draft full of prospects that can get us on the right track. Pels got themselves a nice big. Jokic was a 2nd rounder. Austin was undrafted. We can cook either way.

 

[seraphx]

That’s my only worry. We’d have to bank on Giannis being flexible to make the pairing work. But I do agree, Jaxon has been good but I’d like it if he were in a three man rotation like what we had in 2020.

I also agree we need a few wings. I’d also love to see us get a scoring spark off the bench. I’m not too confident in our bench scoring rn. It forces us to have to stagger minutes between Luka/AR/Bron which in theory isn’t bad but I’d like to be able to preserve them for the postseason.

Yep! It was supposed to be Jake off the bench bringing some points and while i generally like him he has been inconsistent. I hope we can play well enough to get Adou some more PT too. He don't got a jumper yet but, defensively he looks like he can get there.

 

[Torrential]

I've been on the Austin for Giannis train but I am not so sure anymore. Chasing hella superstars might be outdated. We got our superstar, and presumably got our 2nd tier "star" in AR. Now we build around that. The era of trying to pair different superstars together through inorganic means just might be over.

At this point, I don't think we should make a major move during the season under any circumstance. Obviously we got a lot of time between now and the deadline, so we'll see as we go along.

I see the A side (OKC) I see them having mad draft picks and mad bench depth through the draft . AD and LeBron wasn’t enough to get us to the finals (outside the bubble) We struggled for years with having enough depth . So I think I agree

 

[Trojan 24]

Or just maybe he wants to win here but knows like everyone with any sense knows that him Luka and AR cant guard anyone and that’s a death sentence in the playoffs. We already saw Luka and Kyrie get folded up in the finals. Luka and AR won’t be much different. You might not like the messenger but the message ain’t wrong. And Luka has already stated he doesn’t want to wait to win. But y’all play naive when it’s convenient.

No... Luka, AR and Bron can't guard anyone. So yes one has to go, but why would you pick the 41 year old on his last legs vs the 27 year old you drafted and invested in?

 

[ItsStillMurda]

AR, Luka, and Bron finna be food on defense come playoff time

Also don’t see any moves that would bridge the gap between lakers and OKC.

Lakers are best not doing anything this year, let Bron walk to free up 50 mill, and go all in 2026-2027 season.

Bron has zero leverage to force the trades he has in the past. With that being said, OKC is just on another level this year

 

[Trojan 24]

AR, Luka, and Bron finna be food on defense come playoff time

Also don’t see any moves that would bridge the gap between lakers and OKC.

Lakers are best not doing anything this year, let Bron walk to free up 50 mill, and go all in 2026-2027 season.

Bron has zero leverage to force the trades he has in the past. With that being said, OKC is just on another level this year

The only move that gets us close to OKC is Giannis for Bron and that's not happening