I would use the trade machine, but Fanspo hasn't updated it yet for the 2025 offseason. Also, please comment what you think. Do you disagree with a move? How are the trades? How is the roster overall? Am I being a bit delusional here? Remember, this is ideal, so some things are in the Lakers' favor.

Trades

1. Send Dalton Knecht, a 2031 unprotected first round pick, and a 2028 first round pick swap to the Utah Jazz for Walker Kessler.

2. Dump Maxi Kleber, a 2025 LAL second round pick, and a 2032 LAL top 40 protected second round pick to the Brooklyn Nets.

Kessler provides a big that can protect the rim and catch lobs. He would be perfect for a team with Luka and LeBron and raises the Lakers' playoff ceiling. Knecht isn't very good and not a championship caliber player as he is a cone defensively. With Luka, I wouldn't be worried about picks, so that won't be a big deal as they'll have a core of Luka, Reaves, and Kessler. The Kleber trade helps the Lakers get out of the first apron going into Free Agency.

Team/Player Options

1. Accept the $2.3M team option on Jordan Goodwin.

2. Dorian Finney-Smith opts out his $15.3M player option.

3. LeBron James opts out of his $52.6M player option.

Goodwin has been a nice piece for this Lakers' team, taking that ninth spot in the rotation. Getting him for just $2M is a steal. DFS could opt in and I wouldn't be surprised, but considering he'll be 32 years old at the end of the season, I think he opts out and gets one last long contract. It's pretty clear LeBron will opt out, but this isn't a big deal as he will obviously stay with the Lakers for next season and will probably finish his career there.

Free Agency

1. Re-sign LeBron James on a one year deal worth $41.6M with a player option on the final year worth $45M.

2. Re-sign Dorian Finney-Smith on a three year deal worth $48M. Starts at $14.5M.

3. Re-sign Jaxson Hayes on a two year deal worth $11.4M. Starts at $5.1M.

4. Sign Nickeil Alexander-Walker to a three year deal worth $42.3M. Flat rate on the contract. Starts at $14.1M.

5. Sign David Roddy to a one year deal worth $2.3M.

6. Sign Kessler Edwards to a one year deal worth $2.4M.

7. Sign Jericho Sims to a one year deal worth $2.4M.

Re-signing LeBron is huge, not just because he's LeBron, but because he takes a huge paycut. He wants to win obviously and this gives the Lakers more roster flexibility to get other players. DFS is an interesting piece. Could he sign elsewhere? Sure, I wouldn't be shocked, but it seems he loves it in Los Angeles and he gets $16M a year. Jaxson Hayes has had a big season as the starting center ever since the Luka trade. Getting him back as the backup center for fairly cheap is pretty good value. NAW would be a perfect fit on this Lakers team. He provides a great POA defender that can shoot the three. This season, he's shot 38.7% from three. He'd be huge on Luka, LeBron, or even Reaves drive and kicks. He'd play a similar role to what he is in Minnesota. Roddy, Edwards, and Sims are all guys the Lakers can take chances on.

Roster

PG: Luka Doncic, Gabe Vincent, Bronny James

SG: Austin Reaves, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jordan Goodwin

SF: Dorian Finney-Smith, Rui Hachimura David Roddy

PF: LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt, Kessler Edwards

C: Walker Kessler, Jaxson Hayes, Jericho Sims

In the regular season, this team would be running a ten man rotation of Luka-Reaves-DFS-LeBron-Kessler with Vincent, NAW, Hachimura, Vanderbilt, and Hayes off the bench. As a starter, Reaves would start as a POA guy while DFS, LeBron, and Kessler are all versatile defenders that can cover up for the mistakes Luka has defensively. Reaves has also improved as an off-ball defender and has been a solid POA guy all year. Off the bench, this team has no bad defenders and Vincent, NAW, and Hachimura can all shoot it from deep. This is such a good team to build around Luka as it has athletic defenders, two guys that can create their own shot at a great level in Reaves and LeBron, and then two bigs that can catch lobs. Hayes isn't great at protecting the paint, but Kessler is elite. And then NAW, Vincent, DFS, Hachimura, Reaves, and LeBron can hit shots.

Season Goals (some are more realistic than others)

1. Reaves becomes an all-star averaging 23 points and 6 assists.

2. Luka Doncic wins MVP averages 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists.

3. LeBron is able to take a back-seat offensively and work off the ball as a 3rd option while focusing defensively, averaging 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.

4. Walker Kessler averages 2.5 blocks per game and makes an all-defensive team.

5. The Lakers win banner 18 (or maybe 19!)