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Lakers may face a dilemma when evaluating major team need
The Los Angeles Lakers' top priority this offseason has been no secret. After falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, it's clear that the Lakers need help defending the paint if they want to contend.
The pressure is now on Los Angeles to acquire a post presence to aid Lebron James and Luka Doncic next season.
Though this goal may seem straightforward, several factors could impact how the Lakers approach acquiring a new big man. When assessing their trade targets, the front office will need to consider how much capital they are willing to give up and whether they believe this team could realistically compete for a title.
Los Angeles has several intriguing role players on expiring contracts that may catch the eyes of other franchises.
Vishwesha Kumar of Fadeaway World highlighted that the Lakers' trade assets include Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber and Shake Milton.
Los Angeles also has solid draft capital to pair with a player or two in a potential deal. The Lakers can trade either their 2031 or 2032 first-round pick, have five potential pick swaps in 2026, 2028, 2030, 2031 and 2032 and a 2025 second-round pick to dangle.
While Reaves and Hachimura would likely be considered the Lakers' most valuable assets, the other players and picks could still hold some appeal for interested teams.
If Los Angeles is willing to part with a significant number of assets, they could potentially acquire a younger center to pair with Doncic in the long run. The Brooklyn Nets' Nic Claxton and Dallas Mavericks' Daniel Gafford, both 26, have been identified as potential targets.
Claxton's athleticism would be a major benefit for the Lakers. In addition to his ability to protect the rim, he would give Los Angeles an adaptable defender capable of guarding multiple positions. On the offensive end, though his role may be limited, Claxton could contribute as a potential lob threat and for second-chance points.
Gafford is an outstanding rim protector, and his experience playing with Doncic in Dallas would ease his transition to Los Angeles. His run to the NBA Finals last season also gives him valuable insight into what it takes to compete for a championship.
Bringing in one of these players would provide stability at the center position for years to come, but it would likely come at the cost of Reaves, Hachimara and a first-round pick, if not more.
With James on the roster, there is still an obligation to build a contending team around him. While it is unclear when the 40-year-old will hang it up, it will likely be soon. Preserving draft capital and trade assets could help the franchise brace for an upcoming post-LeBron era.
If the Lakers opt for this route, they can instead seek to add a veteran to anchor the defense. Brook Lopez and Clint Capela are a few names reportedly being considered.
Lopez, 37, and Capela, 31, are both unrestricted free agents, so a move like this could allow Los Angeles to address its need for a center and stay competitive without giving up anything. However, veterans come with drawbacks — they are not a long-term solution, and may not be as effective as they once were.
Lopez is a temporary answer for the Lakers with his defensive and floor spacing abilities but has been on the team's radar for some time. Capela's defense and rebounding would also benefit the Lakers in the short-term but he would have to take a pay cut and sign a taxpayer mid-level exception with the tease of competing for a title.
Though neither option is a long-term solution, it provides Los Angeles a filled need and all its assets in its possession to potentially use elsewhere, with James still on the roster.
A big decision now looms for the Lakers. They possess the assets to get a quality center. The real question: Will it be enough to push them over the hump?
More must-reads:
- Kobe Bryant mural in L.A. vandalized again after $5K restoration by Luka Doncic
- LeBron James takes another shot at Brian Windhorst via podcast
- The '2021-22 NBA triple-doubles' quiz
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Report: Giannis Antetokounmpo still mulling exit from Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors have died down in recent weeks, but the two-time MVP hasn’t reached a decision on whether he wants to continue playing for the Bucks, ESPN’s Shams Charania said Monday morning during an appearance on “Get Up.” “Sources tell me there’s still nothing set in stone about whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee or whether he will be leaving,” Charania said. There have been past reports that Antetokounmpo might consider leaving Milwaukee to improve his chances of winning another NBA title. Speculation began to grow after the Bucks were eliminated in this first round of this year’s playoffs and star guard Damian Lillard suffered an Achilles tear that’s expected to sideline him for all of next season. Bucks general manager Jon Horst responded by retooling the team’s roster this summer. He waived and stretched the $112.6M that Lillard had left on his contract for the next two years and used the new-found cap space to sign center Myles Turner away from the Pacers. Horst also added Gary Harris, Jericho Sims and Cole Anthony in free agency and re-signed several of the team’s own free agents, such as Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins and Taurean Prince. The aggressive move with Turner was viewed as an important step toward convincing Antetokounmpo that the Bucks could remain competitive in the Eastern Conference. Although there hasn’t been much trade talk over the last month, Charania insists that Antetokounmpo’s situation hasn’t been resolved. “There’s been some very real conversations over the last week or so,” Charania said. “The constant question that Giannis has, though, is can I win a championship with this roster? …He wants to win a second championship, so he’s asking that question over and over.” He added that there are “multiple teams waiting in the wings” to make offers if Antetokounmpo decides he wants out.
Green Bay Packers: NFL Insider Reveals 1 Huge Improvement Jordan Love Has Made During Offseason
The Green Bay Packers have some lofty goals for the 2025 NFL season, the primary one being winning the Super Bowl. And while this should be the goal of every NFL team, it is especially true for the team that calls its home Titletown. Indeed, it has been 15 years since the Packers last won a Super Bowl, a draught that fans, players, and coaches are all too well aware of. Additionally, the team has laid a foundation, over the last two seasons, with Jordan Love as the starting quarterback with young playmakers around him that, hopefully, will help Green Bay take the next step back into serious contention. And, as is the case in the modern NFL, it all begins and ends with the quarterback position, and Love is raising eyebrows with one intangible that he has been working on improving for the last two years. ESPN Insider Impressed with How Jordan Love Is Leading the Green Bay Packers One of the things that head coach Matt LaFleur wanted Love to work on more, once he became the starter back in 2023, was becoming a more vocal leader. Love is not loud or boisterous by nature, so it was something that he had to make a conscious effort on which to work. And, at least to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Love has made some great strides in that department: “This is Jordan Love’s team. That was the case by default when he took over as the starter in 2023. But Love is much more comfortable as a leader in Year 3 as a starter. LaFleur has urged his quarterback to be vocal and he’s answering that challenge. ‘Night and day,’ coach Matt LaFleur told me. ‘Even from last year, and I thought he took a big jump last year. Way more presence. As the kids say, he’s got aura.’ “Love is not the most outspoken player by nature, but he’s worked on it and believes it’s going well. Late in 2023, the list of quarterbacks playing better than him was short. But last season, the Week 1 knee injury cost him momentum and mobility. He is back to moving well, and he’s got the best supporting cast in his three years as a starter.” Love has always had the respect of his teammates, and no one needs to look further than how the entire roster rallied around him when Green Bay traded Aaron Rodgers to make way for the 2020 first round pick to take over the offense. Now, Love is entering his third year as the starting quarterback, and his sixth NFL season overall. He knows the offense, he knows the players around him. He is leading, and the Packers will go as far as he can take them. Of course, it will be a team effort, but the quarterback is the most looked to player on the field, on the sidelines, and in the locker room. Love is setting the tone, and he wants to win a Super Bowl this year, saying that it is the team’s primary focus, even before winning the NFC North. Hopefully, his vision becomes reality.
Three potential landing spots for disgruntled Bills RB James Cook
Superstar pass-rusher Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys aren't the only ones involved in a contract dispute. Buffalo Bills star running back James Cook is seeking a pay raise as he heads into the final year of his rookie contract. When asked Sunday why he wasn't practicing, Cook responded: "Business." ESPN insider Adam Schefter noted on Monday the hold-in by Cook, the 2022 second-round pick (63rd overall) who is unhappy with his contract situation. For now, Cook's future with the Bills is in question, so let's look at three teams that should be lighting up general manager Brandon Beane's phone in an attempt to pry him from Buffalo. Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles must continue to add weapons around second-year QB Caleb Williams. Per NFL.com, Chicago ranked 25th in the league in rushing yards (102 per game) and 29th in yards per carry (four) last season, which is not good enough to support a young QB. RB D'Andre Swift (253 carries, 959 yards rushing, 3.8 yards per carry) is a solid option but was inefficient last season in the workhorse role. Cook, who rushed for 1,009 yards last season (4.9 per carry), is an efficient runner who could balance this offense. Chicago has the draft capital and salary-cap space (roughly $13M, per Over The Cap) to get a deal done, particularly if it were to send Swift back the other way. Arizona Cardinals Their offense could reach new heights with a dynamic running back like Cook. James Conner, who rushed for a career-high 1,094 yards last season, has been a solid lead runner in Arizona over the past four years, but the 30-year-old could use help. Conner is a power back. Speedster Cook would bring a different style and create an explosive one-two punch with QB Kyler Murray. Per Over The Cap, Arizona has roughly $35M in cap space and all its own draft picks to get a deal done. It's a move it must consider to compete in the loaded NFC West. Minnesota Vikings What better way is there to aid rookie QB J.J. McCarthy than by trading for a high-end running back? Minnesota has perhaps the best receiving groups in the NFL, so improving the run game could make this offense unstoppable. Running back Aaron Jones will turn 31 on Dec. 2, so Cook — who will turn 26 on Sept. 25 — would be an upgrade. Free-agent RB Dalvin Cook, who has a similar running style to James, his brother, rushed for 1,173 yards with the Vikings in 2022. The Vikings have draft picks to make a solid offer, and while their cap space will get tight in 2026, they can find ways to wiggle their way around it. Perhaps Buffalo would be interested in Jones being a part of the deal to help its backfield in the short term.
Tiger Woods Sends Strong Message to Retiring CBS Broadcaster on Sunday
At Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, Sunday’s final round of the 2025 Wyndham Championship closed out the PGA Tour’s regular season. It also marked the end of an era for one of golf’s most revered broadcasters. For the last time, Ian Baker-Finch manned the hole-announcing microphone for CBS Sports, capping 30 years in the booth following a playing career that peaked with his victory at the 1991 Open Championship. Before the day was over, Tiger Woods took to X to salute "Finchy." "Congrats Finchy for 30 incredible years behind the microphone. You brought insight into things that the viewing audience could understand and relate to. From all of us—thanks for the memories." The message joined tributes from Jack Nicklaus, Jason Day, Adam Scott and others, underscoring Baker-Finch’s standing among champions past and present. Ian Baker-Finch: From Major Champion to Broadcast Mainstay Baker-Finch turned pro in 1979, winning 17 professional tournaments worldwide. His lone major title came at Royal Birkdale in 1991, where he secured the Open Championship by five strokes. After retiring in the mid-1990s, Baker-Finch transitioned smoothly into broadcasting. He cut his teeth as an analyst on Australian television before joining ESPN and ABC in 1998. In 2007, he became CBS Sports’ dedicated hole announcer, a role he held through 2025, calling golf’s defining moments with a blend of technical acumen and warm delivery. Over 19 seasons with CBS, he covered five Masters and contributed to countless PGA Tour telecasts. Throughout Woods’ five green-jacket haul (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019), Baker-Finch was a trusted on-course voice that helped demystify championship golf for television audiences. As a player, Baker-Finch remains one of only seven Australian men to win a major championship and is one of a select few to dominate links golf on British soil. As a broadcaster, Baker-Finch’s voice guided generations of fans through golf’s signature moments, shaping how millions understand the game’s subtleties. When the G.O.A.T. of professional golf uses his platform to honor your contribution to the sport, it signals a broadcast career worth remembering.
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