Latest news with #Buha'sBlock
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lakers reporter suggests former Warriors guard as free agent target
Lakers reporter suggests former Warriors guard as free agent target When it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers' roster needs this offseason, most are focused on how much the team needs a starting-caliber center. But the Lakers are also in need of improved guard and wing depth. Problem is, they have a limited number of trade assets and very little, if any, salary cap flexibility. That means they will need to sign a couple of players to the veteran's minimum salary who will provide good value. Jovan Buha, a Lakers beat writer for The Athletic, suggested during a recent episode of "Buha's Block" that guard De'Anthony Melton could be a decent free agent option for the team. "I really like Melton as a flyer. I think, at this point, he's gonna be a vet-minimum guy… I think he's a guy who, for a vet minimum contract, you could do a lot worse,' said Buha. Melton was a second-round draft pick in 2018 out of the University of Southern California. He has been known as a strong defender, especially on opposing ball-handling guards, and although he stands a modest 6-foot-3, he has a wingspan of 6-foot-8 and weighs a somewhat stocky 200 pounds. He has become a reliable 3-point shooter over the last few years, and he possesses ample quickness that especially helps him on the defensive end. However, Melton tore his ACL early this season back in November. The guard, who was traded by the Golden State Warriors to the Brooklyn Nets in December, may not be able to earn that much money this summer as a result. If he's available for the veteran minimum's salary, perhaps the Lakers should at least consider him on a one-year deal. He is a native of the Southland who grew up in the San Fernando Valley, so perhaps he could be enticed to come back home.
USA Today
24-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Should the Nets trade for Trail Blazers' Toumani Camara?
Should the Nets trade for Trail Blazers' Toumani Camara? The Brooklyn Nets have plenty of cap space and draft assets to play with this summer as they are looking to reshape the roster after a 26-56 record in the 2024-25 season. While Brooklyn is expected to add some young talent in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft, they could also be looking for players to trade for if the price is considered a value. "I have heard that the Blazers want something like two firsts for Camara," The Athletic's Jovan Buha said of Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara during an episode of his "Buha's Block" podcast (h/t Bleacher Report's Scott Polacek). Buha was answering a hypothetical trade offer that would send Camara and Deandre Ayton from Portland to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht and a first-round pick. Camara is not necessarily considered to be available for trade given what he did during his second season in the NBA after being the 52nd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Camara, 25, averaged 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 45.8% from the field and 37.5% from three-point land in 78 games played for the Trail Blazers. Not only that, but Camara is coming off a season in which he made All-Defensive Second Team, showing how much he grew as a player on the defensive end as well as the offensive end. What this means for the Nets is that someone like Camara could bring a level of defensive ability that the team hasn't seen since Jason Kidd during his days playing for the franchise in New Jersey. Brooklyn has four first-round picks to use in the 2025 Draft, but it's possible that they would rather use those picks on players in this class rather than paying a premium for a player that could have already reached his ceiling. It would be easier for the Nets to either take chances on players in the Draft or use their cap space to invest in players like Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, for example, to avoid having to use their draft picks as well.
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jovan Buha on LeBron James' relationship with Lakers and whether he will leave this summer
Jovan Buha on LeBron James' relationship with Lakers and whether he will leave this summer Many, if not most, people expect LeBron James, who has a player option for next season that he can decline, to return to the Los Angeles Lakers for at least one more year. His family has established roots in the Southland over the last several years, and after all, his son, Bronny, plays in the Lakers organization. But there is always a chance the elder James leaves the Lakers this summer. He has historically had his own personal agenda that doesn't necessarily line up with that of his current team, and he has a tendency to be passive-aggressive and keep his cards close to the vest as far as his future plans. On a recent episode of his "Buha's Block" podcast, Jovan Buha, the Lakers' beat writer for The Athletic, said that while the 40-year-old's relationship with the organization has had some challenges, he expects the superstar to be back next season. "I mean, I think there's always a chance that LeBron could walk," Buha said. "As we've reported at The Athletic multiple times, and it hasn't just been me, Sam Amick has also reported this, the relationship has been a little frosty at times. It hasn't always been the warmest over the past couple of years. "But I've said it before, I think LeBron's going to be a Laker next year. The only question is whether he's opting in or opting out and re-signing." The elder James continued to play at a high level this season and averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds a game this season. ESPN insider Shams Charania said a few weeks ago that he expects the four-time MVP to opt into the final year of his current contract. If James' main motivation is winning another NBA championship, the Lakers would, in all likelihood, give him his best chance of doing so. He now has Luka Doncic by his side, and by all accounts, the franchise is very intent on adding a starting-level defensive center and better guard and wing depth this offseason.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers' Most Realistic Target Is Revealed; Two Centers Might Not Be Available For Acquisition
The Los Angeles Lakers' plans of acquiring a big man in the offseason may set off in a very specific direction as a realistic target for acquisition has been revealed. As per The Athletic's Jovan Buha, the Lakers will be setting their sights on Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton, as two potential candidates become unavailable. Buha discussed this in a recent episode of "Buha's Block", where the reporter noted how the Lakers may shift their focus towards the Nets' big man. He said: Advertisement "As far as center targets or center candidates, I think a couple of names on the trade market interest me most, and that would be first - Nic Claxton. That is a guy that I think should be at the top of the Lakers list." "Probably, for me, among the best of the realistic targets, so I would have Nic Claxton number one," added Buha. "It is a big contract, it will be a little tricky to match it. But the Lakers, now, are projected to be under the first apron, so they will have the ability to aggregate contracts in a potential trade." Buha went on to say that pursuing Claxton should be a "no-brainer" for the Lakers if the opportunity presents itself. He continued by analyzing how the Nets center would fit with the team: "He would fit with Luka in the pick-and-roll. Defensively, he's among the most versatile centers in the league. He can switch out onto the perimeter. He can also protect the rim. He's an underrated post defender despite his light frame." Advertisement "Not the perfect player," he added. "They're not going to find the perfect center. But among the candidates that I think are realistic as of right now, to me, Nic Claxton is the one that makes the most sense." The mention of Claxton as the most realistic target is also reassuring. The 26-year-old has been incredibly versatile for the Nets over the past few seasons. At 6'11", he averages 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. He is also very efficient, as he shoots 56.3% on only 8.1 FGA. Claxton's athleticism and defensive instincts make him the ideal fit next to a Lakers team centered around Luka Doncic. However, he is in the second year of a four-year deal worth $97 million. Considering that he is owed $25.3 million next season, Los Angeles will have their work cut out for them while coming up with a relevant trade package. Proposed Trade Details: Los Angeles Lakers receive: Nic Claxton Brooklyn Nets receive: Maxi Kleber, Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, 2028 First-Round Pick Such a deal would help the Lakers downsize and clear roster space. However, losing players such as Vanderbilt would have an impact on their perimeter defense. Advertisement After this, Buha listed Daniel Gafford as another player who would fit the Lakers, but unfortunately, will not be available to the team. Given the strained relationship between the Mavericks and the Lakers since the Doncic trade, it seems unlikely for the two teams to engage in negotiations again anytime soon. He also acknowledged the challenges the Lakers would face when trying to acquire some other players that the organization has been linked. While dumping salaries to get the non-taxpayer mid-level exception emerges as an option to facilitate future trades, the team doesn't necessarily benefit from being hard-capped at the first luxury tax apron. Another name that Buha addressed as a potential target was Brook Lopez. He said, "I like Brook Lopez, but he is 37. He has slipped as an offensive weapon, and also as a rim protector and just overall defender." "On a short-term deal, I think you could do worse," he continued. "I think he's a notable upgrade on Jaxson Hayes. But he did get played off the floor in that first-round Indiana series, and that would be more of a concern." Advertisement Buha mentioned several names as part of his list, including the likes of Clint Capela, Myles Turner, and Naz Reid. However, he listed them out due to the unlikelihood of the Lakers being able to afford them without clearing out more cap space. He also addressed the value of the center position being on the rise again. Because of this, he discarded any notions of signing Walker Kessler or Jalen Duren, as the Lakers simply don't have the assets to interest either team in a trade for these players. Players such as Steven Adams and Al Horford also piqued the interest of the reporter. However, this was also in the context that they joined as backup centers rather than starters, as he aspired for the Lakers to develop a center rotation. Related: "Sucks The Joy Out Of That Team": Michael Rapaport Feels Lakers Need To Move On From LeBron James
USA Today
10-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Beat writer names the most realistic center candidate for the Lakers
Beat writer names the most realistic center candidate for the Lakers It isn't really a matter of whether the Los Angeles Lakers will try to acquire a game-changing defensive-minded center this offseason. The question is which center or centers will they target in a potential trade? While they don't have a lot of tradable assets, they do have a few that could be enough, and one thing to watch will be the number of defensive-minded starting-caliber centers that will be gettable via trade. Jovan Buha, a Lakers beat writer for The Athletic, said during a recent episode of "Buha's Block" that Nic Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets seems to be the most realistic candidate for the team (at 23:34). "As far as center targets or center candidates, I think a couple of names on the trade market interest me most, and that would be first - Nic Claxton," Buha said. "That is a guy that I think should be at the top of the Lakers list. "That's probably, for me, among the best of the realistic targets, so I would have Nic Claxton number one. It is a big contract, it is going to be a bit tricky to match it. But the Lakers are right now are projected to be under the first apron, so they will have the ability to aggregate contracts in a potential trade, and if there is a way for the Lakers to get Nic Claxton, I that is a no-brainer for them." Claxton recently turned 26 years of age, and as Buha pointed out, he's not only a good rim protector, but he can switch out onto the perimeter and effectively guard smaller players. He's also a lob threat and a good rim runner, which would make him a good fit next to Luka Doncic on offense. Buha then mentioned another center who could be a great fit for the Lakers but may not be available to them. "The other name that I like is going to be an interesting one, because I don't think he's going to necessarily be available to the Lakers, but Daniel Gafford from Dallas. And we could go back to that interaction that Luka and Gafford had at the end of Luka's return in Dallas, and there's some speculation as to what was said or what was implied with that interaction." Gafford obviously has some chemistry with Doncic after the two played together on the Dallas Mavericks, and he is another player who is a strong rim-protector, rim-runner and lob threat. Gafford, who is also 26 years of age, would also presumably cost less trade capital, since he will only make just under $14.4 million next season. However, given how incensed Mavericks fans still are about general manager Nico Harrison sending Doncic to L.A. for a low price, it remains to be seen whether Harrison would be willing to link up again with Lakers executive Rob Pelinka on another trade that would have sizable implications.
