The Los Angeles Lakers are very close to completing a championship-caliber roster. With Luka Doncic orchestrating the offense, LeBron James still dominating at age 40, and promising additions like Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia bolstering the rotation, L.A. has built a formidable core. But as the franchise eyes deep postseason runs, the margins for improvement are razor-thin.
That’s why a trade featuring Gabe Vincent (earning $11.5M) and Maxi Kleber ($11M) in a package that opens space and injects two-way wing athleticism could make sense. In one proposed scenario, the Lakers would acquire a veteran two-way specialist from Brooklyn, sending both Vincent and Kleber plus a 2032 second‑round pick in return.
Smart brings championship pedigree, switchable perimeter defense, and reliable playmaking, attributes that align perfectly with J.J. Redick’s system. As L.A. inches toward finalizing its rotation, flipping two expiring contracts for a versatile swingman could be the goal.
This smart shake-up allows for another rotation upgrade but also addresses the Lakers’ need for depth, grit, and defensive intensity off the bench. Let’s explain how this trade could work for all sides.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Terance Mann
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, 2032 second-round pick (LAL)
Los Angeles Lakers Acquire Terance Mann To Shore Up The Bench
With Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia signed, and Marcus Smart bringing defensive grit to the rotation, the Lakers still needed one final jolt of athletic versatility off the bench. Enter the three-way deal that would bring Terance Mann to L.A. Mann, newly acquired by the Nets in a three-team trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta, offers just what the Lakers covet: length, perimeter defense, and hard-nosed effort at both ends.
Last season, Mann averaged 7.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 36.8% from three. His defensive impact was even more tangible, ranked among the league’s top perimeter stoppers in contest rate and on-ball efficiency. Adding him to a rotation featuring LeBron, Luka, Smart, Ayton, and Reaves offers optimal balance: bench scoring, floor-spacing, and reliable wing defense in high-leverage minutes.
This is a low-risk acquisition with clear upside. Mann carries a modest $11.5 million cap hit (under contract until 2027-28) and could slide seamlessly into a role guarding opposing wings or stepping into late-game two-way lineups. For the Lakers, it’s about efficiency, not extravagant star moves. Mann’s hustle and positional flexibility could tip the scales in playoff matchups against switch-heavy teams like OKC, Denver, or Houston.
Brooklyn Nets Move Expendable Piece And Acquire Expiring Contracts
Brooklyn’s offseason game plan is all about flexibility. With over $20 million in cap space and multiple first-round picks stockpiled, the Nets are in the ideal position to absorb short-term contracts in exchange for future assets and roster relief.
The Nets renounced rights to Cam Thomas and watched restricted free agent Day’Ron Sharpe re-sign on a two-year, $12 million deal, leaving them with a lean core focused on youth and draft capital. They’re exploring trades that bring in expiring deals like Duncan Robinson’s $19.8 million, often with picks attached.
By trading Mann (or other rotation pieces) and taking on short-term salary, Brooklyn clears space and boosts draft equity moving forward. Both Vincent and Kleber will be free agents after next season, so that is over $22 million in salary getting cleared.
They’re not a destination for building contending teams; they’re a conduit, leveraging their cap flexibility to become a third-party facilitator, banking on extra picks or cash considerations instead of long-term obligations.
A Low-Risk And Clever Trade Idea To Help LeBron, Doncic, And Reaves
In this proposed deal, the Lakers would receive Terance Mann, giving J.J. Redick another versatile swingman off the bench. Mann’s arrival strengthens perimeter defense, enhances spacing, and brings a mature role-player mentality.
L.A. sends expendable bench depth to Brooklyn, plus a second-round pick. Nets, in turn, absorb a contract that’s fading or unneeded, trading cap room for future value.
Mann’s career splits show solid defensive numbers: his defensive real plus-minus sits consistently above average, while his three-point shooting hovers around the floor-spacing threshold L.A. requires. LeBron thrived in last season’s playoffs with right-side wing defenders in crunch time; Mann fits that mold perfectly.
Meanwhile, the Lakers offload a small salary item, nothing long-term, nothing complicated. This swap is a smart, almost invisible upgrade for L.A.: they add a capable, two-way role player without surrendering anyone too valuable.
For Brooklyn, the benefit is twofold: they get a minimal-arena piece while leveraging cap space to extract picks. The risk for both sides is limited. The Lakers gain impactful depth; the Nets walk away with future assets or roster savings, a textbook win-win.
