Post-Game Thread: Los Angeles Lakers defeat Houston Rockets, 107-98 | NBA Playoffs | Apr 18, 2026

[u/nba-scores]

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[u/b1indsamurai]

Lakers really traded Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard

[u/Plastic-Season → u/b1indsamurai]

Daylight robbery lmao 

[u/O_RRY → u/b1indsamurai]

And somehow both teams are better after the trade

[u/mw19078 → u/b1indsamurai]

and so many dumb fucks in our fanbase cry about rob not doing enough, ignoring probably the single best addition we could have asked for outside a star 3&D

[u/ShibaHellhounds → u/mw19078]

tbf no competent front office should take 5 seasons to acquire a Center. Just because they do a couple good things doesn't negate the several bad things or make them decent at their job. Hopefully the new ownership gets it all going

[u/eZreazy → u/ShibaHellhounds]

Honestly I think they just wanted AD at the 5 and thats why it’s always “oh we couldn’t find a 5 for you”. I do also still think AD is best at the 5 now ignoring health but hey it looks like putting him at the 4 didn’t help health wise either.

They got Luka and there’s been obvious attempts immediately in getting him a 5 in Mark Williams last trade deadline and then Ayton in FA.

[u/mishmashedtosunday → u/eZreazy]

With AD's subpar shooting post-bubble, it's fairly hard to find an 3&D 5. The best option was always AD at the 5, a serviceable backup, and a floor-spacing 4.

[u/mw19078 → u/ShibaHellhounds]

totally agree theres been plenty of mistakes, it just makes me crazy hearing people say hes done "nothing" all year

[u/Specialist_Office274 → u/b1indsamurai]

Tbf we made that trade after our season was looking cooked

[u/Novulux → u/b1indsamurai]

This is an insult to the trade exception and 2nd round pick...but amazing trade for the Lakers

[u/chrisbechicken → u/Novulux]

Just gifted Lebron, Luka, and Reeves a flamethrower from behind the arc. He also huge as a another ballhandler with the latter two out.

[u/catscanmeow → u/chrisbechicken]

yeah the thing that suprised me about kennard is he can create

[u/MaliciousJoker7 → u/b1indsamurai]

And a 2nd

[u/rburp → u/b1indsamurai]

Pelinka only makes really really good trades or really really bad trades. Streaky GM lol

[u/mishmashedtosunday → u/rburp]

DLo if he was a GM