Kristaps Porzingis looked like he was hitting his stride at the end of the regular season. But by the end of the playoffs, the big man struggled to consistently stay on the court as his mysterious illness sapped his strength.

Porzingis, Hachimura, and Kleber all have contracts expiring after the 2025-26 season, which makes this move manageable financially for both sides. The Lakers preserve their core while giving LeBron James and Luka Doncic the kind of frontcourt star that can shoot, rim protect, and complement their play styles.

After looking like a shell of his once all star self, Kristaps Porzingis finally has a diagnosis for his sickness that hampered him since March.