Lakers upgrade with Ayton and Smart sharpened for the Dončić–LeBron era, but Finney-Smith’s exit creates a wing depth hole. Brooklyn’s Haywood Highsmith emerges as the target to fix that gap, with a trade perhaps built around Dalton Knecht and Adou Thiero. Highsmith’s two-way profile and 3-point improvement over the past two seasons make him a compelling bench option to amplify creator play from Dončić and James. Pelinka’s front-office dance could hinge on Nets’ valuation and fit, shaping the Lakers’ ceiling for 2025-26.