10 Trades to Shake Up 2024 NBA Draft Night

10 Trades to Shake Up 2024 NBA Draft Nighthttps://t.co/4ymvWPOZqg via @BleacherReport

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) June 24, 2024

LaMelo Ball to the Lakers

Charlotte Hornets Receive:
-Rui Hachimura
-Jalen Hood-Schifino
-Gabe Vincent
-No. 17 pick
-2025 second-round pick (most favorable from Lakers or Clippers)
-2026 first-round swap
-2027 second-round pick
-2028 first-round swap
-2029 first-round pick (unprotected)
-2030 second-round pick
-2031 first-round pick (top-one protection; turns into 2031 second-rounder if not conveyed)

Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young get shoehorned into Lakers trade scenarios more than anyone else. That’s fine. In a vacuum, though, Los Angeles won’t have the best offer for either player.

Building out packages that feature three first-round picks and two first-round swaps isn’t something at which to sneeze. That’s real stuff. But other teams can beat that framework. Even if Austin Reaves is included, the Lakers would be counting on Mitchell or Young to leverage their teams into sending them to L.A.

Shifting to Ball could pose similar challenges. He’s 23 in August, under team control for the next five years and, by all appearances, not readily available. More than a few teams will scatter given his injury history. He has numerous ankle issues in the rear view, missed 20-plus games in three of his first four seasons and made just 58 combined appearances over the last two years.

The promise of Ball’s shooting, vision and contrived anarchy on the break and how it all fits beside LeBron James (player option) and Anthony Davis is enough to get the Lakers looking beyond the risks. This is a move that weaponizes their present and constructs a sturdy bridge into the future. And no, L.A. shouldn’t quibble about surrendering so much draft equity when it’s keeping Reaves.

Charlotte’s end of the deal is, naturally, more controversial. If it’s not actively looking to move Ball, is this enough to get them thinking about it? What if Reaves was also included? Does it like the idea of a Rui-Brandon Miller-Mark Williams frontcourt? Or does it prefer (and think) it can reroute Rui for even more assets?

I’m just spitballing here, though, which is the entire point of this exercise.