Lakerholics

One thing the Lakers have learned playing without their two superstars is which role players can still do their job, fill their role, and provide value and which players don’t have the talent and confidence needed to go it alone.

Watching the Lakers regroup after losing Davis to injury and then trying to do the same after losing James has been an illuminating experience for the team, it’s front office and coaching staff, and the other teams in the NBA. Any lingering sense of invincibility the defending champions may have had has been rudely dismissed as opponents see a wide open opportunity with the injured Lakers either limping into or possibly even missing the playoffs.

Fortunately, the Lakers still have 3 days until the March 25 trade deadline to to fill their needs for a legitimate lead guard, volume 3-point shooters to turbocharge the offense, and better rim protection to anchor the defense. Unfortunately, their best trading chips to get help until LeBron and AD return are point guard Dennis Schroder and center Montrezl Harrell, who also happen to be the two most needed players to help weather the storm.

Without LeBron and AD, the Lakers find themselves in a conundrum where their third and fourth best players — Schroder and Harrell — while gamely playing their hearts out may just not good enough to survive this stretch. The issue is the Lakers need more playmaking and 3-point shooting at point guard than they’re getting from Schroder and more rim protection and pick-and-roll defense from the center position than they getting from Harrell.

Having desirable trading chips for the positions you’re looking to upgrade can be a good thing in most situations. Teams need other players to fill the positional holes in the roster made whenever they trade a rotation player. Unfortunately, when a team is already shorthanded when it comes to point guards and centers as the Lakers are, it makes it hard to trade Schroder without getting a point guard back or Harrell without getting a center back.

The Hornets have three quality point guards in LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, and Devonte Graham and are interested in Montrezl Harrell but the Lakers can’t trade Trezz unless they have a center replacement lined up for him. That’s why Pelinka is going to have to set up a series of two or three trades to successfully revamp the roster to survive this period and fill the holes to make the Lakers a better team at both ends of the court before the playoffs.

There’s always a hesitancy and reluctance, especially among fans, to break up a championship roster but the Lakers’ current situation right now is so dire they need major changes to avoid falling completely out of contention. That means making multiple trades to fix their needs for more playmaking, volume 3-point shooting, and improved rim protection. It’s like President Biden’s position on Covid relief: the bigger gamble is not doing enough.

There are opportunities out there for Rob Pelinka and the Lakers to take advantage of. The Pelicans want to move Lonzo Ball. The Hornets are interested in Montrezl Harrell. The Pacers may be willing to trade Turner. Drummond may find starting center for the Lakers his best option. Harrell’s and Schroder’s trade value may be peaking and the Lakers have KCP as salary ballast and THT and their 2027 first round pick as sweeteners.

Best of all, LeBron James’ injury has suddenly given Rob Pelinka the freedom to make dramatic moves without great fear of blowback, not unlike a player given the chance to launch a half court shot at the buzzer.

The Los Angeles Lakers got a brutal reminder of how one play could change the destiny of a team’s season when an ankle injury to LeBron James left the team facing the prospect of several weeks without their two superstars.

The good news is the both James and Davis should be recovered before the 2021 NBA Playoffs begin on May 22nd and the Lakers still have four days left to seek help via a trade or buyout before the March 23rd trade deadline. Before the injury, the media consensus was the Lakers were unlikely to make a major move but, with James’ and Davis’ return being unpredictable, there’s an emerging strong case for Rob Pelinka to be bold and think big.

Even healthy, the Lakers faced a tougher challenge to win the championship this season than they did in the bubble last season since the Jazz, 76ers, Suns, Nets, Clippers, and Bucks having improved their rosters over last year. With both superstars suffering major injuries that could linger into the playoffs, the Lakers desperately need help in the form of a star quality playmaker to run the offense and elite rim protector to anchor the defense.

The most optimistic projections would have Anthony Davis and LeBron James possibly returning in two to three weeks, which would still mean the 28–14 Lakers would have to play 7 to 11 games without their superstars. The worst case scenario would have Davis missing up to 4 weeks more and LeBron 8 weeks, leaving the Lakers fighting for playoff positioning and their two superstars fighting to get into shape the last 2 to 4 weeks of the season.

LeBron’s injury could have dire consequences for the Lakers’ playoff hopes. After tonight, the Lakers could own just a 2-game lead in the loss column over the 7th place Spurs and only 5 games over the 10th place Grizzlies. Anything other than a best case scenario could easily leave the Lakers having to participate in the 2-game win-or-go-home Play-In Tournament between the West’s 7th through 10th seeds just to get into the playoffs.

The Lakers have 30 games left in the regular season. In a best case scenario, they’ll only lose their superstars for 10 games and have 20 to make up ground. In a worst case scenario, those numbers could easily be reversed. Complicating the situation, James’ and Davis’ injuries are the kind where the Lakers won’t know when they’re ready to play until they’re ready, which could make it imperative for Rob Pelinka to make a big move right now.

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The silver lining is LeBron’s injury has answered the question of whether the Lakers need to make major moves to improve their roster. Now the question becomes what are the specific moves the Lakers should make. Before LeBron’s injury, the Lakers’ major needs were high volume 3-point shooters and an elite rim protector. Now you can add a true point guard capable of creating quality shots for himself and teammates to the list.

While Myles Turner would be the ideal solution as a rim protector, the Lakers would be smart to save their trading chips for a playmaking volume 3-point shooter and get a Drummond or Whiteside via the buyout market. Until LeBron returns, the Lakers will desperately need somebody to replace his elite playmaking and volume 3-point shooting. Three available players who could fill that need are Kyle Lowry, Devonte Graham, and Lonzo Ball.

Lowry would be the perfect solution if the Raptors decide to move him. But Kyle makes $30.0 million and it would cost a package of Schroder, Harrell, and KCP, which is just too much for the undermanned Lakers to give up. Convincing the Hornets to give up Graham is also going to be difficult as he only makes $1.6 million per year, which makes it hard for Charlotte to get value in a trade. Best offer would be THT and a 2027 first round pick.

That leaves polarizing former Lakers’ point guard Lonzo Ball, who makes $11 million per year and will become a restricted free agent this summer, as the ideal trade target for Los Angeles to go after to cover for LeBron’s injury. Lonzo is averaging 14.2 point, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 31.7 minutes per game while shooting 42.5% from the field, 38.5% from deep on 7.8 threes per game, and a greatly improved 76.7% from the free throw line.

While Ball is polarizing for many Lakers fans, he’s the perfect point guard to pair with Dennis Schroder and has developed into an excellent 3&D guard who knows how to play off the ball alongside ball dominant star players. The Lakers might be able to trade Lonzo for a package of KCP and THT. A salary controlled KCP could be a great fit as the replacement for Bledsoe and Redick at shooting guard with THT’s elite potential as the sweetener.

A Lonzo Ball and Dennis Schroder starting backcourt with Drummond at center could be exactly what the Lakers need both in the short term until LeBron and AD return as well as in the playoffs when everybody’s healthy. The playmaking, volume 3-point shooting, and defensive switch-ability Lonzo brings would dramatically improve the Lakers starting lineup. As a bonus, trading for Lonzo would prevent him from joining the Clippers.

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Rob Pelinka has a big challenge on his hands to make the right decisions to enable the Lakers to weather the short term without LeBron and AD while still making key moves to upgrade the team’s roster for the playoffs. Landing a quality playmaking point guard who’s also a volume 3-point shooter and good defender plus an elite rim protector who won’t get played off the floor in the playoffs is not going to be easy without giving up depth.

There’s no question LeBron’s unfortunate injury has dramatically changed everything. What Rob Pelinka and the Lakers decide to do the next four days could be critical to their chances of repeating as NBA champions.

In the wake of Anthony Davis’ injury, the Los Angeles Lakers might have discovered how to transform their season with the emergence of a ‘Bench Big Three’ of Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, and Talen Horton-Tucker.

In the first three games of the second half of the NBA season, Trezz, Kuz, and THT have combined to score 45.7 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 13.3 assists in 17.7 minutes per game as the Lakers swept their first 3 games. During this win streak, the Lakers posted the league’s 5th best offensive and defensive ratings and 2nd best net rating while missing their starting power forward and center in Davis and Gasol and best defender in Caruso.

Harrell led the way, leading the Lakers in scoring followed by James and then Kuzma and Horton-Tucker. The bench’s 64.3 points per game was league best while the decimated starters 59 points was worst in the league. Trezz averaged 23.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.3 blocks in 28.8 minutes; Kuz 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists in 28.1 minutes; and THT 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists in 23.8 minutes per game.

While the breakout performances from Harrell, Kuzma, and Horton-Tucker were not against elite competition, they reflected major strategic changes in the Lakers’ half-court offense that could transform the Lakers’ season. Basically, the Lakers replaced their iso-heavy half court offense with a pick-and-roll dominated, share-the-ball approach that unleashed Harrell as a roller, opened lanes for Horton-Tucker, and created open threes for Kuzma.

The heart of the change in the Lakers’ half-court offense was the renewed focus on Montrezl Harrell in pick-and-rolls, which is why he averaged 20 points per game and won 6MOY honors with the Clippers last season. Needing a boost in scoring from the bench with Davis, Gasol, and Caruso out, Frank Vogel turned to Harrell and Trezz delivered. It was a move the Lakers should have taken greater advantage of the first half of the season.

The 3-game result was better ball and player movement, a jump in team field goal percentage from a league 8th best 48.1% to a league best 55.2% and assists from a league 17th best 24.5 to a league 3rd best 31.0 per game. Just as importantly, the Lakers increased their league 25nd 35.1% 3-point shooting to a league 4th best 41.3% and their league 8th best 22.8 free throw attempts per game to a league best 30.7 free throws per game.

Leading the charge to get the Lakers’ ‘Next Man Up’ mentality working was team captain LeBron James, who averaged 21.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 11.0 assists in just 32 minutes per game over the 3-game winning streak. Compensating for Anthony Davis’ injury and taking advantage of Joel Embiid’s injury to regain leadership in the regular season MVP race, LeBron posted back-to-back triple-doubles leading the Lakers to the last two wins.

Damian Jones capably filled in for starting center Marc Gasol averaging 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 17.8 minutes while Markieff Morris added 9.0 points and 6.3 rebounds replacing the inured Anthony Davis. Jones is slowly showing the decision to give him a second 10-day contract was prescient as his 108.5 offensive rating, 98.3 defensive rating, and 10.2 net rating were among the best on the Lakers for the 3 games.

The big question, of course, is were these three games just an anomaly? After all, Kuz, Trezz, and THT only averaged 13.8, 11.5, and 7.2 points per game before the last 3 games when they averaged 23.0, 19.0, and 13.3. While it’s doubtful the Lakers’ ‘Bench Big Three’ is going to perform at this level going forward, there is definitely optimism that the Lakers may have discovered how to get their bench going, even without LeBron and AD.

The Lakers have 3 more games before the March 24th trade deadline, including an important rematch Sunday with the rising Phoenix Suns, who beat the Lakers in their first game this season and are second in the West. That will be the big test for the Lakers’ ‘Bench Big Three’ and is likely to be the last game before the trade deadline. If Trezz, Kuz, and THT are able to continue their torrid play, it’s likely they’ll still be wearing purple and gold.

In any event, the last three games have shown the Lakers a potential path towards not only surviving but also winning while Anthony Davis is out. That’s something that could transform the Lakers’ championship hopes.

In retrospect, the Lakers need to rethink what they need from the center position because signing JaVale McGee, Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol, and Montrezl Harrell as the team’s centers the past two years was a mistake.

The Lakers should look at Anthony Davis, their prototype modern center who can shoot threes or attack the rim on offense and protect the rim or guard the perimeter on defense, to see what they need from their centers. What the defense-first Lakers don’t need are old school low post defensive or offensive centers who can’t stretch the floor with 3-point shooting or play the trapping, doubling, and rotating championship defense the team plays.

JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard proved to be unplayable against most opponents in the playoffs last year as they lacked the mobility, speed, and quickness the Lakers needed to trap, switch and defend on the perimeter. Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harrell face a similar fate in the playoffs this year as their inability to block shots and protect the rim leaves them vulnerable to being played off the court defensively despite their value on offense.

The problem is the Lakers don’t appear to have learned from their mistakes picking centers the last two seasons as they are now supposedly pursuing centers who’ll solve rim protection issues but be unplayable in the playoffs. The Lakers need to trade for a starting center like Myles Turner or Nerlens Noel rather than settling for another team’s discards like Andre Drummond or Hassan Whiteside who can solve one problem but then create another.

Drummond and Whiteside might be able to help hold down the fort for the three to five weeks until Anthony Davis returns but both have the same perimeter defensive liabilities that ultimately doomed McGee and Howard. Signing one of them is like applying a band aid to a badly broken bone. After Anthony Davis’s recent injury scare, there’s no way the Lakers want to see him again playing 50% of his time at center come this year’s playoffs.

Myles Turner and Nerlens Noel are two trade candidates who are talented and young enough to be permanent rather than temporary solutions to the Lakers’ need to find a center to complement and protect Anthony Davis. Both are top-five rim protectors who are younger than Anthony Davis and have the physicality, athleticism, and toughness to protect him from having to defend bigger bruising centers like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid.

Besides being top-five shot blockers, Turner and Noel have diverse offensive or defensive skill sets that set them apart from limited one dimensional centers like McGee, Howard, Gasol, Harrell, Drummond, and Whiteside. Turner is the prototype modern offensive center who can shoot the three and throw down lobs while Noel is the prototype modern defensive center who can both protect the rim and switch onto and defend smaller players.

In short, they simply can’t be played off the court defensively in the playoffs like the old school centers the Lakers signed over the last two years or are looking at from the buyout market, which is why they’re worth trading for. While it’s always difficult to break up a top-ranked defensive team, the Lakers know they will need a better rim protector in the playoffs than Gasol or Harrell or adding Drummond of Whiteside will be able to provide.

Defending their championship against the Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, or Brooklyn Nets will be a tougher challenge than the Lakers had to face in the bubble against the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, and Miami Heat. The Lakers need a solution to their center conundrum that works in the regular season and the playoffs. Andre Drummond, Hassan Whiteside, or some other candidate from the buyout market is not the right answer.

The Lakers would be smart to trade for Myles Turner or Nerlens Noel to permanently solve their rim protection issues, add a young starting center to protect AD, and double down on their championship caliber defense.

Struggling with Anthony Davis’ subpar play and injury, players out due to Covid protocol, cratering 3-point shooting, and faltering rim protection, the Lakers desperately need a big trade to keep their championship hopes alive.

They need a third superstar to match the Nets’ Superstar Big Three, some volume 3-point shooters to match the Clippers, Nets, and Jazz who shoot 10 more threes per game, and an elite rim protector to anchor their defense. Finding players to fill those needs is going to require the Lakers to give up valuable components of the roster than won the NBA championship last season. The reality is the bar to win the NBA championship has been raised.

Other than LeBron and AD, Kuzma is the only other Laker close to being untouchable as he’s become exactly what the Lakers are trying to trade for, a high volume, high percentage 3-point shooter who could be a third star. Keeping Dennis Schroder should also be a high priority but the rest of the Lakers’ roster have to be considered fair game in a major trade, even fan favorites like Alex Caruso, Montrezl Harrell, and Talen Horton-Tucker.

While the Lakers will be monitoring the buyout market, they’re not likely to find a third star or superstar, volume 3-point shooter, or elite rim protector there. The one exception may be former Houston center DeMarcus Cousins. What separates Cousins from the other center buyout candidates is his willingness and ability to shoot the three. Boogie shot 33.6% on 4.6 threes per game this season and 35.4% on 6.1 threes per game at his peak in 2018.

The challenging part of proposing trades is figuring out who’s available that fits your needs, what competing teams are likely to offer, and what’s the right package to offer to entice the other team to actually agree to the trade. Fortunately, there’s TRADENBA.COM’s virtual trade machine that not only allows anybody to play NBA general manager but also projects which team wins the trade and number of wins the trade should statistically produce.

Here are ten proposed trades that could give the Lakers a coveted third superstar, volume 3-point shooters to keep up with the Nets, Clippers, and Jazz, and/or a rim protector to anchor the Lakers’ top ranked defense.

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1. TRADE FOR VICTOR OLADIPO & PJ TUCKER

Lakers get third superstar, add volume 3-point shooting and perimeter defense but give up valuable depth, scoring, and budding young star.

Third Superstar? Yes, Victor Oladipo
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes, 10.2 vs. 6.6 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? Yes, Oladipo > THT, Tucker > KCP
Trade Machine Verdict? Even Trade.

Starters: Schroder, OLADIP0, James, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Caruso, TUCKER, Kuzma, Morris, COUSINS

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2. TRADE FOR KYLE LOWRY

Lakers get third superstar, add volume 3-point shooting and perimeter defense but give up valuable depth, scoring, and budding young star.

Third Superstar? Yes, Kyle Lowry
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes,7.1 vs. 5.2 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? Yes, Lowry > KCP
Trade Machine Verdict? Raptors+3 Wins

Starters: LOWRY, Schroder, James, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Caruso, Kuzma, McKinnie, Morris, COUSINS

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3. TRADE FOR KRISTAPS PORZINGIS

Lakers get potential third superstar and modern two-way center but give up valuable depth, scoring, perimeter defense, and budding young star.

Third Superstar? Yes, Kristaps Porzingis
Volume 3-Point Shooting? No, 6.2 vs 8.2 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? Yes, Porzingis Averages 1.5 Blocks Per Game
Trade Machine Verdict? Even Trade

Starters: Schroder, Kuzma, James, Davis, PORZINGIS
Bench: Caruso, Matthews, McKinney, Morris, Gasol

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4. TRADE FOR MYLES TURNER

Lakers get perfect modern center who can protect the rim and stretch defenses but give up volume threes, depth, and budding young star.

Third Superstar? Yes, Myles Turner is a superstar for his position
Volume 3-Point Shooting? No, 4.6 vs. 7.1 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? Yes, Turner Leads NBA With 3.3 Blocks Per Game
Trade Machine Verdict? Pacers+3 Wins

Starters: Schroder, Caldwell-Pope, James, Davis, TURNER
Bench: Caruso, Matthews, McKinney, Morris, Gasol

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5. TRADE FOR DEVONTE GRAHAM, MALIK MONK, BISMACK BIYOMBO

Lakers get two volume 3-point shooters and capable rim protector but give up depth, perimeter defense, budding young star, and first round pick.

Third Superstar? No
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes, 15.4 vs. 4.9 Threes Per Game
Add Better Defense? No, Graham > Caruso
Trade Machine Verdict? Even Trade

Starters: Schroder, GRAHAM, James, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Caldwell-Pope, MONK, Kuzma, Morris, BIYOMBO

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6. TRADE FOR LONZO BALL & JJ REDICK

Lakers get second playmaker and elite perimeter defender, two volume 3-point shooters but give up depth, scoring, and budding young star

Third Superstar? No
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes, 16.2 vs. 5.9 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? Yes, Ball > KCP
Trade Machine Verdict? Even Trade.

Starters: BALL, Schroder, James, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Caruso, REDICK, Kuzma, Morris, COUSINS

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7. TRADE FOR NERLENS NOEL & REGGIE BULLOCK

Lakers get elite rim protector and volume 3-point shooter but give up scoring, depth, budding young star, and second round pick.

Third Superstar? No, but Nerlens Noel is elite rim protector
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes, 4.7 vs. 2.1 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? Yes, Noel Averages 2.0 Blocks & 0.9 Steals Per Game
Trade Machine Verdict? Knicks+3 Wins

Starters: Schroder, Caldwell-Pope, James, Davis, NOEL
Bench: Caruso, BULLOCK, Kuzma, Morris, Gasol

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8. TRADE FOR BUDDY HIELD & HASSAN WHITESIDE

Lakers get high volume 3-point shooter and elite shot blocker but give up scoring, depth, perimeter defense, and second round pick.

Third Superstar? No
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes, 10.4 vs. 6.3 Threes Per Game
Add Better Defense? Yes, Whiteside 1.3 Blocks Per Game
Trade Machine Verdict? Even Trade

Starters: Schroder, HIELD, James, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Horton-Tucker,Caldwell-Pope, Kuzma, Morris, WHITESIDE

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9. TRADE FOR EVAN FOURNIER & MO BAMBA

Lakers get volume 3-point shooter and playmaker and young shot blocker but give up scoring, depth, and budding young star.

Third Superstar? No
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes, 6.7 vs. 5.9 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? Yes, Bamba 0.9 Blocks Per Game
Trade Machine Verdict? Even Trade

Starters: Schroder, FOURNIER, James, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Caruso, ROSS, Kuzma, Morris, BAMBA

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10. TRADE FOR WAYNE ELLINGTON & DELON WRIGHT

Lakers get two volume 3-point shooters but give up depth, budding young star, and second round draft pick.

Third Superstar? No
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes, 8.9 3PA vs. 2.1 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? No Difference
Trade Machine Verdict? Pistons +3 Wins

Starters: WRIGHT, Schroder, James, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Caruso, ELLINGTON, Kuzma, Morris, COUSINS