Lakers rumors: Ranking potential trade targets by weighing risk and reward https://t.co/bh5zpl09ne
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) August 22, 2024
5. Chicago Bulls
Zach LaVine | Shooting Guard
Lakers and LaVine had mutual interest in November of 2023, per Shams Charania and Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, but the injury concerns have potentially put an end to those exploratory conversations.
4. Portland Trail Blazers
Jerami Grant | Hybrid Forward
The downside with Grant is similar to the concerns with LaVine: Injuries and opportunity cost. Grant has missed at least 28 games in two of the past three seasons and is owed $29,793,104 for the 2024-25 campaign. Furthermore, Portland’s asking price is two first-round draft picks, per Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report.
3. Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young | Point Guard
Three max players on the same roster just doesn’t leave much room to build beyond them—and the Lakers don’t have any time to waste entering James’ age-40 season.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
Darius Garland | Point Guard
Garland has said that he doesn’t want to be traded, but Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, and Jason Lloyd of The Athletic reported that Donovan Mitchell signing an extension may have put a timer on how long the duo coexists.
1. New Orleans Pelicans
Brandon Ingram | Small Forward
With Ingram and Reaves scoring and facilitating from the wings, and Davis holding down the interior, the Lakers would have a chance to build a strong core for a future beyond James.
Excellent article by Maxwell Ogden for Lake Show Life. I thought the analysis of each player was spot on. I’ve slowly been leaning towards Brandon Ingram possibly being the best wing solution for the Lakers current roster. Ideally, I would like to keep Russell for his playmaking and 3-point shooting but a trade of Russell, Vincent, and Hood-Schifino could be best upside with lowest downside for the Lakers.
Being able to add Ingram while keeping Reaves and Vanderbilt would give the Lakers a chance to have an upgraded starting lineup and more depth to complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Lakers might be able to steal Ingram without having to give up much draft capital.
More from article about Brandon Ingram:
Trading for Brandon Ingram is the best option for the Los Angeles Lakers for three crucial reasons. That begins with a contract that’s even cheaper than Garland’s, continues with the fact that wings are the most valuable players in the modern NBA, and ends with the rare opportunity for negotiating leverage.
Ingram is an All-Star wing on an expiring $36,016,200 contract, and the New Orleans Pelicans are reluctant to match his asking price for an extension, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
With New Orleans facing the possibility that it could lose Ingram for nothing, Los Angeles suddenly has leverage in future discussions. The Pelicans are unlikely to want to lose Ingram for nothing during the 2025 period of free agency and could, in turn, be willing to accept less in a trade.
As a result, the Lakers could keep Reaves and even retain one of Vanderbilt or Vincent as negotiations instead center around Hachimura, one of the two key reserves, and draft capital.
In that scenario, the Lakers would be adding a player who has averaged 23.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.8 three-point field goals made since 2019. Ingram would step in as the wing of the future, which is exactly what Los Angeles needs as James approaches his age-40 season.
With Ingram and Reaves scoring and facilitating from the wings, and Davis holding down the interior, the Lakers would have a chance to build a strong core for a future beyond James.
Los Angeles could also keep its core pieces and re-sign Ingram next summer.
https://x.com/LakerTom/status/1826665338202980646
Probably need to keep DLO for his 3pt shooting. That is where the game is now.
https://x.com/LakerTom/status/1826645673363529786
While I like BI, there are problems. First he really isn’t worth the 50+ mil a year extension he is seeking. Honestly he has not played up to the 36 mil he is earning now. The other is, I’m not sure we have a package that the Pels would want. They aren’t looking to dump him, they are looking to use him to improve their team. After landing Murray they are set at both starting and reserve guard spots so sending Dlo probably won’t do it. What they want to do is use BI to land a starting quality center. Now perhaps they get what the can for BI ant the trade deadline if they can not come to terms with him, but for now they will be looking for that center. A trade with the Lakers probably would require a third team to land the center they need.