What should the Lakers prioritize on the trade market?

What should the Lakers prioritize on the trade market? https://t.co/1H8ZvQy36P via @LakersSBN

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) November 30, 2024

I agree that the Lakers have more needs than they can fill and will have to prioritize. To me, I think a 3-and-D wing would be at the bottom of that list because they have enough of them, if healthy, between Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt (in theory) and Rui Hachimura.

Which leaves the other two. I would say a backup center is the bigger need. While Jaxson Hayes has been a positive relative to expectations this season, I do not trust him in a playoff series and he can not provide the things the Lakers lack, particularly on defense and as a rebounder.

Having someone like a Jonas Valančiūnas or Brook Lopez allows you to the luxury of deploying Anthony Davis in other ways defensively outside of standing in the paint as a rim protector.