Funny, I’m not a fan of any of these three trades. It’s not that I don’t like LaVine, McCollum, or Beal. Hell, I’ve created trades in the past for each of them. They’re all great shooting guards and I’ve said many times, if the Lakers trade for a third star, it needs to be a guard and all three of these guys are elite scorers. But that was then and this is now.
Aside from the reality that none of the deals the author has the Lakers giving up are enough to land any of the three, I’m not sure any of the three trades would make the Lakers a better team than they are right now. I’ll even go further and say I don’t think the Lakers need a third superstar to be a better team than the Nets. They’re a better team right now and none of those deals makes them better in my opinion.
I do think they could make a trade to become a better team but not for a high usage sperstar guard. What they could use is a young modern two-way center like Myles Davis, who can stretch defenses with his shooting while also protecting the rim and defending on the perimeter. Short of that, maybe an elite defensive wing who can shoot. But another high usage offense first guard who needs to dominate the ball? No way.
What we’re seeing this season and what I think is going to transform this team into a juggernaut is the value of defense, chemistry, and depth, the two big things trades like the three proposed only reduce. Those are also the three Achilles heels that will lead to the Nets underachieving this season. We don’t need more points, less sharing the ball, and less defensive focus. Give me a trade that will improve our defense, chemistry, and depth, and yes I’m all aboard. None of these trades do that. As the Nets will find out as the Lakers repeat.
I actually thought Frank should have challenged the charge for AD’s third foul. The defender was clearly moving. Could have changed the entire dynamic of the game. AD will come back hungry on Tuesday. Lakers still in five.