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The Brooklyn Nets’ Superstar Big 3 has raised the bar and upped the ante for what’s needed to win the NBA championship and may ultimately force both the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers to pursue a third superstar.

Make no mistake, the Los Angeles Lakers’ and Clippers’ front offices not only view the Nets as their likely opponent should they make the Finals but also as the biggest challenge and obstacle to their winning the championship. The Utah Jazz may dominate the regular season but the NBA playoffs have always been about superstars and the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving are the greatest Superstar Big 3 ever assembled.

Lakers’ and Clippers’ fans can hope the Nets won’t be able to build a quality supporting cast, won’t have enough time to jell, or won’t be able to defend but the reality when it comes to superstars is three is greater than two. We’ve already seen in the regular season how losing one of their superstars to injury or pandemic contract tracing impacted the Lakers or Clippers far more than it did the Nets. Now imagine that happening during the playoffs.

The Brooklyn Nets’ Superstar Big 3 is going to transform the midseason trading period into an arms race like the NBA has never seen before as both the Lakers and Clippers will be actively chasing that elusive third superstar. Superstars duos like the Lakers’ LeBron James and Anthony Davis or the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard and Paul George may no longer be enough to win the championship now that the Nets boast a legitimate Superstar Big 3.

There are also other potential competing teams who understand that they need major upgrades to their lineups in the form of star or superstar players just to remain in second tier right below Lakers, Clippers, and Nets. The Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks, and Golden State Warriors will also be looking for a star or superstar player to upgrade their rosters to compete with tier 1 teams.

In a perfect world, the Lakers and Clippers would both love a center as the third superstar to complement their current two superstar while the Lakers need a volume 3-point shooting guard and the Clippers a true point guard. Unfortunately, neither the Lakers or the Clippers have the draft picks that are often essential when trading for a superstar player so they’re both going to have to get creative to outbid the second tier teams for a third superstar.

But the Lakers and Clippers do have multiple proven high quality role players under team friendly contracts that could be appealing to teams that opt to become sellers and trade a star or superstar as the deadline nears. Whether they can find a trade partner and deal is uncertain but both understand the Nets have jumped ahead of them in terms of superstars and they may be challenged to keep their championship windows open.

So who are the stars and superstars who could be on the move before the March 24th trade deadline? And which ones would have enough impact to qualify as the needed third superstar to give the Lakers or Clippers a Big 3?Here are the top candidates who make the most sense as third superstars for the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, ranked according to what it would take in the form of trading chips for the Lakers or Clippers to acquire them:

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1. BRADLEY BEAL, WASHINGTON WIZARDS SHOOTING GUARD

Bradley would be the perfect candidate to level the playing field between the Lakers and Clippers versus the Nets. Unfortunately, it’s doubtful Beal will be available or either Los Angeles team has the chips to pull off a deal.

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2. ZACH LAVINE, CHICAGO BULLS SHOOTING GUARD

Zach would also be a perfect candidate as the third superstar to go with LeBron and AD or Kawhi and PG. Like Beal, it’s doubtful the Lakers or Clippers could outbid what tier 2 teams could offer to pull off a trade.

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3. KRISTAPS PORZINGIS, DALLAS MAVERICKS CENTER

Kristaps would also be a great fit on the Lakers or the Clippers and an elite upgrade at both ends over Marc Gasol or Serge Ibaka. If the Mavs decide to move Porzingis, he would be the perfect third superstar for the Lakers.

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4. KYLE LOWRY, TORONTO RAPTORS POINT GUARD

While the Raptors are struggling, Kyle has been enjoying a great year and would immediately close the superstar gap between the Lakers or Clippers and the Nets. He would be the perfect third superstar for the Clippers.

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5. VICTOR OLADIPO, HOUSTON ROCKETS SHOOTING GUARD

Victor might be the most attainable trade option as a third superstar for the Lakers or Clippers because of the injury and free agency concerns. He’s a better roster fit on the Lakers than the Clippers because of position.

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6. NIKOLA VUCEVIC, ORLANDO MAGIC CENTER

Nikola is the wild card third superstar option for the Lakers and Clippers because the Magic have not shopped him despite their losing record and it’s likely they would want draft picks neither LA team has in a trade for him.

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There are a multitude of minor tweaks the Lakers and Clippers can make to try and close the current gap between them and the Nets but they may find themselves competing with each other and the Nets for the same players. Should the Lakers and Clippers be unable to land one of the above six superstars, they will then have to settle for less impactful moves such as upgrading role players or picking up someone from the waiver wire.

Other candidates include the Hawks’ John Collins, Nuggets’ Michael Porter, Jr., Rockets PJ Tucker and Eric Gordon, Pelicans’ Lonzo Ball and JJ Redick, Spurs’ DeMar DeRozan or LaMarcus Aldridge, or Bulls’ Lauri Markkanen. Possible targets also include Magic’s Mo Bamba, Khem Birch, or Evan Fournier, Thunder’s George Hill and Trevor Ariza, Kings’ Buddy Hield and Nemanja Bjelica, Pistons’ Wayne Ellington, or Hornets’ Devonte Graham.

The only thing certain is the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers will need to make moves before the March 34th trade deadline if they want to be able to match up against the Nets’ Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving.