Just when it looked like AD’s injury had doomed the Lakers to another losing season, a series of unrelated events suddenly opened the door for a possible deadline trade of Westbrook and picks for a superstar guard.
While we’re still a month and half away from the February 9 trade deadline, it’s now looking more and more like the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, and Washington Wizards are going to become sellers.
That’s exactly what Rob Pelinka and the Los Angeles Lakers front office have been hoping would happen as the trade deadline got closer and teams had to make the hard decisions whether to become buyers or sellers.
The prospect of Trae Young, Zach LaVine, or Fred VanVleet suddenly becoming available right when the Lakers desperately need a superstar guard alongside James and Davis seems almost too good to be true.
But maybe the Basketball Gods just wanted to see whether the Hawks, Bulls, Raptors, and Wizards truly valued the Lakers’ two unprotected post-LeBron James first round draft picks as guaranteed top-5 picks.
That Trae Young and Zach LaVine are also clients of Rich Paul and the Klutch Sports Group like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kendrick Nunn, Troy Brown, Jr., and Juan Toscano-Anderson clearly favors the Lakers.
There’s no question Rich Paul would like to see Young or LaVine join up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the Lakers and we’re going to see a vigorous campaign to convince Atlanta and Chicago to trade them.
Whether Young, LaVine, or VanVleet end up getting traded to the Lakers will depend on their teams’ decision to be buyers or sellers and how much they value the Lakers two unprotected post-LeBron James draft picks.
1. Trae Young and Bogdan Bogdanovic Trade
In Atlanta, the 16–16 and 8th seed Hawks continue to struggle in the East. Trae Young could soon be on the trading block as his shooting has been off and he’s had conflicts with John Collins and head coach Nate McMillan.
If the Hawks continue to struggle, they’ll have a tough decision to make. Pairing Trae Young and Dejounte Murray has not solved their need for defense and offensive balance. Their best move may be to trade Young.
The trade would be great for the Lakers as Young and Bogdanovic could slide right into the starting lineup alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Lonnie Walker IV. Trade might give Lakers best starting five in NBA.
2. Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic Trade
In Chicago, the 13–18 Bulls are considering blowing it up as conflicts have arisen between Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan. Word is Klutch Sports is pushing hard to get LaVine out of Chicago and to the Los Angeles Lakers.
While the Lakers and Bulls discussed trading for DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, the better fit for the Lakers is obviously LaVine and Vucevic. If not for Zach’ injury history, this would be Lakers’ top trade.
For the Lakers, Zach LaVine would address their long-term needs for a superstar guard to replace LeBron James while Nikola Vucevic would address their short-term needs for a starting center until AD returns.
3. Fred VanVleet, O.G. Anunoby, Otto Porter, Jr. Trade
In Toronto, the Raptors are trying to decide whether now is the right time to blow the team up and rebuild around Scottie Barnes. Gary Trent, Jr. could be on the market as well as Fred VanVleet and O.G. Anunoby.
The 14–18 Raptors are currently 10th in the East and are 3–7 in their last 10. If they fall any further back, it’s likely to force them into becoming sellers. Getting two post-LeBron first round picks from Lakers would be a bonus.
For Lakers, VanVleet and Anunoby would move right into the starting lineups with Porter Jr. providing depth off the bench. Trade gives Lakers size, shooting, and defense. Season saving trade if it happens.
4. Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis Trade
Finally, in Washington, D.C., the Wizards are trying to figure out what do with Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis, both of whom will become unrestricted free agents next summer. Again, the Lakers are lurking.
The 12–20 Wizards are stuck in a tough place. They just signed Bradley Beal to a 5-year max contract that has a no-trade clause. They need to be tanking, which means trading off pieces that help them win games.
This is a great trade for the Lakers. They not only get Kuzma back but get a starting center in Kristaps Porzingis who will fill in for Anthony Davis now and give L.A. great long-term front court size, shooting, and defense.
https://twitter.com/LakerTom/status/1606068379508318208
The Jazz received Markkadan, Sexton and 3 first round picks for Mitchell. Star players under long term contracts generally bring in a haul of assets. Doubt our assets will stack up.
We see the same things year in and year out when a star may come on the market. And year in and year out nothing happens. We did land AD but look at the cost. We even inquired about Mitchell. I’m sure Danny had a good laugh. The only time you see bargains is when a player is in a contract year. Van Fleet is but I’m sure the Raptors can do better. Teams with players on long term deals can just wait, like the Nets did we KD.
There’s no question other teams may be able to make better offers than the Lakers. What counts is what is the offer they’re willing to make. For this to work, the Lakers have to have a lot of luck and some help from Klutch.
I don’t see many teams willing to take on LaVine’s 5-year contract with his questionable knees. How many teams want to give a huge extension to to a small guard like VanVleet. Trae’s value has to be less due to his baggage. So, yes, these are all long shots to even be available much less happen.
In the end, it will come down to how teams value the Lakers picks and whether they will make them unprotected. That’s what these trades will come down to.
One of these days you will be right with one of your trades and I will be very happy when you are because they are generally highly screwed in the Lakers favor.
Feel free to continue to laugh and make fun of my trades They’re just a reflection of the direction I believe the Lakers should go so have your fun.
This will all come down to the Lakers offering unprotected picks. If they do, then there will be a taker for one of these trades as those picks could be top five.
All it takes is one GM to value them and a trade could happen. I believe the Lakers unprotected picks are worth two or three times what a Timber Wolves unprotected pick will be worth.
I think this trade could be done on Draft Day this upcoming summer when we can add one more pick to the pile. Expiring money and picks 5 & 7 years out aren’t enough to grease these level of trades.
Those picks are not universally valuable for ever team. For instance they made sense this summer for the Jazz. Are sitting on a massive amount of picks. They wanted to move off the salaries of Conley, Gay and Bogdanovic so much so that they offered to send a first for Russ and our picks. It made sense to stock pile way In the future picks because they have a lot. Now say your a rebuilding team without a massive stockpile of picks. And you are rebuilding around a few early 20’s picks. Those distant picks hold no value for their current rebuild. KD wanted to leave but he was under a long term contract, so they didn’t do anything. LaVine is rumored to want to go to the Lakers. So what? He’s under a long term contract and if picks in 5 and 7 years won’t help them rebuild now. I guess at the trade deadline and there wasn’t any deals on the table and he had become so toxic that they just want to dump him, perhaps they would. But my guess they will hold out until they get what they feel is a fair offer. Like I said I’ve been reading the same click bait for every star that maybe traded since there has been devices to click and it never happens. If we get a bargain someday I will be happy. I’m just not counting on it.