One thing the Lakers have learned playing without their two superstars is which role players can still do their job, fill their role, and provide value and which players don’t have the talent and confidence needed to go it alone.
Watching the Lakers regroup after losing Davis to injury and then trying to do the same after losing James has been an illuminating experience for the team, it’s front office and coaching staff, and the other teams in the NBA. Any lingering sense of invincibility the defending champions may have had has been rudely dismissed as opponents see a wide open opportunity with the injured Lakers either limping into or possibly even missing the playoffs.
Fortunately, the Lakers still have 3 days until the March 25 trade deadline to to fill their needs for a legitimate lead guard, volume 3-point shooters to turbocharge the offense, and better rim protection to anchor the defense. Unfortunately, their best trading chips to get help until LeBron and AD return are point guard Dennis Schroder and center Montrezl Harrell, who also happen to be the two most needed players to help weather the storm.
Without LeBron and AD, the Lakers find themselves in a conundrum where their third and fourth best players — Schroder and Harrell — while gamely playing their hearts out may just not good enough to survive this stretch. The issue is the Lakers need more playmaking and 3-point shooting at point guard than they’re getting from Schroder and more rim protection and pick-and-roll defense from the center position than they getting from Harrell.
Having desirable trading chips for the positions you’re looking to upgrade can be a good thing in most situations. Teams need other players to fill the positional holes in the roster made whenever they trade a rotation player. Unfortunately, when a team is already shorthanded when it comes to point guards and centers as the Lakers are, it makes it hard to trade Schroder without getting a point guard back or Harrell without getting a center back.
The Hornets have three quality point guards in LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, and Devonte Graham and are interested in Montrezl Harrell but the Lakers can’t trade Trezz unless they have a center replacement lined up for him. That’s why Pelinka is going to have to set up a series of two or three trades to successfully revamp the roster to survive this period and fill the holes to make the Lakers a better team at both ends of the court before the playoffs.
There’s always a hesitancy and reluctance, especially among fans, to break up a championship roster but the Lakers’ current situation right now is so dire they need major changes to avoid falling completely out of contention. That means making multiple trades to fix their needs for more playmaking, volume 3-point shooting, and improved rim protection. It’s like President Biden’s position on Covid relief: the bigger gamble is not doing enough.
There are opportunities out there for Rob Pelinka and the Lakers to take advantage of. The Pelicans want to move Lonzo Ball. The Hornets are interested in Montrezl Harrell. The Pacers may be willing to trade Turner. Drummond may find starting center for the Lakers his best option. Harrell’s and Schroder’s trade value may be peaking and the Lakers have KCP as salary ballast and THT and their 2027 first round pick as sweeteners.
Best of all, LeBron James’ injury has suddenly given Rob Pelinka the freedom to make dramatic moves without great fear of blowback, not unlike a player given the chance to launch a half court shot at the buzzer.
I will say that if Dennis is looking for the kind of payday he’s indicated he needs to step up in a huge way and he needs to do it right now. That being said, I consider he and Trezz to be our best trading chips. On expiring deals and can help a small market team like Charlotte or Indy get over the hump. The NBA…nothing like it.
To be honest, I hate the idea of trading Dennis, Trezz, and THT, Other than LeBron and AD, they’re our best three players. I’d much rather trade KCP, Matthews, Gasol, and even Caruso, who has been a huge disappointment the last 15 games and ain’t the bench GOAT in my opinion. Dennis, Trezz, and THT are our only players who can change games from losses to wins with or without LeBron and AD. All the others are simply role players who are great within their roles but limited when forced to do more.
Role players are fine in the regular season but come the playoffs, winning comes down to the superstars and players like Dennis, Trezz, and THT who can do more. We don’t have many of them and it’s a crime we may have to trade one, two, or all three of them to upgrade this roster but that’s just how the game works today. Nobody’s going to give us anything valuable for KCP, Matthews, Gasol, or Caruso. They’re just salary ballast in a deal. Lose Dennis, Trezz, or THT and the Lakers will miss them. All the others are replaceable pieces. Not fair but that’s reality. And you’re not going to matchup with the Net’s three superstars with any combination of KCP, Wes, Marc, or Alex. Dream on.
Anybody who still thinks we’re going to be fine and should stand pat at this point is frankly in fantasy land. Lakers are just two losses from being in the play-in tournament and now our best hopes are LeBron and AD back in a month. 15 games to go and 2 losses from being 7th place in the West or lower. The math is not that difficult to calculate. Now is the time for Rob to try and pull off a grand slam because anything less is not going to work. Go big or kisss this season goodbye.
Trade KCP and THT to Pelicans for Lonzo. Get commitment from Andre Drummond. Trade Dennis and Trezz to Hornets for Rozier and Graham. Trade Wes and a second for Ellington. 4 in for 6 out. Opens cap space to sign IT and Boogie to fill openings. Get players who can impact games.
Don’t worry about chemistry. LeBron and AD and coaching staff will take care of that. We still keep Caruso, Kuzma, Morris, Gasol, McKinnie, and Dudley. Build a team that can play winning basketball. Don’t waste this season. Be bold. We need playmakers, shooters, and shot blockers.
My Trade Deadline Dream Depth Chart.
PG: BALL, GRAHAM, THOMAS
SG: ROZIER, Caruso, ELLINGTON
SF: James, Kuzma, McKinnie
PF: Davis, Morris, Dudley
CE: DRUMMOND, Gasol, COUSINS
We lose some continuity but suddenly have two three true point guards who can run the offense, shoot volume 3-point shots, and defend. We get size in Drummond and a couple of wild cards in IT and Boogie. The Lakers need something dramatic like this at this point in time. Period.
While I think you’re mainly focused on offensive impact and not defensive J do believe we need to do something to shore up the team’s roster.
Yes, we are giving up some defense for offense but not that much. Drummond is the key because he allows us to trade Trezz. I also contend Lonzo is a big plus defensively. He may not be as good on the ball on opposing point guards as Dennis but he has a better team defense sense and can defend the 1, 2, and 3.
But yes, what we get are four playmaking point guards who can run offenses and who are volume 3-point shooters. The big change is the guards, which frankly is where we were weak but we still have Kuzma, Caruso, and Morris along with LeBron and AD and that’s a lot of firepower.
Also, there’s the financial flexibility. We know longer have to worry about KCP’s contract or overpaying Schroder. Lonzo will be able to be kept for less than Dennis for sure. And he’s a better fit. Rozier and Graham are pure firepower on a LeBron James team. We still need a long term solution at center but we would have a far greater chance of repeating and would have solved our guard and 3-point shooting issues going forward.
No, this is not what’s going to happen but it’s a blueprint of the kinds of trades we need to look at and the kinds of player we need to get back.
https://twitter.com/LakerTom/status/1374171881847222274
Rob is not getting any sleep till March 26.
LT – Those are some bold moves for sure. I can roll with them except trading Trezz and Dennis for Rozier and Graham.
Thanks, Lee. Rob has lots of options. We’re going to make deals.