Here Are Nine Championship Level Players Lakers Should Be Targeting

The Lakers don’t have to look further than Russell Westbrook to remember the most important factor in winning trades is targeting the right players. By definition, getting the ‘right’ player or players is how teams win trades.

Frankly, the Lakers waiting until the trade deadline to get a better deal is simply allowing the trade market to determine whom we end up with rather than identifying and pursuing the ‘right’ player(s) for best price. The Lakers would be smarter to focus on negotiating the best possible deal for the ‘right’ player or players rather than settling for whatever players are still remaining on the table before the February 6, 2025 trade deadline.

The Lakers ownership and management’s lack of a vision and fear of making another Westbrook mistake has paralyzed them for almost two full years, raising reasonable fears Rob could end up doing nothing again.
Kicking the problem down the road until next summer would doom the current roster to a near impossible play-in route to the championship and throw doubt on the Lakers futures of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Embracing analytics and assessing risks are the keys to determining what teams need and which available players on the market possess the needed skills to empower the Lakers to turn those weaknesses into strengths.
Right now, the Lakers have #12 offensive rating, #24 defensive rating, and #21 net rating. While they need speed, size, and athleticism on defense, they also still need to replace Russell’s 3-point shooting and playmaking.

So let’s take a look at three alpha point-of-attack defenders, three bruising rim-protecting centers, and three elite shotmakers and playmakers whom the Lakers should be targeting via trade before the February 6 deadline.

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Three Alpha Point of Attack Defenders

The three alpha point-of-attack defenders the Lakers should target to fix their perimeter defense issues are Bulls’ point guard Lonzo Ball, Grizzlies’ point guard Marcus Smart, and Pelicans’ small forward Herb Jones.

Lonzo Ball not only has the highest ceiling offensively and defensively but also the lowest floor of the three point-of-attack defenders due to his injury history and the untested experimental surgery that was done on his knee.
A healthy, near 100% Lonzo Ball shutting down opposing guards and wings on defense while dealing all-star quality dimes, igniting Showtime fast breaks, and raining pull-up threes on offense would be a game changer.

Former DPOY Marcus Smart would be the safest and surest of the three point-of-attack defenders. He’s struggled with injuries, has not adjusted to not playing for the Celtics, and has been relegated to coming off the bench.
A trade to the Lakers could be exactly what Marcus Smart needs to get his career back on track. Smart’s not the 3-point shooter or dazzling playmaker Lonzo is but he’s proven he possesses the heart and soul of a champion.

The real wild card of the three point-of-attack defenders is the Pelicans’ Herb Jones, who’s one the premier 1-on-1 perimeter defenders in the entire league but who also just tore his labrum and will be out indefinitely.
Jones is the type of generational defensive talent that the Lakers should consider trading for as a smart long-term commitment to elite defense, especially if there’s still a chance Herb could return for the playoffs.

The Lakers’ should target one of these three alpha point-of-attack defenders to shut down opponent’s lead ball handler or scorer while holding their own offensively as a shooter, rebounder, or playmaker.

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Three Bruising Rim-Protecting Centers

The three bruising rim-protecting centers the Los Angeles Lakers should target to to play alongside and/or backup Anthony Davis are the Pacers’ Myles Turner, Trail Blazers’ Robert Williams III, and Jazz’ Walker Kessler.

The Pacers’ Myles Turner would be the second big for the Lakers to target before the trade deadline. Turner has long been coveted by the Lakers not only for his shot blocking but also for his space-creating 3-point shooting.
While Turner’s not formally available, the fact that he will become an unrestricted free agent this summer means the Pacers could be tempted by a strong offer. Turner would expensive but the perfect second big for L.A.

While Robert Williams III is not the floor-stretching 3-point threat that Myles Turner is, he’s still a lethal two-way threat who can throw down thunder dunks on offense and can defend all 5 positions at all 3 levels.
While Robert’s injury history is a risk, he’s fully recovered now and on an under-market-if-healthy 2-year deal for $12M and $13M per year. Trading second round picks for Williams would be a low risk, high reward move.

Walker Kessler may or may not be available for trade depending on the offer. Of the three bruising rim-protecting center, he could have both the highest floor and highest ceiling because of his age and contract.
The Jazz reportedly want two first round picks for Kessler. The Lakers are willing to give up one pick and remove protection from their 2027 first round pick that the Jazz own. Lakers could still sweeten this deal.

The Lakers should target one of these three bruising rim-protecting centers to play alongside Anthony Davis in a dominating two-bigs lineup and/or back him up and protect the basket when he goes to the bench to rest.

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Three Elite Shotmakers & Playmakers

The three elite shotmakers and playmakers the Lakers should target to replace the points and assists lost by trading D’Angelo Russell should be the Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic, the Bulls, Zach LaVine, or the Raptors’ Kelly Olynyk.

Pairing veteran Bulls’ center Nikola Vucevic‘s’ high volume and percentage 3-point shooting and elite rebounding and playmaking with Anthony Davis’ defense in a two-bigs starting lineup would totally transform the Lakers.
While only an average rim protector (0.8 blocks/game), Vucevic’s a bruising banger in the post and an automatic double-double averaging 20.1/10.4/3.3 and shooting 42.7% from deep on a solid volume of 4.7 threes per game.

Zach LaVine remains an intriguing elite shotmaking and playmaking option for the Lakers, especially if the Bulls are willing to make a deal that does not involve any of the Lakers first round draft picks or swaps.
Lavine is still only 29 years old and appears to be finally be fully healthy and playing and shooting at an elite level, averaging 23.8/4.9/4.5 and shooting a blistering 45.5% from deep on a volume of 7.1 threes per game.

Kelly Olynyk is another solid option to give the Lakers more shotmaking and playmaking. Olynyk does it all, averaging 6.1/3.4/2.2 in just 14.7 minutes per game while shooting 44.4% from deep on 1.5 threes per game.
Kelly brings great size at 6′ 11″ and 240 lbs and the speed and ability to play small-ball five while still being big enough to rebound and protect the rim. Kelly Olynyk would add a powerful new weapon to the Lakers arsenal.

The Lakers need to trade for one of these three elite shotmakers and playmakers to give their offense a needed boost and replace the scoring and playmaking lost when they traded point guard D’Angelo Russell.