How Next 5 Weeks Will Shape Los Angeles Lakers’ Season And Future

After trading for Finney-Smith and Milton, the Lakers reportedly plan to wait until the trade deadline to see what they have when new players get integrated and injured players return before deciding their final moves.

The Los Angeles Lakers three greatest roster needs have been a legitimate 3&D wing to free James to play the 4, an elite alpha-dog 3&D POA guard to pair with Reaves, and a 2nd defensive big to play with and/or backup Davis. After almost two years of not making a single trade, Rob Pelinka surprised everybody by beating out the Memphis Grizzlies to trade for highly coveted 3&D wing Dorian Finney-Smith along with combo guard Shake Milton.

While Lakers fans may be skeptical of Pelinka’s ability to make the right moves, trading for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton was a winner that not only filled a critical need but also did not cost a first round pick.
Being able to land a legitimate 3&D wing like Finney-Smith without giving up one of their two tradable first round picks gives L.A. opportunities to pursue their two other needs: 3&D POA guard and shot blocking center.

The Finney-Smith and Milton trade for second round picks could be a precursor to bigger moves just like the Hachimura trade for second round picks turned out to be two years ago. Keeping both picks opens doors.
The better the team plays, the more likely Pelinka will use at least one and hopefully both of the first round picks to upgrade the starting lineup with a legitimate point-of-attack 3&D guard and/or bruising rim protecting center.

Let’s take a closer look at what Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ trade deadline strategy and options are and whom the Lakers might target as the needed point-of-attack defensive guard and shot blocking defensive center.

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IS PELINKA READY TO PULL TRIGGER?

Regardless of how well they play over the next five weeks with the addition of Finney-Smith and Milton and hopeful return of Vanderbilt and Wood, the Lakers are still likely to need a trade or two before the trade deadline.

A quick look at the team’s post-trade depth chart when everybody is healthy shows the Lakers still desperately need a better backup than Jaxson Hayes at the five and are probably overly reliant on young Max Christie at the two.
The Lakers also have too many shooting guards and not enough centers and lack open roster spots to sign a free agent like Markelle Fultz, even though they opened up cap space below the second apron to afford him.

Ideally, the Lakers want a 15-man roster with 5 elite two-way starters, 5 solid proven backups, and 5 young players who have development upside. That should be the goal of any trades the Lakers make before the deadline.
Los Angeles’ two most critical needs right now are for a point-of-attack 3&D guard to pair with Austin Reaves in their starting backcourt and a legit shot blocking defensive center who can play with and/or backup Anthony Davis.

After trading D’Angelo Russell and Maxwell Lewis, the Lakers still have multiple players whose salaries could be packaged with a first round pick to trade for a starting POA 3&D guard and starting/backup defensive center.
Lakers assets include 2 first round picks, 2 swaps, 2 second round picks, and 5 players: Rui Hachimura ($17M), Gabe Vincent ($11.0M), Jarred Vanderbilt ($10.7M), Jalen Hood-Schifino ($3.8M), Cam Reddish ($2,4M).

While the Lakers have two tradable first round picks, there are also options that would only require a second round pick. Let’s take a look at whom the Lakers might target as their POA guard and/or their bruising second big.

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Point-Of-Attack Guard To Pair With Austin Reaves

Ideally, the Lakers should pair Austin Reaves with a true lead point guard who can replace D’Angelo Russell’s and LeBron James’ elite playmaking and 3-point shooting while providing solid point-of-attack perimeter defense.

The top four 3&D point-of-attack defense-first guards whom the Lakers could pair with Austin Reaves include the Pelicans’ Dejounte Murray, Grizzlies’ Marcus Smart, Bulls’ Lonzo Ball, and Raptors’ Bruce Brown.
Although they’ve struggled so far this season, Murray and Smart would likely require the Lakers to include a first round pick plus matching salary. Ball and Brown could probably be acquired with second round picks.

Landing Dejounte Murray or Marcus Smart for one first round pick would be a huge win for the Lakers as both point guard are the alpha dog point-of-attack perimeter defenders Los Angeles needs to pair Austin Reaves.
Trading for Lonzo Ball or Bruce Brown would be smart moves that should only cost matching salaries and second round picks and would serve as insurance in case Max Christie falters later in the season or in the playoffs.

There’s an argument to be made the Lakers may not need to trade for a point-of-attack perimeter defender once Jarred Vanderbilt is healthy. The problem is Vando hasn’t played all season and still has no set return date.
At best, Vanderbilt is unfortunately still a one-way defense-first player and an offensive liability that struggles to navigate screens and can’t shoot the three-ball or score well enough to be the Lakers’ starting shooting guard.

How the Lakers solve their need for a legitimate 3&D point-of-attack guard will likely depend on whether they need both first round picks to trade for the second big they need to pair with and/or backup Anthony Davis.

1. Dejounte Murray, 6′ 4″ 180 lbs, 28 yrs, $29.5M 4-years
16.0 pts, 6.8 reb, 7.5 ast, 0.5 blk, 2.6 stl in 34.0 mpg
36.5% 16.3 FGA, 27.1% 5.3 3PA, 78.8% 2.4 FTA pg

2. Marcus Smart, 6′ 3″ 220 lbs, 30 yrs, $20.2M 2-years
9.2 pts, 2.3reb, 3.8 ast, 0.3 blk, 1.3 stl in 21.2 mpg
36.5% 16.3 FGA, 27.1% 5.3 3PA, 78.8% 2.4 FTA pg

3. Lonzo Ball, 6′ 6″ 190 lbs, 27 yrs, $21.3M 1-year
5.4 pts, 3.1 reb, 3.6 ast, 0.5 blk, 1.2 stl in 18.2 mpg
33.3% 5.1 FGA, 31.7% 4.3 3PA, 80.0% 0.7 FTA pg

4. Bruce Brown, 6′ 4″ 202 lbs, 28 yrs, $23.0M 1-year
12.0 pts, 3.0 reb, 1.0 ast, 0.0 blk, 1.0 stl in 19.0 mpg
50.0% 12.0 FGA, 0.0% 0.0 3PA, 0.0% 0.0 FTA pg

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Second Big To Pair With Or Backup Anthony Davis

Ideally, the Lakers should pair Anthony Davis with a second big who can both protect the rim while also spacing the court and unleashing AD to play his preferred power forward so he can roam free on defense and offense.

The top four defensive center candidates to start alongside and/or back up Anthony Davis when he rests include the Pacers’ Myles Turner, Jazz’ Walker Kessler, Trail Blazers’ Robert Williams III, and Bull’s Nikola Vucevic.
The asking price for Turner and Kessler is probably two first round picks while Williams and Vucevic could likely be had for just a single first round pick, which could be the most the Lakers are willing to pay for a center.

Landing Turner or Kessler would be huge for the Lakers and would likely elevate them to legitimate championship contenders. Turner would be the perfect veteran stretch five and Kessler the perfect young shot blocker.
Williams and Vucevic offer completely different but attractive options for the Lakers. If he can stay healthy, Robert Williams is a potential DPOY candidate and Nikola Vucevic the stretch five answer for JJ Redick.

There’s an argument the Lakers don’t need to add a second big since a healthy Christian Wood could be the perfect second big to play next to Anthony Davis. Wood if healthy is an elite 3-point shooter and rebounder. Considering his injury history and poor percentage from three last season, the Lakers would be smart not to overly rely or count upon Christian Wood to be the second big they can pair with or backup Anthony Davis at center.

In the end, the Lakers would love to be able to trade for Myles Turner or Walker Kessler, even if it cost them two first round picks and even if it only left them with second round picks to trade for a legit 3&D POA guard.

1. Myles Turner, 6′ 11″ 250 lbs, 28 yrs, $19.9M 1-year
14.9 pts, 7.1 reb, 1.6 ast, 2.1 blk, 0.8 stl in 31.3 mpg
48.4% 11.1 FGA, 39.2% 4.9 3PA, 72.3% 3.0 FTA pg

2. Walker Kessler, 7′ 0″ 245 lbs, 23 yrs, $2.9M 2-years
10.4 pts, 11.0 reb, 1.6 ast, 2.8 blk, 0.5 stl in 29.8 mpg
69.3% 5.7 FGA, 66.7% 0.1 3PA, 52.3% 2.6 FTA pg

3. Robert Williams, 6′ 9″ 249 lbs, 27 yrs, $12.4M 2-years
6.8 pts, 4.9 reb, 1.1 ast, 1.5 blk, 0.7 stl in 16.5 mpg
72.1% 3.9 FGA, 33.3% 0.3 3PA, 92.3% 1.2 FTA pg

4. Nikola Vucevic, 6′ 10″ 260 lbs, 34 yrs, $20.0M 2-years
20.6 pts, 10.0 reb, 3.3 ast, 0.7 blk, 0.8 stl in 32.2 mpg
56.8% 14.6 FGA, 45.3% 4.7 3PA, 83.1% 2.2 FTA pg