Struggling with Anthony Davis’ subpar play and injury, players out due to Covid protocol, cratering 3-point shooting, and faltering rim protection, the Lakers desperately need a big trade to keep their championship hopes alive.
They need a third superstar to match the Nets’ Superstar Big Three, some volume 3-point shooters to match the Clippers, Nets, and Jazz who shoot 10 more threes per game, and an elite rim protector to anchor their defense. Finding players to fill those needs is going to require the Lakers to give up valuable components of the roster than won the NBA championship last season. The reality is the bar to win the NBA championship has been raised.
Other than LeBron and AD, Kuzma is the only other Laker close to being untouchable as he’s become exactly what the Lakers are trying to trade for, a high volume, high percentage 3-point shooter who could be a third star. Keeping Dennis Schroder should also be a high priority but the rest of the Lakers’ roster have to be considered fair game in a major trade, even fan favorites like Alex Caruso, Montrezl Harrell, and Talen Horton-Tucker.
While the Lakers will be monitoring the buyout market, they’re not likely to find a third star or superstar, volume 3-point shooter, or elite rim protector there. The one exception may be former Houston center DeMarcus Cousins. What separates Cousins from the other center buyout candidates is his willingness and ability to shoot the three. Boogie shot 33.6% on 4.6 threes per game this season and 35.4% on 6.1 threes per game at his peak in 2018.
The challenging part of proposing trades is figuring out who’s available that fits your needs, what competing teams are likely to offer, and what’s the right package to offer to entice the other team to actually agree to the trade. Fortunately, there’s TRADENBA.COM’s virtual trade machine that not only allows anybody to play NBA general manager but also projects which team wins the trade and number of wins the trade should statistically produce.
Here are ten proposed trades that could give the Lakers a coveted third superstar, volume 3-point shooters to keep up with the Nets, Clippers, and Jazz, and/or a rim protector to anchor the Lakers’ top ranked defense.
1. TRADE FOR VICTOR OLADIPO & PJ TUCKER
Lakers get third superstar, add volume 3-point shooting and perimeter defense but give up valuable depth, scoring, and budding young star.
Third Superstar? Yes, Victor Oladipo
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes, 10.2 vs. 6.6 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? Yes, Oladipo > THT, Tucker > KCP
Trade Machine Verdict? Even Trade.
Starters: Schroder, OLADIP0, James, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Caruso, TUCKER, Kuzma, Morris, COUSINS
2. TRADE FOR KYLE LOWRY
Lakers get third superstar, add volume 3-point shooting and perimeter defense but give up valuable depth, scoring, and budding young star.
Third Superstar? Yes, Kyle Lowry
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes,7.1 vs. 5.2 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? Yes, Lowry > KCP
Trade Machine Verdict? Raptors+3 Wins
Starters: LOWRY, Schroder, James, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Caruso, Kuzma, McKinnie, Morris, COUSINS
3. TRADE FOR KRISTAPS PORZINGIS
Lakers get potential third superstar and modern two-way center but give up valuable depth, scoring, perimeter defense, and budding young star.
Third Superstar? Yes, Kristaps Porzingis
Volume 3-Point Shooting? No, 6.2 vs 8.2 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? Yes, Porzingis Averages 1.5 Blocks Per Game
Trade Machine Verdict? Even Trade
Starters: Schroder, Kuzma, James, Davis, PORZINGIS
Bench: Caruso, Matthews, McKinney, Morris, Gasol
4. TRADE FOR MYLES TURNER
Lakers get perfect modern center who can protect the rim and stretch defenses but give up volume threes, depth, and budding young star.
Third Superstar? Yes, Myles Turner is a superstar for his position
Volume 3-Point Shooting? No, 4.6 vs. 7.1 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? Yes, Turner Leads NBA With 3.3 Blocks Per Game
Trade Machine Verdict? Pacers+3 Wins
Starters: Schroder, Caldwell-Pope, James, Davis, TURNER
Bench: Caruso, Matthews, McKinney, Morris, Gasol
5. TRADE FOR DEVONTE GRAHAM, MALIK MONK, BISMACK BIYOMBO
Lakers get two volume 3-point shooters and capable rim protector but give up depth, perimeter defense, budding young star, and first round pick.
Third Superstar? No
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes, 15.4 vs. 4.9 Threes Per Game
Add Better Defense? No, Graham > Caruso
Trade Machine Verdict? Even Trade
Starters: Schroder, GRAHAM, James, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Caldwell-Pope, MONK, Kuzma, Morris, BIYOMBO
6. TRADE FOR LONZO BALL & JJ REDICK
Lakers get second playmaker and elite perimeter defender, two volume 3-point shooters but give up depth, scoring, and budding young star
Third Superstar? No
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes, 16.2 vs. 5.9 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? Yes, Ball > KCP
Trade Machine Verdict? Even Trade.
Starters: BALL, Schroder, James, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Caruso, REDICK, Kuzma, Morris, COUSINS
7. TRADE FOR NERLENS NOEL & REGGIE BULLOCK
Lakers get elite rim protector and volume 3-point shooter but give up scoring, depth, budding young star, and second round pick.
Third Superstar? No, but Nerlens Noel is elite rim protector
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes, 4.7 vs. 2.1 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? Yes, Noel Averages 2.0 Blocks & 0.9 Steals Per Game
Trade Machine Verdict? Knicks+3 Wins
Starters: Schroder, Caldwell-Pope, James, Davis, NOEL
Bench: Caruso, BULLOCK, Kuzma, Morris, Gasol
8. TRADE FOR BUDDY HIELD & HASSAN WHITESIDE
Lakers get high volume 3-point shooter and elite shot blocker but give up scoring, depth, perimeter defense, and second round pick.
Third Superstar? No
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes, 10.4 vs. 6.3 Threes Per Game
Add Better Defense? Yes, Whiteside 1.3 Blocks Per Game
Trade Machine Verdict? Even Trade
Starters: Schroder, HIELD, James, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Horton-Tucker,Caldwell-Pope, Kuzma, Morris, WHITESIDE
9. TRADE FOR EVAN FOURNIER & MO BAMBA
Lakers get volume 3-point shooter and playmaker and young shot blocker but give up scoring, depth, and budding young star.
Third Superstar? No
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes, 6.7 vs. 5.9 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? Yes, Bamba 0.9 Blocks Per Game
Trade Machine Verdict? Even Trade
Starters: Schroder, FOURNIER, James, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Caruso, ROSS, Kuzma, Morris, BAMBA
10. TRADE FOR WAYNE ELLINGTON & DELON WRIGHT
Lakers get two volume 3-point shooters but give up depth, budding young star, and second round draft pick.
Third Superstar? No
Volume 3-Point Shooting? Yes, 8.9 3PA vs. 2.1 Threes Per Game
Better Defense? No Difference
Trade Machine Verdict? Pistons +3 Wins
Starters: WRIGHT, Schroder, James, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Caruso, ELLINGTON, Kuzma, Morris, COUSINS
Here’s my MAGNUM OPUS Trade article for this season.
PLEASE READ ARTICLE BUT PUT COMMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL TWEET POSTS FOR EACH TRADE. THANKS.
Goals:
1. Third Superstar
2. Volume 3-Point Shooters
3. Rim Protector
Untouchables:
1. LeBron James
2. Anthony Davis
3. Dennis Schroder
4. Kyle Kuzma (only 1 trade
Rules:
1. No more than 4 Laker players in any trade.
2. Trade must not give either team more than 3 wins.
Trades:
1. Trade for Victor Oladipo and PJ Tucker
2. Trade for Kyle Lowry
3. Trade for Kristaps Porzingis
4. Trade for Myles Turner
5. Trade for Devonte Graham, Malik Monk, Bismack Biyombo
6. Trade for Lonzo Ball and JJ Redick
7. Trade for Nerlens Noel and Reggie Bullock
8. Trade for Buddy Hield and Hassan Whiteside
9. Trade for Even Fournier and Mo Bamba
10. Trade for Wayne Ellington and Delon Wright
Thank you for reading.
PLEASE PUT COMMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL TWEET POSTS FOR EACH TRADE. THANKS.
I understand there are a lot of Lakerholics who want to run it back, arguing we won the championship last year with a team that wasn’t as good in many ways as the team we have today. And there’s a chance they might be right, providing LeBron doesn’t break down and Anthony somehow miraculously recovers and plays at the same level in the playoffs, including playing center almost 50% of the time. If you like that bet, feel free to risk losing your house to the online gambling sites.
The reality is doing nothing is a bigger gamble than hoping Oladipo will recover and be the superstar he was two years ago, or Lowry still has championship gas left in his 34 year old tank, or Porzingis will regain his elite defensive abilities he had as a Knick, etc. And if you think Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss don’t see what’s happening in Brooklyn and don’t know the Lakers chances to repeat are in serious danger, well, you haven’t been a Lakers fan for long. Lakers never hesitate to think big. Maybe not as big as Dave AKA DJ wants with Steph or Dame but big enough so were not the underdog heading into the playoffs.
These ten trades provide an excellent blueprint on whom the Lakers should target, whom they should be willing to give up as trading chips, and how much they should offer in each trade. Jamie, Sean, Gerald, and I put a lot of effort into creating original content for Lakerholics and we consider it your job to provide the comments and responses that make this site unique in the Lakers universe. I’ve often said the responses are the heart and soul of Lakerholics. It doesn’t matter if you agree with them but please, take the time to look at each trade and let me know which ones you like or hate. Cause that’s your job as Lakerholics.
PLEASE READ ARTICLE BUT PUT COMMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL TWEET POSTS FOR EACH TRADE. THANKS.
Some interesting stats from the 10 trades:
Number of trades player was included:
1. Montrezl Harrell – 10
2. Talen Horton-Tucker – 9
3. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – 6
4. West Matthews – 2
5. Alex Caruso – 3
6. Alfonzo McKinnie – 1
7. Kyle Kuzma – 1
Best Trades for volume 3-point shooting:
1. Graham, Monk, and Biyombo – +10.5 threes
2. Ball and Redick – +10.3
Trades bringing back a rim protector:
1. Myles Turner
2. Nerlens Noel
3, Kristaps Porzingis
4. Hassan Whiteside
5. Mo Bamba