With their starting front court now set with the Hachimura trade, the Los Angeles Lakers next move should be to upgrade their backcourt by pulling off a trade for the Toronto guard duo of Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent, Jr.
Upgrading their backcourt by replacing Dennis Schröder and Patrick Beverley with a pair of star guards from the Raptors in Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent, Jr. would improve the Lakers both on offense and defense.
It’s the also kind of move that would require the Lakers to give up both of their available first round picks, which Rob Pelinka says Los Angeles would only be willing to do if it would make them championship frontrunners.
With the trade for Hachimura, the Lakers starting front court is now set with Rui likely starting at the three, LeBron at the four, and AD at the five. That leaves the starting backcourt as the Lakers’ area of greatest need.
The NBA is still a guard’s league and the top teams in the league regularly get as much as 50 to 60 points per game from their backcourt. The Lakers’ backcourt only averages 39.8 points per game, 23rd out of 30 NBA teams.
To make the Lakers backcourt woes worse, it’s not like Schröder and Beverley are making it up with great individual defense. They’re undersized and frankly underqualified to be starters on a championship contender.
The eye test and analytics confirm that Schröder and Beverly are not plus defenders. They’re almost always outscored by their opposing duo, who’re usually players earning greater salaries and averaging double digits.
The time has come for the Lakers to upgrade their backcourt with a pair of guards who have the 3-point gravity to fix the Lakers’ spacing issues and the defensive grit and tenacious ability to play elite perimeter defense.
How VanVleet and Trent Jr. Help Lakers Offensively
The Los Angeles Lakers greatest offensive need in the backcourt is high volume, high percentage 3-point shooting to create spacing to free up superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis to attack the paint and rim.
The biggest difference is VanVleet and Trent Jr. combined are averaging 37.8 points per game vs 18.3 points per game than Schröder and Beverley, more than twice as many points per game on slightly better shooting stats.
That’s a difference of almost 20 points per game, which will go a long way towards improving the Lakers win-loss record. Most importantly, half of those extra 20 points per game are due to more volume 3-point shooting.
Together, VanVleet and Trent, Jr. make 5.5 and take 15.8 threes per game while Schröder and Beverley make just 2.3 and take just 6.8 threes per game. The difference in made threes represents 9.6 points per game.
And that’s not counting the additional points that LeBron James and Anthony Davis get because there suddenly are wide open lanes to the basket because defenders cannot leave VanVleet or Trent, Jr. alone.
The balance of the 20 points per game more that VanVleet and Trent, Jr. generate comes because Fred and Gary are simply better offensive players. Their 3-point gravity opens doors that Schröder and Beverley simply can’t.
No disrespect but there’s a reason Fred and Gary combined earn more than twice as much as Dennis and Patrick. They’re bigger, younger, and more talented and their skillsets are better fits for the Lakers’ backcourt needs.
The Lakers have already begun their backcourt makeover by trading Nunn. If they want to compete for a championship, they need the volume 3-point shooting and better offense Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent, Jr. can provide.
How VanVleet and Trent Jr. Help Lakers Defensively
The Los Angeles Lakers greatest defensive needs in the backcourt are preventing opposing guards from breaking down the defense and getting into the paint and forcing rotations that lead to easy wide-open threes.
The Lakers as a team rank 21st out of 30 NBA teams. While Schröder and Beverley have reputations as good defenders, the eye test this season has told a different story as opposing guards routinely blow by both of them.
Schröder’s and Beverley’s individual DefRtgs are 16th and 14th respectively out of the 18 players who have played for the Lakers this season. Their poor perimeter defense is part of why the Lakers are 20th out of 30 in DefRtg.
Strong point-of-attack defense begins with aggressive defenders who can pressure the ball and slow down the ball handler without fouling. Steals by guards are a good measure of how well a perimeter defense is working.
VanVleet averages 1.5 steals and Trent, Jr. 1.8 steals per game, for 3.3 total steals per game. Schröder averages just 0.7 steals and Beverley just 0.8 steals, for 1.5 total steals per game. VanVleet and Trent, Jr. play better D.
Steals are the result of increased activity by defenders, stealing the ball from dribblers, making interceptions by jumping the passing lanes, and doing whatever they can to disrupt and derail the other team’s offense.
Toronto ranked 1st out of 30 NBA teams by averaging 9.6 steals per game and VanVleet’s and Trent, Jr.’s 3.3 steals per game were a big part of that. The Lakers ranked 23rd in the league with just 4.7 steals per game.
The Los Angeles Lakers replacing Dennis Schröder and Patrick Beverley with Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent, Jr. as their starting backcourt would upgrade their perimeter defense to be among the best in the league.
https://twitter.com/LakerTom/status/1618742722332078081
Percentage seem nearly the same?
The percentages are similar but the point is Schröder and Beverley have no gravity, they don’t attract defenders the way volume 3-point shooters like VanVleet and Trent, Jr. because they know they only shoot few threes per game so they’ll live with them making a few.
Lakers needs guards who shoot 7 or 8 threes per game because those are the shooters that teams have to game plan for. Lakers don’t even surround LeBron and AD with shooters and when they do those shooters take so few threes per game they’re not a threat to worry about.
LBJ & AD are options 1&2. Nobody’s game planning for options 3 & 4. Whoever we stick out there behind the arc will always have open looks.
Your obsession with volume 3’s has gotten to the point of lunacy. As 3rd or worse options, none of those dudes will get 7-8 looks a night.
SMH. You ignore the obvious.
Why is LeBron taking 6.9 threes per game this season? It’s partly due to age but mostly due to every other defender on the other team positioning themselves to be in position to help when he drives.
You don’t think he would prefer to have Buddy Hield in the corner so he could play 4-on-4? He’d gladly let Buddy take as many threes as he wants because he would have open lanes to the basket and a great shooter to feed when the defense collapses.
Look at the history of LeBron. Lakers just need to surround him with players who have the volume 3-point gravity to keep their defenders attached. It’s really simple. Almost every other team in the league gets it but the Lakers.
Cuz he’s old and can’t expend that much energy on every play? Don’t forget, Lebron needs his numbers or he won’t be particularly happy other.
So sure, he’d rather kick to Buddy. It probably won’t happen 7 times a game. And while Russ is still Russ, making up for his role won’t really be easy.
https://twitter.com/LakerTom/status/1618743224302211073
Trent Jr and Van Fleet both have defensive ratings of 115, same as Dennis. Pat’ is 114.9. If you want better defense Austin is 111. As for steals that duo plays about 17 minutes a game more than ours, so they should be more steals. Once everyone is back and Rui is interested I’m thinking PatBev may not even start. If there is a trade coming it will probably be PatBev.
As Michael has stated, not sure the drop-off in defense is worth the slight uptick in 3pt shooting percentage… especially when the cost is factored in. LBJ & AD are already putting up huge offensive numbers with the status quo.
The drop off in defense? Take a look at all four players stats. There’s a reason why VanVleet and Trent, Jr. make more than twice as much money as Schröder and Beverley. They’re both proven to be better players.
VanVleet and Trent, Jr. are better defenders than Schröder or Beverley, who rank 14th and 16th out of 18 Lakers players. Fred and Gary make more than twice as many threes and more than twice as many steals that Dennis and Pat. They’re dramatically better both defensively and offensively.
As Micheal has also pointed out…some of that is due to playing time, roster construction, and scheme. But you already know that. That move also costs alotta future assets. Let’s see how we look if (and that’s a huge IF) we ever get healthy…I like the way D.Ham has the team dialed in right now.
I did look at the stats. They all have the same defensive rating
Tom you always abandon all evidence to make your point. Not more than a couple of days ago you were praising PatBev regaining his 3 point shot. By the 42% over the last 21 games. You said with his tough defense and again hitting his 3’s he has elevated his trade value. Now of course that you want to support your trade he’s not that good. And you call Van Fleet an elite 3 point shooter at .341%. Also Lonnie is coming back and he will mostly start once he’s played his way into shape. He’s shooting 386% from 3. With the same defensive rating at Trent Jr. There is also another reason why Trent Jr is on the block. He is asking for 25 mil next year and is not a 25 mil player. As for Van Fleet he isn’t being shopped as of now.
One other thing. The Raptors are tall. Their guards defend other guards. PatBev and Dennis to lesser extent have been tasked with guarding 6’ 9” guys. Van Fleet is also 6’ 1” and would be shot over just like PatBev. Against players their own size our guys have done well. Look at the job Dennis did on Ja. Look at the job PatBev did on Dame. Hopefully with Rui PatBev won’t have to guard PG or Durant again. The Raptors Laker comparisons are Apple and oranges. Completely different circumstances.
It’s Anthony Davis or bust. The rest is a bunch of maybes.
If I had to choose between Van Fleet or Pat Bev to guard PG, I would take PatBev every time. If I had to choose between Van Fleet or Dennis to guard Ja I would take Dennis every time. Much of quicker.
I think the Toronto trade is both out of reach due to a lack of assets the Lakers will be willing to trade but also because I think the Lakers will only make a trade to get bigger, not smaller. Also I’ve never thought of FVV as a premium play maker. Yeah he makes plays, is a willing passer, but he doesn’t collapse the defense in the same way Russ does. He’s on the same level as Schroder. The main reason I don’t see the deal happening is the length of FVV’s deal. It goes up next season (he has a PO he is quite likely to pick up) and that will make for an extremely top heavy roster next season, especially if it doesn’t go as anticipated. Basically I see this trade as a wash and I would imagine the FO sees it similarly. The team identity is to attack the paint and the rim which we’ve done pretty successfully as is…without a bevy of theoretically elite three point shooters. Personally, if we make another move, I hope it’s for size and defense that can score decently enough. If we could trade for Myles using PatBev and LW4 it makes a lot more sense and I’d give up a FRP for that. Turner is a much better defender than TB who I think would still find minutes. Also, if Myles just didn’t work out for some reason you can sigh and let him walk and retain Bryant.
Honestly, given the way the Lakers are prioritizing the future as much as the present, it won’t surprise me if this is the end of the moves unless it’s for a true 3rd star or takes 0 picks. Not sure there’s a deal out there that fits that criteria. Just don’t see them using picks on players that aren’t true needle movers. That’s just my viewpoint though.
I would be more in favor of a smaller version of this trade: PB & LW4 for GTJR. Use that salary for a player that is younger, fits on both ends and even if he opts in you’ve acquired a solid player with upside like Rui. FVV is not on the upside of his career. I’d much rather trade older for younger, smaller for larger. This also guarantees you get something for LW4 and you do right by Klutch trading him to a top knot h organization.