The Los Angeles Lakers may have struck out on the NBA’s biggest free agents this summer, but they still have plans to upgrade the roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. According to league insider Jake Weinbach, the franchise has put eight names at the top of their potential trade targets.
“The Lakers’ list of potential trade targets: Darius Garland, Bruce Brown, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Jerami Grant, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Wendell Carter Jr.,” wrote Weinbach. “I don’t foresee anything to be imminent but watch for these names to become frequently linked to the Lakers.”
After another disappointing season (which ended in the first round against the Nuggets) the Lakers felt that they needed to shake things up in order to improve. The Purple and Gold were said to be in play for several well-established players this summer but they struck out on them all and had to sit back and watch as Klay Thompson, Paul George, and DeMar DeRozan all signed with their competitors
Besides a new coach and a pair of unproven rookies, the Lakers look the same as they did one year ago — but they still have plans to change that.
Wendell Carter Jr. is arguably the player that makes the most sense for the Lakers. The 25-year-old big man is a solid athlete and elite rim protector who would help to reinforce the Lakers’ frontline. The best part of all is that Carter would come at a relatively low price, around something equivalent to Rui Hachimura and a handful of second-round picks.
A more expensive but ambitious choice is Jazz star Lauri Markkanen. Development was slow for the 7’0″ swingman but now that he’s found his footing it’s clear that he’s among the top 20 players in the game with his versatility on both ends of the floor. Last season, he averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game on 48% shooting.
In the backcourt, the Lakers do have some depth with Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht but it seems the jury is still out on what kind of impact D’Angelo Russell can have. It’s no secret that the Lakers want an upgrade from D’Lo and both Colin Sexton and Darius Garland would make viable replacements.
In Portland, veteran swingman Jerami Grant is on the trade block in the wake of Damian Lillard’s departure. While Grant is currently at the start of a 4-year, $131 million contract he’s still someone who can raise the ceiling of a Lakers team desperate to get back to contention. Grant averaged 21.0 points for the Blazers last season and he could thrive in a role as the third option behind Davis and LeBron.
Of course, the Brooklyn Nets are also open for business after trading Mikal Bridges and if the Lakers seize the opportunity, they could end up with Cam Johnson or Dorian Finney-Smith, two wing players who can add versatility to the Lakers’ roster.
GM Rob Pelinka is clearly casting his net all across the league in hopes of making a move to increase the Lakers’ chances in the West. Even at 39 years old, LeBron James is one of the best players in the world and if the Lakers can surround him with enough talent and depth, they might stand a chance against the elites in the league.
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