The Los Angeles Lakers need to undergo a summer overhaul of their roster if they hope to contend in the NBA. They were embarrassed by the Nuggets despite holding double-digit leads in four out of five games of the series, showing the team needs better players to execute. The best way to get that is by going all-in on multiple players who could make you contenders.
Multiple deals to send away most assets on the roster to improve marginally could lead to a formidable team, but it’s hard to say if they can win a title based on one move alone. As a result, the Lakers could make three different high-octane trades which led to the acquisition of a new guard, a swingman, and a forward.
Let’s take a look at how trades for players like Kyle Kuzma, Dejounte Murray, and Bruce Brown will reinvent the Lakers this offseason.
Kyle Kuzma
Washington Wizards Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, No. 17 Pick (LAL)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kyle Kuzma
The Los Angeles Lakers need to pursue a possible reunion with Kyle Kuzma. The loss of Kuzma in the Russell Westbrook trade in 2021 was instantly felt as the team lost a 6’10” hustle player who was willing to optimize his play to fit the team’s 3-and-D needs. He helped the Lakers’ be the best defense in the 2019-20 season and failed when used out of his role in the 2020-21 season, leading to him being traded away.
Kuzma averaged 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists this season, putting up empty stats on a tanking Wizards squad. But the Lakers know what a winning version of Kuzma looks like. With the clear development in his ability as a primary scorer, Kuzma could be among the best rotational options in the NBA on a contending squad. He loved being a Laker and will be motivated to help bring the franchise back to success if he ends up here.
This deal assumes D’Angelo Russell opts into his $18 million option for this season, which looks unlikely. But he could stand to benefit by getting another prove-it year on a low-expectation Wizards team next season, which could open him up for a major offer in the 2025 offseason when more teams project to have cap space. He averaged 18.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists last season.
Hood-Schifino is a value addition as the Lakers’ first-round selection from last season. There’s potential to be extracted that the Wizards are better placed to get.
Dejounte Murray
Washington Wizards Receive: Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, 2029 First-Round Pick Swap (LAL), 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Dejounte Murray
Even with the improvements the D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves backcourt showed towards the end of the season, the Lakers need to upgrade their primary guard option. If Russell is being moved for Kuzma, the Lakers should move Reaves to upgrade their roster with Dejounte Murray. The Lakers weren’t willing to trade Reaves for Murray last season, but it might be time to trust in the 27-year guard under a cost-controlled contract until 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.4 assists.
Murray averaged 21.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.5 assists this season, helping the Hawks remain competitive without Trae Young after his injury. With the No. 1 pick coming into Atlanta, this summer should be an offseason of change, including the splitting of the Murray-Trae Young backcourt. Austin Reaves is way more suited to playing as a combo guard and thriving in the system that Young’s offense creates. Reaves averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists this season.
Gabe Vincent barely had an impact in LA due to injuries, but his defensive sensibility and occasional floor-spacing could be an asset the Hawks value off the bench of trade on further for more assets.
Bruce Brown
Toronto Raptors Receive: Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, 2025 Second-Round Pick (LAC), 2027 Second-Round Pick (LAL)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Bruce Brown
The Lakers have tried acquiring Bruce Brown over multiple offseasons, offering him the non-tax mid-level last season before Brown signed with the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers quickly traded Brown to the Raptors in their blockbuster acquisition of Pascal Siakam, but Brown’s services haven’t been necessary in Toronto. He’s surplus to requirements on a big contract, so the Raptors could generate value out of it by sending him to the team that has admired him for seasons.
Brown averaged 10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists last season, struggling to find his role across two teams. But he did play an integral role on the Nuggets in their 2023 title triumph, with many believing his absence was one of the reasons behind their second-round exit this season. Brown is a versatile defender across multiple positions, embodying strong hustle play in the modern NBA.
Rui Hachimura’s 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds average going out the door would hurt, but the Lakers have filled his void already with the Kuzma acquisition in this proposed scenario.
Putting Brown next to Kuzma in a defense marshaled by Anthony Davis is a recipe for dominance. If Dejounte can find the version of him who made All-Defense teams as a youngster, the Lakers’ starting five could be considered among the best in the NBA.
What Would The Lakers Look Like After These 3 Trades?
Starters: Dejounte Murray, Bruce Brown, LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma, Anthony Davis
Bench: Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood, Max Christie, Maxwell Lewis
The feasibility of a trade like this playing out in real life is very slim, but it is an interesting thought experiment to see the options the Lakers have when it comes to reshaping their roster. This starting five would be amongst the most feared in the NBA, provided LeBron James and Anthony Davis continue producing at an All-NBA level.
The Lakers will have to go into free agency and sign almost an entire rotational set of players through minimum bargains. The Mavericks did this to perfection last season and added players like Dante Exum and Derrick Jones Jr. to their roster, players who instantly helped them get better. The Lakers have a strong developmental track record but need to bet on that to create the right supporting players around a talented rotation.
The Lakers would play at least seven quality players with the starting five, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Max Christie. Christian Wood is expected to be back on the team next season, but this deal would clean house in a major way. Hitting on three valuable players through minimums and a mid-level exception isn’t easy, but this Lakers deal wouldn’t help them compete if they can’t figure that bit out.
The Nuggets failed to adequately replace their bench players this season, feeling the heat of not having Bruce Brown or Jeff Green. The Lakers haven’t had that much success, so their sending out a large chunk of the rotation to continue building on a few is interesting. It won’t be easy to execute, but the Lakers are one of those franchises who have proven they can be the ones who give young players an opportunity to thrive.
Credit for idea: Coach Rome on X
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