The Los Angeles Lakers made a big splash last night by finally moving off Russell Westbrook to get D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt in a 3-team trade involving the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves.
While Kevin Durant getting traded late at night made the Lakers’ trade feel smaller, it is still a massive improvement for this LA squad that finally has a capable rotation of players for their playoff push.
Despite what they’ve acquired, the Lakers need to make a final trade to completely round their roster out. What better move than going back to look at a player they wanted in the summer?
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Buddy Hield
Indiana Pacers Receive: Lonnie Walker IV, Patrick Beverley, 2025 Second-Round Pick (LAL)
How does this trade work for each team, and what benefits bolster both rosters; ambitions for their end-of-season runs?
Indiana Pacers Clear Up Salary For The Summer And Improve 2023 Draft Positioning
The Indiana Pacers started off the season looking extremely solid in the Eastern Conference, threatening a playoff run. Tyrese Haliburton has emerged as a bona fide All-Star and a terrific long-term bet for the team after they gave up All-Star Domantas Sabonis to get him. The playoff hopes in Indiana have diminished after a 2-13 run in their last 15 games.
The Pacers are still in a position where they can tank for the rest of the season and get themselves a solid draft pick in 2023. While they may not be able to get into the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes through their record, even having a shot at Wembanyama or any of the top picks from this year’s draft will be more intriguing than a late-lottery pick for a play-in exit.
Hield’s contract is also guaranteed through next season, so trading him away for the expiring contracts of Patrick Beverley and Lonnie Walker IV could have a lot of utility. Beverley can be a mentor on this Pacers’ squad through the end of the season, while Walker may be a candidate for an affordable extension given his age and progression this season, averaging a career-high 13.7 points per game this season.
The Los Angeles Lakers Get Another Shooter To Maximize Their Chances This Season
The Lakers are essentially setting up to stay competitive through depth instead of relying on their strategy of being top-heavy in the last few seasons. The team doesn’t need to rely on veteran minimums and buyout market candidates to give them rotational minutes. They’ve added 4 players already this season (including Rui Hachimura), which has been an improvement on almost any player they had last season.
Adding a 5th in Buddy Hield may be ideal. Hield being under contract through next season means the Lakers don’t need to worry about extending him alongside the likes of Rui Hachimura. With the team options of Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt, the Lakers can position themselves perfectly to transition their roster in 2024 if LeBron James and Anthony Davis decide their time with LA is over.
In the meantime, this is a move they can make without giving up a pick. They let the Pacers dump Hield’s salary on them for 2 expiring contracts, one of whom they could realistically extend and make a part of their developing core. The Lakers give up a second-round pick in this case because of the quality player Hield is, averaging 17.6 points and 5.0 rebounds with 43% efficiency from 3 on 8.9 attempts a game.
He may be the ideal player to put into a LeBron James system and would make the Lakers incredibly challenging to guard every night, especially with another shooter like Malik Beasley or D’Angelo Russell also on the court, with Anthony Davis in the paint and LeBron setting the table.
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