The Los Angeles Lakers might finally have addressed the roster concerns that have plagued them for the last 18 months by making a blockbuster trade to trade Russell Westbrook.
The trade sent Russ and a lightly-protected first-round pick to the Utah Jazz, who sent the Lakers Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley. The trade also included the Minnesota Timberwolves, who sent the Lakers D’Angelo Russell in exchange for the Jazz sending them Mike Conley and two second-round picks.
The Lakers roster looks filled out with a solid 10-man rotation right now. Depth is something this team has desperately needed for ages and this trade allows them to add a player at every position on the roster. The team’s depth chart now looks like this, according to NBC Sports Edge.
Point Guards: D’Angelo Russell, Dennis Schroder
Shooting Guards: Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, Austin Reaves, Javante McCoy, Nate Pierre-Lewis
Small Forwards: Lonnie Walker IV, Troy Brown Jr., Max Christie, Cole Swider
Power Forwards: LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Wenyen Gabriel
Centers: Anthony Davis, Jarred Vanderbilt, Thomas Bryant
Is this enough for the Lakers to secure a top-6 seed in the West and be considered one of the most dangerous teams in the playoffs?
Are The Lakers Title Contenders?
LeBron James and Anthony Davis better get ready, because Rob Pelinka got them help in quite a sensational trade. The Lakers haven’t given up a lot to get 3 solid NBA players to add to their rotation. While the fit may take a while to develop, the season will be an actual disaster for LeBron if the Lakers fail to make the playoffs after this move.
If they do show the fit is working well and the team makes it into the playoffs, they have to be considered title threats. The team now has added 3 good shooters via trade, has added a bonafide defender in Vanderbilt, and still has LeBron and AD performing at incredibly high levels.
If all LeBron needed was a shot at contention with a good roster, he’s gotten it after this trade. Can he and the Lakers take advantage of the versatility and depth they just added in this trade? We’ll have to see how the rest of the season plays out to know for sure.
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