The Los Angeles Lakers are a team that clearly needs to make changes to their roster after a poor season where they missed the playoffs. They finished with a 33-49 record, which is extremely disappointing for a team with two elite stars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
- The Lakers And Rockets Exchange Point Guards
- The Lakers Acquire Two Veterans Who Can Play Complementary Roles
- The Lakers Get Some Shooters From The Heat But Take On Huge Contracts
- The Lakers Give Pacers Salary Relief While Getting Well-Fitting Players
- The Lakers Move Anthony Davis For A John Collins-Centered Package
The 2022 NBA Draft night is coming up, so that means that some trades could potentially happen during that time. Perhaps the Los Angeles Lakers could get in on the action. Here are 5 hypothetical trades that the Lakers could enact on draft night.
The Lakers And Rockets Exchange Point Guards
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: John Wall
Houston Rockets Receive: Russell Westbrook
The Russell Westbrook – John Wall trade was a hypothetical move that was well reported on ahead of the 2022 trade deadline. A lot of people viewed it as a sound option for the Los Angeles Lakers then, and it could potentially be a good one.
On the Houston Rockets’ end, this move would allow them to get a veteran leader in Russell Westbrook, who could potentially play for the team in a sixth man role. Having solid veterans who can mentor young players is key when undergoing a rebuild, and Russell Westbrook could provide the Houston Rockets with that.
The Houston Rockets have already moved Christian Wood to the Dallas Mavericks, so the only remaining “veteran” player on the roster is Eric Gordon. It seems as though the Rockets want to move on from him as well, with the asking price being a first-round pick. Someone will have to provide a veteran voice in the locker room, and perhaps that can be Russell Westbrook. John Wall has already been sitting out games for the franchise, and perhaps swapping him for a player like Russell Westbrook who can provide intangibles and experience could be beneficial.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, moving Russell Westbrook for John Wall makes sense, as the team is trying to start anew in their pursuit of a championship next season. Perhaps adding a better-fitting player in John Wall would help them, and he would be able to compete for a championship next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis in a third-option role.
Overall, this trade would let both franchises move on from players that didn’t work out for them, and put the player they are trading in a solid situation. Russell Westbrook leading a young Rockets squad would be fun to watch, while John Wall would be able to truly compete for a ring.
The Lakers Acquire Two Veterans Who Can Play Complementary Roles
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Patrick Beverley, 2023 Second-Round Pick
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker
The Minnesota Timberwolves have made the first round this season after winning in the play-in tournament but were defeated by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, Perhaps this could mean that they make a few changes to their core. D’Angelo Russell is notably on the trading block for them, and perhaps they would want to take a look at a point guard with a different style in Russell Westbrook.
Russell Westbrook struggled with the Los Angeles Lakers, but that is in part due to the fact that the roster had mediocre shooters around them. When paired up with Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns though, he would likely be able to have open driving lanes due to the two stars’ offensive gravity on the perimeter. The same goes for Talen Horton-Tucker, who is known for being a slasher and a defender. Both players would thrive on a roster with more shooting around them.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, this return would mean getting a point guard who can play a complementary role in D’Angelo Russell, and an elite defensive guard in Patrick Beverley. Beverley previously claimed that he “wouldn’t hesitate” to join up with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, and this would give him the opportunity to do so. While both D’Angelo Russell and Patrick Beverley are on expiring contracts, that return seems fair given the value of the package the Lakers are sending out.
It remains to be seen if the Minnesota Timberwolves would be willing to do this trade. Perhaps this sort of deal happens if they are unable to get a better return for the two veterans, but this is an intriguing proposition for both teams.
The Lakers Get Some Shooters From The Heat But Take On Huge Contracts
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, No. 27 Pick
Miami Heat Receive: Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker
This move between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat would be mutually beneficial for both teams. The Miami Heat have a lot of money committed to Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson, but both of those players were disappointing in the playoffs. The Los Angeles Lakers could help them fix that issue, while also giving Russell Westbrook and Talen Horton-Tucker a change of scenery. While giving up Max Strus and the No. 27 pick would hurt in this hypothetical scenario, it would be worth it for the flexibility that this would give the franchise going forward.
Russell Westbrook’s contract will expire at the end of the 2022-23 season, and Talen Horton-Tucker could potentially become a free agent then as well if he declines his player option. The Miami Heat would clear the long-term contracts of Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson off their books were they to accept this trade. Even if Talen Horton-Tucker accepts his player option, he could be a prospect that the Miami Heat develop as they did with many other players.
For the duration of the 2022-23 season though, Russell Westbrook and Talen Horton-Tucker would be solid rotation options for the Miami Heat. Westbrook would likely slot into the starting point guard role, while Talen Horton-Tucker could play the bench scorer role instead of Tyler Herro, who would presumably end up starting at shooting guard after the trade. The famed “Heat culture” could potentially help both players thrive, in particular Russell Westbrook, who fits the hard-nosed mentality the Heat have fostered over the years.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, this trade would give them a good amount of shooters, as well as the No. 27 pick. Duncan Robinson, Kyle Lowry, and Max Strus all provide great spacing, which is a key requirement when playing next to Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Duncan Robinson in particular is well-known for his elite off-ball game. Kyle Lowry would be the starting point guard, and he is a player with championship experience that has shown that he can thrive in a smaller role next to a superstar. He would be tasked with running the offense and spacing the floor. Max Strus had an amazing showing during this year’s playoffs, and he would likely become the starting shooting guard for the Lakers. The No. 27 pick in this scenario would be used to draft a win-now player who can fill a role on this Lakers squad and provide defense for the team.
This deal would help the Los Angeles Lakers get better-fitting players on their roster, while also moving on from players that disappointed last year. Perhaps this is the trade they need to build a championship roster around Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
The Lakers Give Pacers Salary Relief While Getting Well-Fitting Players
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon
Indiana Pacers Receive: Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker
This trade could potentially happen if the Indiana Pacers don’t get draft compensation for Malcolm Brogdon in a trade with another team. This trade would allow the Indiana Pacers to move his contract and clear cap space for the future. The Indiana Pacers have shown that they are entering a rebuild, and having a long-term contract on the books is generally something rebuilding teams don’t want.
Talen Horton-Tucker would be the key addition here for the Indiana Pacers. If this trade went through and the Indiana Pacers liked what they saw from him during the 2022-23 season, they could potentially offer him a lucrative extension, and make him the backcourt partner for Tyrese Haliburton for years to come. Russell Westbrook would be unlikely to play a huge role on that team as they would be guard-heavy, but he could perhaps be that veteran mentor for them, similar to what he would do in the Houston Rockets scenario.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, this is an opportunity to get two veterans that would fit well around their stars. Malcolm Brogdon is an elite shooter and playmaker: he averaged 19.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 5.9 APG for the Indiana Pacers this season, and he would be that third option the Lakers would want behind Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Myles Turner would be a rim protector and floor spacer for them, and he and Anthony Davis would make the Lakers a top-tier defense.
It remains to be seen if a trade with this framework will happen. There are other teams interested in Malcolm Brogdon and Myles Turner, and the Lakers’ offer likely won’t be the best one out there. If a trade like this does happen though, it is quite likely that the Lakers will be a playoff team during the 2022-23 season.
The Lakers Move Anthony Davis For A John Collins-Centered Package
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: John Collins, Clint Capela, No. 16 Pick, Future First-Round Pick
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Anthony Davis
This trade would feature the Los Angeles Lakers moving on from Anthony Davis, in return for a young power forward in John Collins, as well as Clint Capela and some draft compensation.
While a healthy Anthony Davis is an elite player, it was previously reported that his trade value has dropped considerably. Perhaps the Atlanta Hawks could make a consolidation trade for the Lakers’ star, sending out a John Collins-centered package for him. Anthony Davis’ talent is definitely worth the risk for them,
Anthony Davis would give the Atlanta Hawks an elite No. 2 option to pair with superstar Trae Young, and there’s no doubt that he would increase the talent level on their roster. He is a do-it-all big man that has shown that he is a championship-caliber 2nd option, and he is individually better than both Clint Capela and John Collins. In this scenario, the Atlanta Hawks would also be able to keep valuable players such as Kevin Huerter and Bogdan Bogdanovic, so perhaps they could be a force in the Eastern Conference.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, this trade would give them durable players that can withstand the regular season. Their lack of youth and athleticism was noted during the season, and John Collins and Clint Capela would provide just that. They would provide starting-level players at the PF and the C positions, and they are both reliable starters. John Collins in particular has a lot of upside, and he has shown that he can thrive in a bigger role in the past. Notably, Collins would provide much-needed spacing at the PF position, as he is an elite shooter for a big man.
The draft compensation provided by the Atlanta Hawks in this scenario would help the Los Angeles Lakers get some young prospects on the team. The No. 16 pick from this season’s draft could be used to draft a prospect that would contribute immediately, while the future pick could be used to do the same thing if the Lakers are still competing in the future.
Overall, this trade would let the Los Angeles Lakers move away from being a top-heavy roster, and create a more balanced squad. This would definitely be an earth-shattering move for the franchise, but perhaps having a well-rounded team would make it worth it.
