In the aftermath of an underwhelming trade deadline, the rumors are starting to grow that the Lakers are saving their assets for something big this summer. While it’s still too early to say what the Lakers have planned, NBA insider Jovan Buha revealed that they are prepared to give up to three first-round picks to pursue a big-name guard like Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell, or even Kyrie Irving.
“Moving forward, the Lakers plan to use the three picks that they will have available this summer to pursue a star via trade,” wrote Buha. “Three potential targets are Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young and Kyrie Irving, according to team and league sources. The Athletic has previously reported on the franchise’s interest in Young and Irving.”
Many fans were surprised to see the Lakers stand pat at the deadline, but it’s clear that Rob Pelinka didn’t see any deal that would make them better this season. Instead of making a panic move, Pelinka opted to hold his cards and wait out the opportunity to chase a true star and it could turn out in their favor. With a pool of assets and additional clarity about their status, the Lakers should be more suited to make a high-impact trade this summer and one more piece could be all they need to become title contenders once again. But it remains to be seen which players will be available this summer, and whether or not the Lakers are willing to pay the price to add them to the roster. Regardless of the circumstances, increasing pressure from 39-year-old LeBron James could force Pelinka’s hand and it seems the franchise is already gearing up for some kind of major move in the months to come.
The Los Angeles Lakers Need A Third Star Around LeBron James And Anthony Davis
In 2020, we saw LeBron James and Antony Davis carry the Lakers to a title as the best one-two punch in the league. But due to years of mileage and the natural process of aging, the championship duo can no longer carry like they used to and additional help is required more than ever before. This season, the Lakers were hoping that Austin Reaves would step into that role for them, but he’s closer to a Sixth Man than he is to being a legitimate third option on a championship team.
In the case of Donovan Mitchell, he’d arguably become the Lakers’ best player, and having his shooting/scoring ability next to the core they’ve got in place would make them instant favorites in the West. Trae Young would have a similar impact for the Lakers, and his playmaking abilities would open up new opportunities for everyone offensively.
Of course, there’s also Kyrie Irving. The Lakers could have joined the Kyrie sweepstakes last year but they elected not to in favor of building up their supporting cast. It didn’t take long for the Lakers to regret that decision, and watching Irving go off for the Mavericks is a constant reminder of what the Lakers could’ve had if they were willing to take a risk. Of course, there’s no going back on the past now and the only hope for the Lakers is that they learn from their mistakes and avoid digging their hole any deeper.
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