With just a few weeks to go until the NBA’s trade deadline, now is the time for GMs across the league to re-evaluate their situation.
In Los Angeles, we already know how the Lakers feel about giving up their two first-round picks. According to various sources, they will only offer them in exchange for an All-Star caliber player, and none have been made available at this point in time.
But the Lakers are also considering a number of other moves, including for Heat guard Kyle Lowry. Now, there are rumblings the Lakers are targeting a Bojan Bogdanovic deal with the Detroit Pistons.
(via Sports Illustrated’s Howard Beck)
I think it’s a mistake to view any potential trade as “championship-or-bust.” If that’s the standard for trading your picks, you’ll never make a deal. I don’t think there’s any single trade out there—now or in July—that will assure the Lakers of title contention. But the basic formula of LeBron + AD + shooters/quality role players at least gives you a chance at a meaningful playoff run. THAT is what they should be aiming for. And maybe that will be the case. I’ve heard the Lakers and Pistons have discussed a deal that would include both Bogdanović and Nerlens Noel. Since the Pistons are demanding draft assets in any deal for Bogdanović, it’s sort of a given that the Lakers would have to surrender a first-round pick to make a deal. Maybe they make a second deal to fortify the rotation further. Will they be willing to trade both picks that are currently trade-eligible? The sense around the league is they won’t. But we’ll see.
The Lakers are only a few games within .500, so the season is not yet lost. Even with Anthony Davis out, and LeBron James struggling from three, they could still secure a play-in spot if they play their hand the right way this offseason.
LeBron James Wants To Finish His Career As A Laker
Despite the Lakers‘ struggles over the past two seasons, LeBron James remains loyal to the franchise as the best place for him to finish out his career.
“I keep hearing he wants to stay with the Lakers,” Zach Lowe said on James, via Lakers Daily. “He wants to finish his career with the Lakers. His comments though should be interpreted as his patience is not infinite and if this is just a continued morass of losing, maybe that changes. But if you force me to bet, I’d still bet on him finishing his career with the Lakers. And I’d feel pretty confident in that.”
No matter where LeBron closes out his amazing NBA career, his mind is entirely focused on the task at hand.
In a Western Conference that is both highly competitive and wide open for the taking, the Lakers can’t afford to give up now, and it’s why they should make a deal for a sharpshooter like Bojan Bogdanovic.
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