The Los Angeles Lakers have had a decent 11-7 start to the season, but it hasn’t been good enough to satiate Lakers fans who demand excellence from their franchise. New head coach JJ Redick has tried imprinting his blueprint onto the team but it has come with mixed results, although the Lakers currently sit as the No. 5 seed in the West showing they’re on-pace for another Playoff appearance. But the expectation in Los Angeles will always be to contend for a title.
The Lakers need help on both ends of the court but adding some consistent offense from their guard spot should be a priority. D’Angelo Russell hasn’t been able to replicate his performances from last season and has seen his trade value diminish heavily, meaning the Lakers need a top-tier guard. They could get that in a high-risk trade with the Miami Heat.
Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Terry Rozier, Haywood Highsmith, Josh Richardson
Miami Heat Receive: Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Christian Wood, Maxwell Lewis, 2025 Second-Round Pick (LAL), 2027 Second-Round Pick (LAL)
This deal gives the Lakers the point guard they need while opening up a roster spot and getting rid of dead weight. There will be pain on the Lakers’ side with the loss of Hachimura, but they add two other rotational players in exchange for a package of players who look out of place on the Lakers right now.
The Lakers Revamp Their Rotation
The Los Angeles Lakers are holding their own competitively but the shortcomings of the roster are clear to see. They can’t consistently get buckets without LeBron James or Anthony Davis on the court, with Russell being inconsistent and Austin Reaves not peaking as a high-volume scorer. They need the offensive boost Rozier can provide, with this multi-faceted deal also landing them other useful low-end rotational players.
Rozier is averaging 12.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists this season while Richardson is averaging 4.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. Highsmith is averaging 6.6 points, with all three players bringing a useful tool to the roster.
Rozier could slot in as a starter next to Reaves with a higher defensive floor than Russell, although it won’t be perfect without a standout POA defender. Rozier could be a useful sixth man if the Lakers use Russell in a trade to land a center, with Richardson potentially being an upgrade on Cam Reddish as a starter.
Highsmith is a switchable forward who would be a great hustle presence on the wing, with the Lakers taking a risk on hoping he can fill in Rui Hachimura’s absence, or that Jarred Vanderbilt will return healthy and can return to the starting lineup as an ace defensive presence.
The Heat Make Necessary Changes
The Miami Heat are solidifying themselves as a middling Eastern Conference franchise, on pace to make the Play-In for the third season in a row. They aren’t realistic title contenders but refuse to make changes in favor of the average results they get in the regular season. They need a shake-up and this deal brings them exactly that, with potentially the highest-value player coming on the roster.
Hachimura is averaging 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds this season, establishing himself as a definite starter for the Lakers. He’s had peaks and troughs but is overall a player who could greatly benefit from being on the Heat. He’d be a better option at the four than Nikola Jovic and could even be an option at the three if the Heat make the decision to move Jimmy Butler back into the backcourt upon Rozier’s departure.
Gabe Vincent had his best season with the Heat and played a huge role in their run to the 2023 NBA Finals, so a return to the franchise could work out well for him after a troublesome time on the Lakers. He’s averaging 2.8 points this season but is a proven fit with this Heat core and Erik Spoelstra.
Christian Wood hasn’t played this season due to injury but is a dynamic scoring option off the bench, while Maxwell Lewis is a future prospect who could greatly develop in Miami.
A Potentially Risky Exchange
This deal will make both sets of fans trepiditous, as the Heat trade away a starting guard for a clear downgrade in the position with Vincent while greatly reinforcing their frontcourt with Hachimura. The trade-off could work but won’t be easy for Heat fans to accept, especially without a clear choice to join the backcourt next to Tyler Herro.
Duncan Robinson could be a starting option in Rozier’s absence as well, with his defense improving in recent seasons and his shooting being a key offensive tool for the Heat. Butler in that role could be effective as well, with Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Hachimura forming a great forward duo with Bam Adebayo at center.
For the Lakers, losing forward depth with Hachimura to acquire Rozier without finding a future home for D’Angelo Russell will make them uneasy. Their main goal is to land a center, which this deal doesn’t do. The worry with Highsmith needing to play a rotational role on the Lakers is that he is a low-end rotational player and won’t be able to come close to replicating Hachimura’s production.
Taking a bet on Vanderbilt returning healthy or starting Reaves with Rozier and Reddish or Richardson will be tough, but it might be worth it for the Lakers. You have to take big risks for big results, and this would be one for both franchises.
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