The Los Angeles Lakers are a team that is solid as of right now, and they seem likely to make the playoffs. However, they will probably be an active team this off-season, as they still need to make some moves to be a true championship-level team.
Someone they could potentially target this offseason is Draymond Green, who is a former DPOY that has won multiple championships with the Golden State Warriors. Adding a player with his experience could end up being extremely beneficial.
Obviously, a move for Draymond Green would require the Lakers to do a sign-and-trade, as Green could potentially become a free agent in the offseason. Since the Lakers will want to retain D’Angelo Russell, it is hard to see them finding the cap space to sign Green outright. Here is a potential trade scenario.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Draymond Green (Sign-And-Trade)
Golden State Warriors Receive: Austin Reaves (Sign-And-Trade), Mo Bamba
There is no doubt that this could potentially be a fantastic move for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. Here is why both teams should consider making a trade with this framework.
The Los Angeles Lakers Add One Of The Best Defenders In The League
The appeal of this deal for the Los Angeles Lakers is obviously the addition of Draymond Green to the roster. He could potentially be an elite frontcourt partner for Anthony Davis, and that tandem would be special defensively. Draymond Green is a multi-positional defender who is an elite leader on that end of the floor as well, and he has orchestrated the defense for multiple championship teams. He would be a no-brainer addition to the franchise.
For Draymond Green, it makes sense to decline his $27,586,225 player option and get a multi-year deal which gets him more guaranteed money. The deal would likely have a lower salary annually than his current contract, which makes it easier for the team to make a sign-and-trade for him.
The Los Angeles Lakers would sign and trade Austin Reaves as part of this deal and would move him along with Mo Bamba’s contract to make the numbers work. Reaves and Bamba’s potential contracts should be around the $20,000,000 mark, which is what Draymond Green could potentially command this offseason. Though it is hard to see him getting a max contract based on his age and playstyle, it is quite possible that he’ll get $20 million or slightly more. The estimate comes based on the contracts that defensive-oriented players such as Clint Capela or Jarrett Allen have previously received from their teams (Green in theory would get slightly more annually but on a shorter deal).
If the Lakers have an opportunity to get Draymond Green, they should absolutely do so. He is a player that has championship experience, knows how to win, and has long been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Warriors Avoid Losing Draymond Green For Nothing In Free Agency
If Draymond Green is dead-set on leaving the Golden State Warriors this summer, then a sign-and-trade arrangement is the best scenario for the team. They will be able to get some sort of return for the defensive star while also getting Draymond Green to his preferred destination.
The two players that the Golden State Warriors would receive in this arrangement are Austin Reaves and Mo Bamba. Both players have traits that could make them good fits with the Golden State Warriors.
Austin Reaves is a versatile role player offensively, capable of handling the ball, shooting, and playmaking. Though obviously, he is not a star-level player, he could potentially be solid as a depth option. He would be able to help Jordan Poole with some of the ballhandling off the bench and gives the team a more offensively slanted option at either guard option than Gary Payton II.
Mo Bamba profiles as a rim-protecting big that also has some 3PT shooting ability. He is averaging 6.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 0.9 BPG in limited minutes this year while shooting 39.0% from the 3PT range. He would give the Warriors more size, athleticism, and rebounding, and perhaps he could be their center of the future.
Overall, this deal is simply about the Golden State Warriors being able to get some young contributors in exchange for a star that is leaving anyway in this scenario. This should be a no-brainer deal for the Warriors in the scenario that they decide to part ways with the forward or vice versa.
This Deal Could End Up Helping Both The Lakers And The Warriors
This deal could potentially be a good proposition for both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers would immediately add a player that helps them improve on the defensive end and could end up being a difference-maker in their pursuit of a championship. Draymond Green is a proven contributor that has been on multiple championship teams and could, in theory, be a good fit on a defensively-oriented team like the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Warriors would get a solid return in a sign-and-trade for Draymond Green. Though sign-and-trade deals don’t often give an elite return for the team that is facilitating it, getting some solid young players like Austin Reaves and Mo Bamba would give the Warriors a solid return. Those players can contribute both immediately and in the future, which fits with the franchise’s “two timelines” plan.
It will be interesting to see if the Lakers and Warriors can figure out a way to make a Draymond Green-centered deal work. The Lakers have long been interested in acquiring the forward, who has a fantastic relationship with superstar LeBron James. We will see what ends up happening in free agency, but a move that sends Draymond Green to the Lakers is certainly not out of the question.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
