The Los Angeles Lakers finally made a trade to improve the roster when the team parted ways with guard Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks for the services of Rui Hachimura of the Washington Wizards. Surprisingly, the Lakers did not wait until the trade deadline to make a move, and that could be a sign of better things to come in terms of roster improvements. Lakers fans should be quite happy with this deal because this could mean the front office, and Rob Pelinka specifically, are interested in making changes to help LeBron James on the court.
- The Bad
- The Good
- The Perfect
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LeBron James is having a special year at age 38, posting 30.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 7.1 APG on 50.7% FG, insane numbers for a player that nobody thought would still be doing this at a high level in the NBA. The King needs help, and while Rui Hachimura is a nice addition, it is not enough. Anthony Davis has returned to the court, but he has only played 27 games so far and grimaces every time he goes down on the floor. His health is not guaranteed, which means the Lakers need immediate reinforcements.
The Lakers are off to a good start in terms of adding pieces, especially since they didn’t give up much, but they could continue building their team if they pull the trigger on at least one of these trades. The Lakers, despite being 24-28, are not that far off from booking their playoff spot because as long as they have LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they have a chance. It also seems that the Lakers are interested in making Anthony Davis the long-term franchise cornerstone, which makes the win-now initiatives even greater.
With the trade deadline around the corner on February 9th, the Lakers might have to accept one of the following three deals: The Bad, The Good, and The Perfect Deal. Of course, Lakers fans want a third star on the court for the Lakers, and anything less won’t cut it in a league that has at least 6 legitimate title contenders in the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, and Memphis Grizzlies. Without further ado, here is The Bad, The Good, or The Perfect trade that the Lakers might have to consider before the trade deadline.
The Bad
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Doug McDermott, Josh Richardson, Jakob Poeltl
San Antonio Spurs Receive: Russell Westbrook
This is one ugly trade for the Los Angeles Lakers, as they are better off pinging their hopes on Russell Westbrook continuing to do a job coming off the bench. With all things considered, this is a deal that suits the San Antonio Spurs better because they can write off Westbrook’s salary next year when the point guard becomes a free agent while the Lakers are stuck with more role players. Only McDermott will be paid in 2024, as Richardson and Poeltl are free agents, and he isn’t exactly a world-beater. In other words, the Lakers are better off keeping Westbrook and should not do this deal.
The San Antonio Spurs are clearly tanking as their team is set up for immediate failure with the departure of All-Star Dejounte Murray. Otherwise, there aren’t any untouchables on the roster, perhaps other than Keldon Johnson. San Antonio might want to shed salary with the hopes of drafting Victor Wembanyama. The Frenchman is a very solid talent, and he is clearly the goal for a Spurs franchise that wants to grab a big man to become a long-term replacement for the legend that is Tim Duncan. Trading for Russell Westbrook, who has one year left on his deal, places the Sputs in the position to do that.
If the Lakers end up doing this ugly deal, there should be a way to look at the positives. Firstly, they get a sharpshooter who can space the floor well in McDermott, who shot 42.2% from deep last year. Keeping both valuable first-round picks is definitely ideal for the Lakers’ future, as we have seen in recent trade rumors, and the Lakers might have to accept that they will improve their depth. Richardson is shooting 36.2% from three this year, and Poeltl is a nice backup to Thomas Bryant.
But trading 6th Man of the Year candidate Russell Westbrook for three role players is not a good idea since the point guard is better than most bench players, and the Lakers do have an advantage in that regard. It seems there are talks going on between the teams, and even if there are some small positives to the Spurs trade, there are two much better deals that could be done with Russell Westbrook as the dangled bait.
The Good
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Terry Rozier, Kelly Oubre, PJ Washington
Charlotte Hornets: Russell Westbrook
The Los Angeles Lakers would like to move on from Westbrook, even if he is the favorite for the 6th Man of the Year award. Russ cannot space the floor and needs the ball to be impactful, but there is no way LeBron James should ever play off the ball, considering what he has done over his career. In other words, James and Westbrook can’t mesh on the court together. One option for the Lakers to move on from Russ is by engaging in what can be considered a good trade.
Luckily for Los Angeles, the Charlotte Hornets are in the play-in tournament this season, and the team needs to make moves this offseason to give LaMelo Ball a player that can impact the floor next year after they are done tanking. Also, luckily for the Lakers, Michael Jordan is very fond of Russell Westbrook and could be looking forward to adding the former MVP to his roster. Westbrook could start alongside LaMelo because they are clearing space by moving on from Kelly Oubre Jr, PJ Washington, and Terry Rozier, and can continue to tank as they currently sit 14th in the East with a 15-37 record.
Now, why is this a good trade for the Lakers? Firstly, Terry Rozier gives the Lakers a proper defensive guard who can also shoot, as he is posting 37.0% from three over his career. Clearly, that is higher than Russ’ career average of 30.4%. Terry is a better defender than Russ right now and is averaging more points at 21.7 PPG, meaning he is a much more formidable starter for the Lakers. He is also more controlled and will allow James to become a full-time point guard again instead of the primary scoring threat. To no one’s surprise, the Lakers are interested in Rozier’s services and have already tried to acquire him earlier in the season.
Kelly Oubre Jr is only 27 years old, so he can bring energy, versatility, and scoring to a Lakers roster devoid of all three. Oubre Jr is posting 20.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 1.6 SPG as a nice piece who can score and also defend in the right circumstances. At 6’7” and 203 lbs, the swingman competed hard on the court and would be another nice piece to space the floor around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Finally, PJ Washington is 24 years old and is another energetic player who hustles, competes, and is improving on both ends of the court. The 6’7” big man is averaging 15.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 2.4 APG on 44.3% FG and 35.6% 3-PT FG. Washington adds depth, scoring, and energy, which are components the Lakers also need. In a nutshell, losing Russell Westbrook for two players averaging 20 PPG and a backup big man makes a ton of sense when it comes to trying to make the playoffs and be a dark horse in the Western Conference.
The Perfect
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Zach LaVine
Chicago Bulls Receive: Russell Westbrook, 2027 First-Round Pick, 2029 First-Round Pick
No doubt, the perfect trade for the Lakers would be to acquire another All-Star player who can score at a high level. Zach LaVine is an All-Star shooting guard. In what can be considered a season filled with inconsistencies by the team, LaVine is posting 23.8 PPG and has a career average of 38.4% from three and 83.1% from the free-throw line. A two-time All-Star, LaVine is exactly what the Lakers need because his shooting percentages are very solid.
LaVine is shooting 37.4% from three this season, 84.1% from the free-throw line, and 52.6% on 2-PT field goals. The shooting guard would be better to be the second or third option for a title contender rather than beating his head against the wall to make the playoffs. Now, the Bulls and Lakers are not far off in terms of team record and play so far, but LaVine has a chance to form the best Big Three in the NBA with LeBron and Davis.
The Chicago Bulls would be smart to move on from LaVine to gain assets, and almost every rebuilding team dreams about the Lakers’ two first-round picks. It is expected that the Lakers won’t be any good in the 2027 and 2029 seasons because LeBron and Davis probably won’t be around. The Lakers have looked threatening at times with just LeBron and Davis on the court, so imagine adding a star like LaVine to the team.
Zach can lead the scoring in some games and is perfect on or off the ball in the Lakers offense. Especially when only losing Russell Westbrook in terms of manpower, the Lakers have the possibility to engage in the perfect trade. What remains to be seen is if Zach LaVine is actually available, and if the reports are true, that would be a game-changer for the Lakers and the rest of the league as a whole.
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