The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t done making moves this offseason as they look to upgrade their roster and mount a serious title challenge in 2025-26. Perimeter defense is an area of concern for the Lakers, and team insider Anthony Irwin reports they have held talks for Matisse Thybulle, Marcus Smart, and Ayo Dosunmu.
“Sources say Matisse Thybulle, Marcus Smart (though most teams are watching to see if he’s going to be bought out), Ayo Dosunmu and others are names the Lakers have had preliminary conversations with teams about availability and price, though no offers have been made.”
Thybulle, Smart, and Dosunmu would all certainly improve the Lakers when it comes to perimeter defense. The first two, in particular, are defensive specialists.
Smart averaged 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game for the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards in 2024-25. The 31-year-old played in just 34 games, though, due to injuries, and his inability to stay healthy is a bit of a concern.
That, in turn, also means Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, isn’t going to fetch a lot for the Wizards in a trade. Here’s a trade that NBA analyst Jake Weinbach proposed that would see the veteran guard become a Laker.
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Marcus Smart
Washington Wizards receive: Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, 2032 second-round pick, cash considerations
Smart is on an expiring $21.6 million contract, and the Lakers would have to send Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million) and Maxi Kleber ($11 million) to match salaries. If they’d rather hold on to Vincent and Kleber’s expiring contracts to use in other trades, they could just wait to see if the Wizards buy out Smart’s contract.
Next, we get to Thybulle, who has also been plagued by injuries lately. He appeared in just 15 games for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2024-25 and averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game.
Thybulle, who has made two All-Defensive teams, remains one of the better wing defenders in the NBA, but it shouldn’t take much to acquire him as he comes off an injury-hit campaign. Here’s what a potential trade could look like.
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Matisse Thybulle
Portland Trail Blazers receive: Gabe Vincent, 2032 second-round pick
Even with Thybulle’s value declining, a straight swap involving Vincent and no other assets is unlikely. The Lakers would have to include a second-round pick to get the deal over the line.
Lastly, we get to Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, who has emerged as a fine two-way guard in recent times. Dosunmu averaged 12.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game for the Bulls in 2024-25.
Dosunmu is a more valuable asset than Smart and Thybulle, so the Lakers wouldn’t be able to get this deal done by just sending expiring salaries. One of their key trade assets might have to be shipped to Chicago.
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Ayo Dosunmu
Chicago Bulls receive: Dalton Knecht, Shake Milton
You could certainly argue that the Lakers should hold on to Dalton Knecht and use him for another bigger trade. While that might be the right approach, it’s hard to see them getting Dosunmu without parting with the guard.
The Lakers probably wouldn’t have had to consider a move for either of these three if they were going to land De’Anthony Melton in free agency. It appears they are going to lose out on Melton to the Golden State Warriors, though, which would be a significant blow.
