NBA Trade Rumors: Should the Lakers be targeting Dennis Smith Jr.?
NBA Trade Rumors: It’s been reported that the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in Dennis Smith Jr., but is he the player they should be targeting?
As the Los Angeles Lakers continue to await the return of LeBron James, who will likely make his return sooner rather than later, it’s expected that the team will be all-in as the NBA Trade Deadline quickly approaches.
Roughly two weeks away, the Lakers are expected to be active in the coming weeks when it comes to the trade wire. Whether they can actually make a meaningful move remains to be seen, however it won’t be without trying.
Los Angeles is currently out of the top 8 in the Western Conference. They’re 9th in the standings at the moment, but are only 3.5 games back of the 4th seed and 4.5 games back of the 3rd seed. The Lakers are by no means out of the playoff race, especially considering that LeBron is about to make his return.
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Nevertheless, the Lakers will be looking to make a move that could help propel this team to one of the top 4 seeds in the West. And one player that the Lakers reportedly considered (according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Subscription Required) – or perhaps maybe are still considering – is Dennis Smith Jr.
DSJ was reportedly on the trade block, and then not now (apparently). The Dallas Mavericks want to see how the next few games go, before ultimately deciding whether or not they will keep him moving forward, I would assume.
As for the Lakers, I’m not sure DSJ is the player that the team should be targeting in the days leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline. On the surface, there’s no question that taking a chance on a young talent (especially if it’s for a cheap price point), but the Lakers, at this point, should be looking for players that could make an immediate impact right now.
DSJ could develop into a great player, but adding him to an already young roster wouldn’t be the great move that many are expecting the Lakers to make. It doesn’t make them much better in the West, and won’t chance their immediate ceiling.
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The Lakers should be in the market for an upgrade, but I’m not sure Dennis Smith Jr. is the answer.