NBA Trade Rumors: Exploring 10 point guard targets for the Los Angeles Lakers if they want to replace D’Angelo Russell.
In the end, the Los Angeles Lakers were simply outmatched in the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets. Nothing the Lakers seemed to do would work against the West juggernaut that punched their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
As the offseason approaches, the Lakers will be tasked with upgrading the roster while also trying to maintain the necessary depth it will take to make another deep playoff run next season. And one area of need – perhaps a priority – will be the point guard position. After D’Angelo Russell lost his starting spot (only playing 15 minutes in Game 4), his future is very much uncertain with the team.
If the Lakers do explore a change at the point guard position, there could be several options. In anticipation of that, we take a look at 10 possible point guard targets for the Lakers heading into the offseason.
Cameron Payne
With the expectation that the Phoenix Suns will make some moves themselves this offseason, the Lakers could look to them as a potential trade partner. Or perhaps even be part of a three-team trade with the Suns. If Phoenix is open to moving Cameron Payne, he could emerge as a fit for the Lakers.
He’s put together three productive seasons in Phoenix in the last three years. If there’s one concern, it’s his durability as he’s battled injury after injury recently. However, he’s coming off a season in which he averaged 10 points and five assists on 37 percent shooting from 3-point range.
He’d be a seamless fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and with just one year remaining on his current contract, he also fits with this team’s timeline.