NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers could pursue Jalen Suggs to replace D’Angelo Russell?
NBA Trade Rumors: In an attempt to find a replacement for D’Angelo Russell, the Los Angeles Lakers could turn to Jalen Suggs.
You’d have to imagine that the Los Angeles Lakers would love to make an upgrade at the point guard position. For as talented as Jalen Hood-Schifino is, who the team selected with their first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, I have a hard time believing he’s going to make a huge impact for the team this season.
That leaves the Lakers with the option of re-signing D’Angelo Russell or trying to make an upgrade via sign-and-trade in free agency or through a traditional trade. One player that could make sense for the team is Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs.
One NBA reporter lists the Lakers as a potential team with interest in the event that the Magic does end up placing Suggs on the trade block. Considering Orlando drafted two guards in the lottery of the NBA Draft, there’s at least a chance they ended up shopping Suggs or Cole Anthony this summer.
What would the Los Angeles Lakers have to give up for Jalen Suggs?
If this is even a possibility that exists – because there’s no guarantee the Magic would want to trade Suggs even with a logjam in the backcourt – you’d have to assume that a future first-round pick would have to be included at least. And even then, the Magic could also want something else.
The question for the Lakers would revolve around whether they’d want Suggs to be the marquee move for the team in the offseason. If they were to trade a future first for Suggs, that kind of has to be the team’s big move of the summer. For as much uncertainty that revolves around the Lakers in a post-LeBron era, they can’t get too ambitious with any offseason moves.
The last thing the Lakers need is to move on from all their assets only to be left hanging when or if LeBron leaves next summer.
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That said, at least on paper, Suggs would make a lot of sense for the Lakers. He’s a good defender and has flashed the ability to be a good player on the offensive end. If the Magic does intend to move on from Suggs, the Lakers should absolutely be interested. The question is, how interested should they be?