NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers plotting pipe dream move for Trae Young?

NBA Trade Rumors: The Los Angeles Lakers are still monitoring the status of Trae Young; hopeful they could make the pipe dream move for him. 

After a surprising run to the Western Conference Finals last season, there was evidence to suggest that the Los Angeles Lakers could be a move or two away from being a legit championship contender in the Western Conference. While they did make some smaller-level moves this offseason, it’s hard to look at anything they did this summer and say the Lakers have crossed over into the elite status of the West.

There may be a reason why they didn’t pull the trigger on a bigger move this offseason. That could be due to the unknown future of Trae Young.

According to a recent report, while the Lakers explore other options for improving the team via a splash move, the one star that they continue to prioritize is Trae Young. This is interesting for several reasons. Among them is the fact that Young isn’t even on the trade block.

There were rumors at last year’s NBA Trade Deadline but much of those have dissipated. At least for now, it doesn’t seem like Young is available. However, the fact that Los Angeles remains locked in on Young is not insignificant.

Could Trae Young be the next superstar to demand a trade?

Would it be that outrageous if Young ended up being the next superstar (after Damian Lillard and James Harden) to be traded? The Atlanta Hawks are in somewhat of a transition and just locked up Dejounte Murray for the foreseeable future. Young has at least three years remaining on his contract but could be moved if Atlanta comes to a point where they’re ready to pivot toward a retooling.

I’m not sure what the Hawks have planned as they enter a new era of basketball for the franchise under new leadership, but the drafting of Kobe Bufkin, an intriguing guard prospect with a high ceiling, in the 2023 NBA Draft was interesting, to say the least.

Maybe the Lakers targeting and keeping an eye on Young is not that far-fetched of an idea. It’s something to keep an eye on as the season unfolds.

The Lakers had a very productive offseason. They upgraded their supporting cast. At the same time, they didn’t make the big move that perhaps some believed they would. And perhaps that has something to do with waiting for a possible Trae Young domino to fall next.