NBA Trade Rumors: It may be time for the Los Angeles Lakers to begin exploring trades for a possible third star.
The Los Angeles Lakers have gotten off to another uneasy start to the season. At 4-5, there are some very big questions that this team will have to answer sooner rather than later. The biggest of such being, do they have enough around LeBron James and Anthony Davis to emerge as a true championship contender in the Western Conference?
Perhaps the proof is in their recent play. If something doesn’t change quickly, the Lakers are going to find themselves in the same predicament that they were in last season heading into the trade deadline. Unlike last season, there’s an argument to be made that the Lakers should be more proactive quicker than waiting until the trade deadline.
It wouldn’t be outrageous to suggest that the Lakers should start exploring potential trades for a third star if they haven’t already begun doing so. Assuming Los Angeles is at that place, we explore 11 star targets that could emerge as trade deadline possibilities.
Potential star-level trade targets for the Los Angeles Lakers
Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers
Before the start of the season, there was some reporting that suggested the Indiana Pacers and Buddy Hield were going to work together to find a trade that would make sense for both sides. However, there has been little-to-no traction on that front. Add in the fact that the Indiana Pacers have gotten off to a quick start, and you’d have to wonder if Hield will still be traded before the deadline.
In a reduced role this season, Hield has still been productive for the Pacers. With the Lakers, however, he could end up being much more valuable. As a third option, Hield could thrive in Los Angeles.
Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers
Heading into the NBA Trade Deadline season, Jerami Grant, at least in my opinion, is one of the most intriguing names to keep an eye on. Even after signing the big extension during the offseason, you’d have to imagine that Grant isn’t going to be a huge part of the team’s future. In other words, it’s probably only a matter of time until the Portland Trail Blazers elect to cash in on Grant as an asset and trade him.
Grant is not trade-eligible until January 15 but even then, there’s still an outside chance that he ends up on the trade block heading into the deadline. If he does find himself on the trade block, a team like the Los Angeles Lakers should be intrigued. He’d be a good fit next to Anthony Davis and LeBron James and would offer another difference-making two-way player.
So far this season, in pretty much carrying the load for Portland, Grant is averaging 23 points and five rebounds per game on 41 percent shooting from the field.
Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
Pascal Siakam is another player who is not unfamiliar with seeing his name pop up in the rumor mill. In fact, there was a time during the offseason when it seemed as if he was going to get traded. In the end, the Toronto Raptors decided not to pull the trigger on the move. However, considering that the Raptors are off to another unmoving start to this season, there remains the chance that Siakam could be traded before the deadline.
You can make the argument that the Raptors need to trade Siakam before he can leave in free agency during the summer for nothing – similar to the way Toronto gambled (and lost) with Fred VanVleet this past offseason. The Los Angeles Lakers should be all over Siakam if the Raptors approach the deadline with the intent to trade him. He wouldn’t be the “best” fit next to Anthony Davis but two big men that talented should be able to figure it out.
If the Lakers are looking for a big splash move, Siakam could end up being the biggest name moved at the deadline.
Malcolm Brogdon, Portland Trail Blazers
If the Los Angeles Lakers want to balance out their big three, adding a difference-maker in the backcourt would make a ton of sense. One potential underrated target that could emerge is Malcolm Brogdon.
Brogdon has interestingly gotten off to a good start with the Portland Trail Blazers. Even though he’s not garnering big minutes (averaging 27 per contest), Brogdon is still averaging 17 points, six assists, and five rebounds per game on 41 percent shooting from the field. At 30 years old, Brogdon has proven that he could very much still be an effective player. And when he was healthy last season, he was able to fill a valuable role for the Boston Celtics.
The Los Angeles Lakers could be a natural fit for Brogdon. At this point in his career, Brogdon wants to be contributing to a championship contender. The Lakers also need a consistent difference-maker in the backcourt. The big question is whether the Lakers are willing to pretty much hit the eject button on the D’Angelo Russell experiment. That’s essentially what they’d be doing by acquiring Brogdon.
DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
In theory, DeMar DeRozan seems like an excellent possible fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the Los Angeles Lakers. If the Lakers are looking for a scoring threat in the backcourt to help take some of the pressure off of LeBron and AD, DeRozan is probably the man. The asking price also wouldn’t be that high, which is exactly the lifeline that the Lakers would need at the deadline.
The path toward the Chicago Bulls trading DeMar DeRozan is not that outlandish. The Bulls are still floating around mediocrity in the Eastern Conference and if something doesn’t change quickly (and there’s no guarantee that anything will), they’re going to be forced to make a bit move at the NBA Trade Deadline. As he has an expiring contract after this season, it would be surprising if Chicago didn’t move on from DeRozan.
That’s where a team like the Lakers makes sense. Plus, let’s not forget that DeRozan has been linked to the Lakers in the past, and it only adds up that much more as a potential move later this season.
Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz
It was somewhat confusing when the Utah Jazz elected to re-sign Jordan Clarkson during the offseason. He doesn’t fit in their timeline but you have to respect trying to retain an asset in hopes of cashing it in at a later date. That’s exactly what they are hoping to do. You’d have to believe that will happen either at this year’s NBA Trade Deadline or during the offseason. If they attempt to move him at the deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers should explore the possibility.
Interestingly enough, Clarkson made his name in the league with the Los Angeles Lakers. If the Lakers are looking for a guard that would be solely focused on putting the basketball in the hoop, Clarkson may be one of the primary targets. Clarkson may not be a great defender and leaves a bit to be desired as a playmaker, but he can score.
Even though Clarkson has gotten off to a slow start this season, he’s still averaging 15 points per game. Playing next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis would make his life a lot easier on the offensive end too. I’d have little concern about Clarkson rebounding if the Lakers took a gamble on him.
Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
If the Chicago Bulls continue to show signs of mediocrity when the NBA Trade Deadline rolls around, there’s at least an outside chance that Zach LaVine will find himself on the trade block. At the very least, the Bulls should at least explore what the trade market would be for LaVine. If that does end up being the case, the Los Angeles Lakers are a team that could absolutely jump in at the prospect of landing him to solidify their chances of competing for a title.
Quite frankly, with what he has proven thus far in his career, LaVine could be exactly what the Lakers need next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis at this point in their careers. LeBron is getting older and probably needs to pace himself through the regular season. Similarly, we’ve seen that AD isn’t capable of carrying a team over the course of the regular season.
LaVine would come in and immediately take immense pressure off the Lakers’ big 2. LaVine may not be good enough to be any team’s No. 1 option. But as a No. 3 option, he could very much thrive on a championship contender.
Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards
At the beginning of his career, Kyle Kuzma was a blossoming star with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, when the Lakers acquired LeBron James, it kind of stunted his growth as a young player. He was eventually traded to the Washington Wizards where he’d bounce right back into that budding star he was at the beginning of his career. After signing a big deal with the Wizards, there’s a chance that a change of scenery could be in his future.
The Wizards are in the early stages of a rebuild and Kuzma, even though he’s still just 28 years old, doesn’t appear to be part of the team’s long-term future. It would be in the best interest of the Wizards to cash in on the asset that he has evolved into, and probably sooner rather than later. However, there’s no guarantee that happen at this year’s trade deadline.
But if he does hit the trade block when he’s eligible, the Lakers have to be one of those teams that entertain the possibility. It would be difficult for them to pull it off considering his contract, but it is doable.
Gordon Hayward, Charlotte Hornets
Admittedly, Gordon Hayward hasn’t been the same player since suffering a gruesome leg injury during the opening minutes of his stint with the Boston Celtics. Nevertheless, even at the ripe age of 33, Hayward is still proving to be quite a valuable player. He’s averaging 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists per game on 48 percent shooting from the field and 44 percent shooting from 3-point range.
While he may not move the needle all that much for a rebuilding team like the Charlotte Hornets, there’s no question that he could emerge as a difference-making cog for a championship-contender team like the Los Angeles Lakers. If he can remain healthy, he could be very much what the Lakers need on the wing.
Of course, the big question revolves around his health. If there’s one thing that has derailed Hayward’s career, it’s been injuries. Nevertheless, maybe he could work as a third option opposite of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Bojan Bogdanovic, Detroit Pistons
When the Detroit Pistons originally acquired Bojan Bogdanovic, the hope was that the Detroit Pistons would eventually flip him for a first-round pick or two. With the way Bogdanovic played last season, the hope is that the Pistons will be able to do that soon. Considering that it doesn’t appear that the Pistons are going to compete for a playoff spot this season and that Bogdanovic’s contract for next season isn’t fully guaranteed, this might be the perfect time for the Pistons to pursue a trade.
The Los Angeles Lakers would make a lot of sense as Bogdanovic would bring some much-needed scoring off the wing. Last season, Bogdanovic averaged 22 points and four rebounds on 49 percent shooting from the field and 41 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Bogdanovic has not played a game so far this season for the Pistons as he continues to recover from a calf injury he suffered just before the start of the regular season. It’s unlikely that he’ll be traded before he returns from injury but if he continues to play at a high level, he could emerge as one of the most sought-after trade targets at the deadline. He’d also fit perfectly with the timeline of LeBron James and Anthony Davis and the Lakers.
OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
Heading into the NBA Trade Deadline, there’s one potential pipe dream option that could emerge for not only the Los Angeles Lakers but for every championship contender that is looking for one final piece to put them over the top. And that potential target is OG Anunoby. As the Toronto Raptors continue to figure out their future, there’s a scenario where they land on the idea to trade Anunoby.
And if they do formally shop him heading into the trade deadline, there is going to be an all-out bidding war for one of the most underrated two-way stars in the league. Through the first few games of the season, Anunoby is averaging 18 points and four rebounds on 55 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent shooting from 3-point range. He’s also one of the best wing defenders in the league.
If the Lakers are serious about competing for a championship this season, it’s clear that they need to make a big move before the NBA Trade Deadline. The Lakers need a third star. It’s time to pull the trigger. The question is, will the right situation present itself?