NBA Rumors: Now that the Los Angeles Lakers have missed out on key free agents, what other trade targets could they pivot to next?
Heading into the NBA offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers were tasked with the objective of trying to find All-Star talent to surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis with. At the very least, the Lakers needed to make a difference-making addition or two to help this team rise up the Western Conference hierarchy after taking a huge step back this season. But through the early portion of the offseason, the Lakers haven't been that active.
That could be a sign of one of two things. Either they are working in the shadows to secure an All-Star via trade or they don't have any leads on upgrading the roster and can't finalize any moves. Even though it's still early on in the summer, it's not too early to panic. After missing out on a few free-agent pursuits, we explore eight names the Lakers could still pivot to in the trade market.
Collin Sexton, Utah Jazz
If the Utah Jazz end up trading Lauri Markkanen this offseason, which could very well end up being the case, there will naturally be other moves that happen next. A trade of Collin Sexton is likely one of those moves. If the Los Angeles Lakers are focused on upgrading their backcourt, Sexton is a player that should absolutely be on their radar.
He may not be the big name that perhaps the fan base is demanding, but he's a quality and productive guard that could raise the Lakers' ceiling heading into next season.
DeMar DeRozan, Free agent
The Los Angeles Lakers have already missed out on a couple of free agents, most notably Klay Thompson. But if they're open to a sign-and-trade with the Chicago Bulls, DeMar DeRozan is a player that is likely going to be on their radar. Whether or not he's a great fit is a very fair question. With his lack of shooting ability, it's understandable to have some hesitations about DeRozan's addition to the Lakers. However, he does add another talented wing that could take pressure off of LeBron James from a playmaking perspective.
I'd imagine the Lakers are exploring the option of adding DeRozan and breaking down what they'd have to do to make it happen. But considering that DeRozan is still holding out for a big-money deal, the odds of the Lakers finding a path toward landing DeRozan remains low.
He could be an option down the line, especially if DeRozan's other options dry up, but at least for now, I'd be shocked if the Lakers traded significant salaries in order to add a 34-year-old one-dimensional player.
Bruce Brown, Toronto Raptors
A player that many believed was going to be traded at or before the NBA Draft, it is at least somewhat surprising that Bruce Brown is still a member of the Toronto Raptors. That likely is going to change at some point before the start of next season and I'd have to believe that a big reason why he hasn't been traded yet is because of the standstill that remains in the NBA offseason at the moment. At some point, the drains are going to open on trades and Brown is likely going to be moved. The question is, are the Los Angeles Lakers willing to be patient enough to wait on the Raptors for a potential pursuit of Brown?
In theory, Brown would be an excellent fit for the backcourt as a do-it-all wing that has championship experience. If there is any hesitation on acquiring Brown, it surrounds around whether he's a good enough player to significantly raise the ceiling for the Lakers heading into next season.
Brown is a good complementary player. He may not be the type of All-Star talent that the Lakers are prioritizing at this point in the offseason, but he's certainly a player who should be on their radar.
Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
It's actually unfortunate how much the narrative around Zach LaVine has changed over the last couple of seasons. At this point, the Chicago Bulls are essentially begging teams to take LaVine off their hands. As you would expect, they've had no luck. But if the Los Angeles Lakers do get desperate enough, they should be open to listening. If the Bulls attach a first-round pick to LaVine, the Lakers could be a team that is willing to take a flier or rehabilitate LaVine's career.
There are a few certainties about LaVine. For one, he's overpaid. That contract isn't great. He's due nearly $140 million over the next three seasons and it won't be easy to find a team willing to pay him that. At the same time, LaVine is talented. He's a good player. Is he $40-plus million per season good? Probably not. But he can be an effective third option.
And that's exactly what he would be on the Lakers. If Los Angeles is willing to take a flier on LaVine, they might be one of the few potential landing spots where it could work. Again, the Lakers would have to reach an extremely desperate place to pull the trigger on a LaVine deal, but we can't completely take it off the table just yet.
Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers
The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to Jerami Grant in the past and I'd imagine he's been a subject of conversations in the front office as a player they could continue to move forward in targeting this offseason. In theory, he helps upgrade the Lakers' talent pool. The concern that the Lakers could have is that he may not be an ideal fit of what the team needs. Ideally, the Lakers would be able to land a playmaking guard to help balance out the talent in the starting 5. Adding another power forward may not be the smartest move for the Lakers this summer.
At the same time, it may be the team's only real option for adding tangible talent. Unless Anthony Davis is willing to play the center position on a full-time basis, this is a deal that may not be in the team's best interest. However, the Lakers are the ones that know the answer to that question for sure.
If AD is ready to be a center, Grant does make sense. But considering he's shied away from that type of role in the past, that's far from a guarantee.
Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans
At this point in the offseason, there are many who believe Brandon Ingram is going to get traded. It's the old adage of a team not wanting to pay a player the money he believes he's worth. Generally, that leads to a trade. But I'm not so sure the New Orleans Pelicans and Ingram can't find a middle ground over the course of the next few weeks to avoid that from happening. It's something to keep an eye on and if Ingram does end up being traded, the Lakers are a team that could end up showing interest to a certain degree.
Where it gets complicated is the fact Ingram has a history with the Lakers and I'm not sure where that relationship stands at the moment. But even putting that aside, would the Lakers be willing to trade for Ingram with the understanding that they're likely going to have to pay him a max extension right away?
In theory, Ingram could be an excellent fit for the Lakers. He bring an offensive punch that would take a ton of pressure off of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. But the financial part of things certainly complicates it all.
Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards
As unlikely as it may seem for the Los Angeles Lakers and Kyle Kuzma to have a reunion at this point in their respective points in their careers, we can't completely consider it off the table considering he's on the trade block and the asking price (two first-round picks) is something that the team could easily meet. However, I don't know how the dynamic between Kuzma and Anthony Davis will be able to work together in Los Angeles. Talent tends to win out in the NBA but the Lakers may not be so willing to add another power forward considering their clear need in the backcourt.
But if there aren't many other options on the table for the Lakers, perhaps they'd be open to such a move. Heading into the start of next season, the Lakers need to add talent. So far this summer, they haven't been able to do so. At this point, with the market drying up, even though Kuzma isn't a great fit, he may have to be a move the Lakers consider.
If nothing else, Kuzma is a name to keep a close eye on as we head into the thick of the NBA offseason.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
There was a time when it was considered a near lock that the Los Angeles Lakers were going to trade for Trae Young. However, over the last couple of months, that sentiment has changed drastically. But with the trade market quickly drying up and with some of the team's better options already off the table (Dejounte Murray and Donovan Mitchell), it wouldn't be all that surprising to see the Lakers circle back to a player like Young. As arguably the most affordable star player on the trade market, it would be foolish if the Lakers didn't at least consider this potential move.
Young is exactly the type of offensive player that LeBron James and Anthony Davis need in the backcourt but does leave a lot to be desired on the defensive end. And there have been recent concerns about his ability to impact the game in a winning way. Because of all that, there has been a natural hesitation to go all-in for him.
However, as we inch closer and closer to the start of next season, I can't help but wonder if the Lakers' stance on Young begins to change if they continue to whiff on other options.