NBA Trade Rumors: Exploring three non-Zach LaVine trade candidates the Los Angeles Lakers should target ahead of the trade deadline.
The Los Angeles Lakers currently sit at 17-17, good enough for 10th place in the Western Conference standings. They could look to make a move as the calendar has flipped to 2024 and the trade deadline is quickly approaching.
The Lakers have some 20-odd games remaining before the deadline (February 8) but could look to make a move much sooner than that. With a lineup that already features LeBron James and Anthony Davis, adding a third star could unlock this team's potential and bring them back to the Finals. An aging LeBron James is doing way too much during the regular season, and if they want to save some minutes for him for the playoffs, the Lakers need to be proactive.
Zach LaVine's name has been floated around as a target for the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Chicago Bulls have been playing relatively well over the past few weeks. This is why we will be looking at three players not named Zach LaVine who could join the Lakers and make them championship contenders.
Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam, PF/C
If the Los Angeles Lakers are going to continue rolling out lineups with LeBron at the point guard, then this move makes even more sense. Pascal Siakam gives the Lakers a dynamic, two-way player who can alleviate a lot of the offensive and defensive pressure this team currently feels.
The Lakers need at least one of James and Davis on the court at all times, or else this team has a difficult time being consistent on either end of the floor. Siakam's play style allows the Lakers to rest LeBron and AD more because Siakam can play without either of them on the court. He is good enough to create for himself and others, and his willingness on the defensive end means the Lakers won't have to worry much on that end when AD takes a rest.
The Raptors are finally showing a willingness to part ways with their former franchise cornerstones, coming to the rightful conclusion that this iteration of Raptor basketball is not going to win with its current pieces and it should look to move off of its veteran players. When the Raptors traded OG Anunoby to the Knicks, this signaled a chance for other championship contenders to inquire about Siakam.
The Lakers would be smart to put in an offer for the 6-foot-8 rangy forward. He's a two-time All-Star and All-NBA member who won a championship with the Raptors in 2019. He's having another strong season this year, averaging 22.4 points, five assists, and 6.5 rebounds per game. He hits threes, creates for others and he can be the primary offensive option in spurts. His high motor and two-way ability fit well into head coach Darvin Ham's system. If the Lakers are serious about adding talent to a mediocre team, Siakam would be an awesome get.
Atlanta Hawks: Dejounte Murray, PG/SG
Even though Dejounte Murray's glamour stats are still very tantalizing since he joined the Atlanta Hawks, it feels like he and Trae Young haven't truly gelled together on the court. It still very much looks like this is Trae Young's team and the offense will continue to run through the high-usage guard. Should the Hawks be looking for a change, and their recent play might suggest they are, the Lakers should jump at the opportunity to bring in Murray.
The Lakers could use better guard play on both ends of the court. It wasn't long ago that D'Angelo Russell was being benched in the playoffs because he couldn't perform well enough on defense to keep him on the court. This is the issue with microwave-scoring guards with little defensive talent - when they are hitting shots and outpacing their defensive inefficiencies, they are worthy of playing time.
When they aren't hitting shots, they shouldn't be on the court. Murray is a long, tough, defense-first guard, the type of guard that the Lakers haven't had since Lonzo Ball. Murray is best with the ball in his hands, but his superior court vision and impressive passing acumen allow him to find open players all over the court. His fit with LeBron and AD wouldn't be an issue.
Look at Murray's stats throughout the first five seasons of his career and every year his assists per game go up until he is traded to Atlanta. In his first season in Atlanta, his assist numbers drop from 9.2 assists per game to 6.1 assists per game. His assists this year are down to 5.2 APG. The Lakers don't have too many natural ball movers and passing maestros on their roster. Murray would change that and I wouldn't be surprised to see him bring those assist numbers up if he were traded.
With the way the season is trending for the Hawks, Murray could be had for much cheaper than when the Hawks initially traded for him. This would be great for a Lakers team looking to make a move to get them back to relevance.
Charlotte Hornets: Terry Rozier, PG/SG
I wanted to go with Gordon Hayward here, but he is older and at this point, a trip over a loose shoelace away from missing extended time with an injury. Which is why I went with Terry Rozier. "Scary Terry" might not be the most lavish of names to come through trade rumors for the Lakers, but hear me out. Rozier is easily having the best season of his career for a lowly Charlotte Hornets team that should be focusing on rebuilding rather than being mediocre at losing. Rozier is averaging 23.6 points, 7.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game with a shooting line of (46.3/37.0/85.4). His points per game and assists per game are career highs.
Rozier is having an impressive career turnaround in Charlotte. He has quickly gone from an energizer/microwave scorer off the bench in Boston to a reliable, consistent, asset. It is yet to be seen if Rozier can match this production for a championship-contending team, but his time with the Boston Celtics suggests that he can. Rozier is not the biggest 6-foot-1 point-of-attack defender, but his strong frame and long 6-foot-8 wingspan allow him to not be overmatched defensively often.
The Lakers should be looking for players who can run the offense, hit open threes, and can hold their own on the defensive end. Rozier checks all three of those boxes. I also personally think that he would just look super cool in the Purple and Gold. He strikes me as a Laker. He plays with heart and effort and you see that in every play. I can see him now, pickpocketing Steph Curry at the three-point line, sparking a transition opportunity for the Lakers where he either pulls up from three himself or takes it to the hoop to liven up the LA crowd with a hellacious dunk.
Either way, the Lakers should look to bring "Scary Terry" in before the trade deadline, to help ignite the championship spark this team seems to be lacking right now.
The Lakers are far from a complete team, but with one big move that can easily change. Pascal Siakam, Dejounte Murray, and Terry Rozier pack similar traits in different body sizes. All three are able to run the offense, self-create, create for others, defend well, and provide an energy boost to a somewhat dormant team. If the Lakers want to make a big trade, they should look no further than bringing in any of these three. The added bonus to these three moves is that all three of their current respective teams are underperforming which could mean the Lakers could acquire them for cheap.