The Los Angeles Lakers have appeared significantly more effective this season under new head coach JJ Redick, despite largely maintaining the same roster as last year. Redick has successfully placed players in positions that maximize their strengths, leading to more consistent and winning performances on the court.
Though it’s early in the season, the Lakers have shown signs of being a more formidable team. However, to truly compete for another championship, they may need to make a trade.
The Lakers have several assets they could use to facilitate a deal, but finding a match with other teams could be challenging. Still, with some creativity from general manager Rob Pelinka, the Lakers could find themselves in a good position to strike a trade.
In an article for Bleacher Report, Andy Bailey proposed some bold trade ideas for the NBA, one of which involved the Lakers acquiring Atlanta Hawks star point guard Trae Young. The deal would send D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, a 2029 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick swap, and a 2031 first-round pick to Atlanta.
“Talk of Trae Young joining LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the Lakers gained more momentum during the offseason. While the Lakers’ better-than-expected performance this season has cooled some of that speculation, it’s still very much a possibility. A losing streak could reignite the conversation, especially if L.A. realizes they’re not equipped to remain a playoff contender once LeBron’s career starts winding down. If that happens, the Lakers may be willing to part with salary-matching contracts and future draft picks to make a deal with the Hawks.”
While adding Young could strengthen the Lakers, it’s unlikely they would part with three first-round picks for him. His trade value has declined in recent years, and the Lakers may only be willing to offer a single first-round pick in a potential trade. Young could provide the Lakers with a third star and bolster their offense, but his defensive shortcomings could make them hesitant to pull the trigger.
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