Report: Lakers Discussed 4-Team Trade with Knicks, Jazz Before Donovan Mitchell Deal

The Los Angeles Lakers were in talks about a four-team deal involving the New York Knicks, Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets earlier this summer before the Jazz sent Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Per The Athletic's Sam Amick and Jovan Buha, one preliminary iteration of the talks between the four teams would have seen the Lakers get Bojan Bogdanovic and Terry Rozier.

Amick and Buha noted the Lakers and Jazz are still talking, with Los Angeles pursuing Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson and Malik Beasley.

The Cavs acquired Mitchell from the Jazz for Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three draft picks and two pick swaps on Sept. 1.

The rumor mill continues to churn with talk about what the Lakers might look to do before the start of the regular season. They did add help on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.64 million deal with Dennis Schröder, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Buddy Hield and Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers have been linked to the Lakers throughout the offseason, but there's no indication anything is getting close between the two sides.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported earlier this week on SportsCenter (h/t Arthur Hill of Hoops Rumors) that Los Angeles has shown a willingness to use its 2027 and 2029 first-round draft picks for the right player(s).

According to Wojnarowski, Hield and Turner wouldn't be enough to get the Lakers to use both of those picks to facilitate a deal.

The Jazz might be the best potential partner for the Lakers in their quest to find players who can help them compete for a playoff spot this season. Utah is clearly in sell mode after moving Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.

Los Angeles has already taken advantage of the Jazz's fire sale by acquiring Patrick Beverley for Stanley Johnson and Talen Horton-Tucker. Clarkson is very familiar with the Lakers, having spent the first three-and-a-half years of his career with the team.

Bogdanovic is probably the best trade candidate still on Utah's roster. The 33-year-old is owed $19.3 million in 2022-23, the final season of his current deal. He's averaged 18.3 points per game with a 40.3 three-point percentage over the past four seasons.

The Lakers are coming off an 11th-place finish in the Western Conference with a 33-49 record in 2021-22.