Lakers' Complete 2023 NBA Trade Deadline Preview, Predictions
The Los Angeles Lakers got a head-start on NBA trade season.
Rather than waiting to make a move closer to the Feb. 9 trade deadline, they brokered a deal with the Washington Wizards for scoring forward Rui Hachimura.
It's not exactly a landscape-shifting type of trade, but such a deal would have depleted L.A.'s asset collection. This swap, instead, only cost the club Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks.
That means the Purple and Gold could have more moves at their disposal, though it remains to be seen how big they want to swing and how much they'll be willing to pay for said swing. We'll try predicting what the future may hold for the Lakers after examining their trade chips and biggest needs to address.
Trade Assets
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The Lakers two best trade assets are clear: their first-round picks in 2027 and 2029. What's less certain is the franchise's willingness to put them in play.
L.A. hasn't made them off-limits, but it only sounds interested in letting them go if a trade would push it closer to championship contention. What exactly that type of transaction would look like for a team sitting on a 24-28 record is anyone's guess.
After sacrificing three second-round picks in the Hachimura deal, the Lakers don't have much capital to pull from on that front. They own their second-round picks in 2023, 2025 and 2027, and they have a 2024 second coming from the Memphis Grizzlies or Washington Wizards, but those four picks are it.
In terms of players, the ones who would have positive trade value on their own are likely off-limits (think: LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves). They do, however, have a slew of expiring contracts if anyone wants to clean their books before the offseason. The likely needle-movers there are Russell Westbrook's $47.1 million salary and Patrick Beverley's $13 million, per Spotrac.
Team Needs
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You could make a decent argument that if any basketball need exists, the Lakers probably have it.
Still, there are a few glaring weaknesses that rise above the rest.
Shooting might top that list. L.A. is dead last in threes (10.5 per game) and 26th in accuracy (33.7 percent). Given the need to keep optimal spacing around James and Davis, it's jarring to see how little shooting this club has.
Size on the perimeter is something else they could use. Secondary playmaking cracks the list, too, particularly if the Lakers wind up dealing Westbrook.
Deadline Predictions
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Our crystal ball can't see the Lakers keeping both of their first-round picks. It also doesn't envision the team putting both into a trade.
Rather, the likeliest scenario is packaging one with a player (maybe Westbrook, more likely Beverley) to land either a solid starter or a high-minute reserve.
Ideally, that's enough to fetch someone who isn't quite a difference-maker but sits just a tier or two beneath that level. Bojan Bogdanović is probably the dream, since he's an expert shooter who also offers a pinch of shot-creation and solid team defense. Kyle Kuzma isn't far behind, as the former Laker is an ignitable scorer who's made serious strides as a defender and distributor.
While the Detroit Pistons sound like they genuinely want to keep Bogdanović, the fact remains that they're rebuilding and he can't really help with that, since his 34th birthday is coming in April. Look for the Lakers to eventually pry him loose with a package built around Beverley and one of those first-round picks, with minimal protection on the pick (top-five at the most).
