Hypothetical Lakers Trades to Boost Pursuit of 2024 NBA Title
The Los Angeles Lakers won't give up their pursuit of the 2022-23 NBA title, but at some point, the championship race will likely abandon them.
They have fewer than 10 games remaining, and they're still fighting just to secure a spot in the play-in tournament. Winning one playoff series—let alone four in a row—would be a shocker.
Whenever the curtain drops on this campaign, the Lakers will need to make the improvements necessary to make sure the next one doesn't go awry. That probably means hitting the trade market to shore up some weak spots. The following three deals—base concepts, not dollar-for-dollar full trade proposals—might do the trick.
Adding All-Star from Chicago
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The Trade: Malik Beasley and the 2029 first-round pick to the Chicago Bulls for DeMar DeRozan
The Lakers need more shot-creation and shot-making around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. That's why they initially gambled on Russell Westbrook, and it's why they targeted D'Angelo Russell at the deadline.
They need more scoring than either could provide, though. That's why they could consider swinging a deal for DeMar DeRozan, the Compton native who's on course to average better than 24 points on 50-plus percent shooting for the second consecutive season.
He isn't the outside shooter L.A. would ideally pair with its two stars, but the trade budget only stretches so far. Turning one future first-rounder and a shooting specialist into a top-tier scorer and solid secondary playmaker is a win, even if the fit isn't perfect.
Chicago, meanwhile, could shift its focus forward this summer. If the Bulls go the rebuilding route, they'd do well to turn a 33-year-old DeRozan into a first-round pick that won't convey until after James and Davis have (almost assuredly) left town.
Finally Adding That Pacers Pair
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The Trade: Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Max Christie, Mo Bamba and 2029 first-round pick to the Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield
The Lakers were eyeballing Myles Turner and Buddy Hield last offseason, but they didn't want to part with both of the future first-round picks they were allowed to trade.
But what if one pick and some interesting young players would get it done? L.A. would have to pounce on that, right?
Turner and Hield could effortlessly slot in a starting five with James, Davis and a re-signed Russell. That quintet has sufficient shooting and probably enough interior defense to plug most leaks from the perimeter. If the Lakers build a functional bench behind it, that's a group that could count contention among its (very) best-case scenarios.
The Pacers have to be prioritizing the future to accept this offer, but rebuilding around Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin should lead to something more interesting than their present. They'd have to view at least two of Jarred Vanderbilt, Max Christie and Mo Bamba as long-term keepers. The first-round pick would be the biggest draw. They could keep Beasley for his spacing or shop him for more assets.
Bulking Up the Bench with a Wing and a Scoring Guard
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The Trade: Mo Bamba and three second-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Kenrich Williams and Tre Mann
The Lakers have often run top-heavy during the James-Davis era. While swinging big for a star is exciting, they'd help themselves by giving more attention to their second unit.
Oklahoma City could help beef up the bench—if it wanted three more second-round picks and Mo Bamba, an insurance policy for Chet Holmgren. That doesn't sound impossible.
If the Thunder bite, the Lakers should be all over this. Kenrich Williams is an all-purpose stopper who has shot better than 38 percent from three since the start of 2020-21. He can play alongside anyone, meaning he could help lead the bench or even support the stars as part of the closing group.
Tre Mann is a spark plug who has impressed with volume but needs a bump in efficiency. Maybe playing off gravitational forces like James and Davis could make that happen.
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