Lakers' Most Realistic Trade Targets in 2023 Offseason

The Los Angeles Lakers are doing everything they can to put a championship ending on what had been a frustrating 2022-23 NBA season.

We're looking farther ahead.

With LeBron James incredibly still playing at a high level and Anthony Davis showing he remains in the superstar conversation, the Lakers have every reason to believe they'll be contenders once again during the 2023-24 campaign. To help increase their title odds for next season, we have identified three of the top trade targets they can realistically afford.

Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 09: Buddy Hield #24 of the Indiana Pacers takes the ball as Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks defends at Madison Square Garden on April 09, 2023 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Lakers made a desperate attempt at the trade deadline to find the shooting they lacked to improve their offensive spacing. The roster changes helped, but they didn't go far enough.

From the Feb. 9 deadline to the end of the regular season, L.A. ranked just 20th in threes (11.3 per game) and 15th in three-point percentage (36.2). Through seven playoff games, the Lakers are down to just 10.1 threes on 30.2 percent shooting—both would have been the worst such marks this season.

That's why the Lakers should strongly consider making another run at Buddy Hield. As far as three-point shooters go, he ranks among the very best of the best. He is a career 40.2 percent shooter from range and just finished his fifth consecutive season with more than three triples per game.

With his 31st birthday looming in December, he's also perhaps too old for the rebuilding Indiana Pacers to keep. And since he's primarily a shooting specialist, he shouldn't cost a fortune in a trade.

Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks (Sign-and-Trade)

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 28: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Dallas Mavericks greets LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers as he attends a basketball game between Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies Round 1 Game 6 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on April 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

More Kyrie Irving to the Lakers talk? You better believe it.

Granted, there is a report that L.A. is "uninterested" in reuniting Irving with his old championship running mate LeBron James this summer, per The Athletic's Tim Cato. It seems way too early for the Lakers to make that call, though, particularly when James went public with his disappointment in the team's inability to deal for Irving.

"I can't sit here and say I'm not disappointed on not being able to land such a talent, but [also] someone that I had great chemistry with, and know I got great chemistry with on the floor, that can help you win championships, in my mind, in my eyes," James told ESPN's Michael Wilbon in February.

While the Lakers have found (and developed) more shooting and shot-creation alongside James and Davis, they haven't spawned a star who's anywhere near Irving's caliber. His average outing this season featured 27.1 points, 5.5 assists and 3.1 threes (on 37.9 percent shooting), and you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone characterizing the campaign as one of Irving's best.

He is one of the greatest offensive players in this league. Slotting him alongside James and Davis—by way of a sign-and-trade, perhaps featuring D'Angelo Russell—would give L.A. as much star power as any team in this league.

Doug McDermott, San Antonio Spurs

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SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 2: Doug McDermott #17 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 2, 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Lakers might feel good enough about this playoff run—wherever it ends—to deem only minor tweaks necessary going forward.

That's how a role-playing specialist like Doug McDermott could wind up high on their wish list.

The 31-year-old is an absurdly good shooter from distance, owning a 41 percent career splash rate. He doesn't bring much else to the table, but if the rebuilding San Antonio Spurs put a reasonable trade price tag on him, he wouldn't need to.

For 20-ish minutes per night, he could grant this offense the ability to breathe and widen lanes for James and Davis to attack. The spacing alone could be massive, and if McDermott heats up and changes the outcome of a playoff game or two, he would be a steal.