NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers to Be Aggressive amid Trae Young Buzz Entering Free Agency

Looking for ways to upgrade their roster after another playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers will be keeping a close eye on the trade market this summer.

Per The Athletic's Shams Charania, Jovan Buha and Sam Amick, the Lakers are "expected to be aggressive" in the trade market, with Trae Young cited as a potentially "intriguing" option if the Atlanta Hawks make him available.

There have been rumblings connecting the Lakers to a third star player to join LeBron James and Anthony Davis dating back to the regular season. They were linked to Dejounte Murray prior to the trade deadline, but nothing came of those talks.

During a live stream in March (h/t Edwin Garcia of Silver Screen and Roll), Buha cited Young as a player who is "continually" linked to the Lakers in part because he's represented by Klutch Sports.

A point guard who can run the offense so James doesn't have to be the one primary ballhandler would seem like an obvious fit for the Lakers.

This is also contingent on James returning to Los Angeles. He has a $51.4 million player option for next season, but The Athletic noted the team is open to discussing any deal that would bring him back.

James can sign a max deal for three years and $164 million this summer if he opts out of his current contract.

On Tuesday's episode of Get Up (starts at 5:00 mark), ESPN's Brian Windhorst suggested the Lakers could go after Young, but they also need another big man because they lacked size against the Nuggets.

The Hawks have declined to entertain trade offers for Young in the past, but that seems like it could change this summer.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon said earlier this month on an episode of The Lowe Post podcast the trade rumblings about Young are "legitimate" going into the offseason.

In addition to James' contract, D'Angelo Russell is the other major potential free agent for the Lakers. He has an $18.7 million player option next season that he's considered "likely" to opt out of.

Since reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, the Hawks lost in the first round of the playoffs in each of the next two years. They missed the playoffs this year after losing to the Chicago Bulls in the play-in tournament.

Young is guaranteed $89 million over the next two seasons on his current contract, along with a $48.97 million salary in 2026-27 if he doesn't use his early termination option.