LeBron, Lakers Wouldn't Get Help Needed from Dejounte, Jerami Grant amid Trade Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers are attempting to turn a 47-win team into an NBA title contender.

With a rookie head coach in JJ Redick. And hopefully with LeBron James, who hasn't made an official decision on his player option for next season.

As far as tall tasks go, this one is Victor Wembanyama-sized. The Lakers need to find a difference-maker, and to their credit, they are reportedly trying. As Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer put it, "the Lakers have evaluated the market for a significant contributor."

That sounds promising, but really it depends on two things: the definition of a "significant contributor" and whether one is actually both available on the trade market and in the Lakers' price range. And there are reasons to worry whether either are true.

Good—But Not Great—Players Linked to the Lakers

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 12: Dejounte Murray #5 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center on April 12, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Hawks 109-106. 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 David Berding/Getty Images)

What exactly constitutes a significant contributor? Does that mean star, or could it pertain to a solid starter or even a high-end reserve?

As it pertains to the Purple and Gold, it should be an NBA elite—or someone very close to that tier. Remember, the Lakers just saw LeBron James and Anthony Davis clear the 70-game mark, and they still had to punch their playoff ticket in the play-in tournament and were promptly bounced out of the opening round in five games.

Right now, the names being connected to the club are non-elites. Fischer mentioned Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray and Portland Trail Blazers swingman Jerami Grant. ESPN's Jonathan Givony echoed the sentiment on Murray and added Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton to the list.

Where is the difference-maker in that group? Murray is the only member of that trio to secure an All-Star spot, and he has only earned that honor once through his seven healthy seasons (2021-22). Grant has either posted decent numbers on good teams or loud stats on lousy ones. Sexton is functionally a 6'3" scoring guard.

Any of them would helpful to have, sure, but would they move the needle in a meaningful manner? That feels debatable. At best.

L.A.'s Best Trade Package Can Be Beaten

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DENVER, CO - APRIL 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during the game against the Denver Nuggets during Round One Game Five of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on April 29, 2024 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)

By delaying their dealings from this past season's trade deadline until the summer, the Lakers opened the possibility of having three first-round picks to trade.

That's not nothing, but it's also not some enormous amount that rival teams are incapable of beating. Think about the trade prices paid in recent years for players like Rudy Gobert (five players, four first-round picks and a first-round swap) or Donovan Mitchell (three players, three first-round picks and two first-round swaps).

The Lakers can't really cobble an offer like those together. And, frankly, if the target is someone like Murray, Grant or Sexton, they aren't worth that kind of investment, anyway.

L.A. could sweeten the pot a bit by dangling someone like Austin Reaves, but is anyone available who's worth making that kind of sacrifice? If they are, they weren't mentioned in these reports.

The Lakers Are in a Tight Spot

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 24: JJ Redick speaks as he is introduced as the Los Angeles Lakers new head coach at UCLA Health Training Center on Monday, June 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Assuming the Lakers are able to retain James, they'll be right back on the championship-or-bust grading scale for the 2024-25 campaign.

So, how they piece together a championship-or-bust roster on a relatively limited budget? Great question.

It's maybe a 50-50 proposition that the draft delivers a rotation-ready player from the No. 17 pick, and those odds might be generous. The Lakers could always trade out of that spot, obviously, but it sounds like plenty of picks are available this year, so it's hard to say what caliber of veteran that pick might actually bring back.

Funds for free agency will be limited unless James heads elsewhere, in which case the whole blueprint would be set ablaze. Trades are an option, but it sure feels like there are significantly more buyers than sellers, so who knows what's possible in this market.

The Lakers aren't hopeless. If James, they'll have one of the league's better star pairings. This supporting cast is decent and could be strengthened on the margins even on this budget. Reddick has a genius-level basketball mind, and maybe he could squeeze more out of the returning players than his predecessor.

And yet, it's still a monumental task to get this team on a title track.