Imagining an Aggressive 8-Player Los Angeles Lakers Trade
The Los Angeles Lakers are in a period of evaluation after acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets. Does the team have enough for a deep playoff run, or will the team cash out draft currency for upgrades before the February 6 trade deadline?
A more moderate path of acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz was explored in Part 1. What would a more aggressive Lakers deal with the Jazz look like to replace what was lost in ball-handling when they sent D'Angelo Russell to Brooklyn?
The following is the second in a three-part series.
Lakers Trade Primer
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As previously detailed, the Lakers are a high-spending team limited by the NBA's many restrictions in the 2023 collective bargaining agreement.
Payroll is currently at $185.4 million for 15 guaranteed players (plus three two-ways), and the Lakers have been clear that they have no plans to exceed the league's second apron ($188.9 million). Any deal adding a multi-year salary, like Collin Sexton's for 2025-26, must account for the franchise staying below next year's second apron (about $207.8 million).
Competing executives have also told B/R that the Lakers (at least to date) have shown no interest in discussing trades that include Rui Hachimura or Dalton Knecht (or, obviously, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, Bronny James, etc.). The two recently acquired players (Finney Smith and Milton) cannot be aggregated in trade before the February 6 deadline—taking Milton out of the equation.
Outside of two second-round picks this June (their own plus one from the Los Angeles Clippers), the most that the Lakers can offer in draft compensation, due to the Stepien Rule, are first-rounders in 2029 and 2031 (with limited means of protection).
Full Trade Scenario
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Los Angeles Lakers get:
- Collin Sexton
- Walker Kessler
- Patty Mills
Utah Jazz get:
- Gabe Vincent
- Christian Wood
- Jalen Hood-Schifino
- Cam Reddish
- Jaxson Hayes
- Removal of top-4 protection on the Lakers' 2027 first-rounder
- 2029 first-rounder
- 2031 first-rounder
- $7.4 million trade exception (Sexton)
- $2.1 million trade exception (Mills)
Note: The Lakers previously sent the 2027 first-rounder to Utah in the Russell Westbrook trade. It will only be conveyed if L.A. is in the 5-30 range; otherwise, it will send its 2027 second-rounder. If the Lakers win the lottery (Nos. 1-4), their second-rounder will go to the Nets. After the Kessler trade, the 2027 second-rounder would still go to the Nets or Jazz, with the adjustment removing protection in the first round.
The Jazz need to open two roster spots before executing the trade either through another deal, expanding this to a three-team trade or by cutting players like Svi Mykhailiuk and Drew Eubanks. Both would be eligible for re-signing if, after the Lakers deal, the Jazz make room on the roster.
Why the Los Angeles Lakers Do It
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Acquiring Sexton is a complicated decision for the Lakers. The team has been successful in relying heavily on the offensive creation of LeBron James and Austin Reaves, but do the Lakers need another dynamic offensive creator, especially in the playoffs when defenses have more time to game-plan than in the regular season?
Sexton is averaging 17.7 points and 3.8 assists per game for the Jazz this season, shooting a career-high 43.8 percent from three-point range. He has dimensions similar to Gabe Vincent's but is a scorer first who can also play-make (career average of 3.6 assists). He is not nearly as strong defensively as Vincent (who is more offensively challenged at 0.9 assists per game and 33.0 percent from three). Vincent has also struggled to stay healthy in Los Angeles, as he's currently out with an oblique strain.
Add in that Sexton is with Klutch Sports Group, the same agency that represents LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and it's feasible the Lakers' stars pressure the team into acquiring the 26-year-old guard. James' support would be vital. With Sexton earning up to $19.5 million (with incentives) next season, James would need to opt out of his $52.6 million for 2025-26.
With the Lakers treating the second apron as a hard cap, James could re-sign for approximately $45 million, giving the team enough room to bring back nearly the same roster (less Mills), sign their two second-round picks and use the taxpayer mid-level exception (about $5.7 million) on a free agent.
James and the Lakers' front office must believe that Sexton, Kessler and the current rostered players are enough to compete at the highest level this year and next. L.A. would sacrifice active rotation depth in the deal with Reddish and Hayes out but would have the means to replace them soon after the deal with prorated minimum players.
The Lakers would also be out of movable first-round picks for the next couple of years, so the team would probably be out of the "next star who comes available in trade" business for the foreseeable future.
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Why the Utah Jazz Do It
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The Jazz fully invest in the Lakers being a disaster after James retires. L.A. had a six-season playoff drought the years after Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles' tendon in 2013. Utah might prefer to move Jordan Clarkson over Sexton, but the combination with Kessler gives the franchise three unprotected firsts from the Lakers (2027, 2029, 2031).
None of the players coming into Utah move the needle, but the Jazz (8-25) are focused on development and lottery position more than winning. Perhaps Hayes and Hood-Schifino (who has also struggled to stay healthy) get a chance to play, but Hayes and Reddish may be buyout candidates. Vincent is the only player under contract next season ($11.5 million).
Patty Mills is a throw-in to Los Angeles for roster space. After shedding two incoming players from L.A., like Wood and Reddish, the Jazz could re-sign Mykhailiuk and Eubanks (if desired).
*Next up, a less costly, conservative move for the Lakers instead of dealing with the Jazz. Check back Wednesday, Jan. 8 for Part III of our Lakers trade series.
Note: The third part of the series has been delayed due to the wildfires in Los Angeles. Check back soon for an update.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X/Twitter @EricPincus.
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