Lakers News: Breaking Down Los Angeles' Decision to Stand Pat at Trade Deadline
A total of 11 deals went down before the NBA's trade deadline struck Thursday, yet the 13-40 Los Angeles Lakers weren't among the teams involved.
In the days leading up to the deadline, the Lakers reportedly had interest in the likes of Goran Dragic, Ty Lawson and Miles Plumlee. Well, Dragic is now a member of the Miami Heat, while Lawson remains with the Denver Nuggets, and Plumlee is with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The fact that none of these players found their way to Los Angeles was a bit upsetting to many Lakers fans; however, the team's inability to get a deal done will be a blessing in the long run. Let's take Miami's deal for Dragic into consideration.
According to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel, the Heat gave up a 2017 first-round pick, a 2021 first-round pick and four players for the guard—quite a hefty price. This is a risky move for Miami, as Dragic will need to propel a struggling team into serious contention to warrant giving up two future first-rounders who could ultimately turn into lottery picks.
Speaking of lottery picks, the Lakers still have their own 2015 first-rounder intact following the trade deadline. Due to poor play this season, Los Angeles is likely to keep that pick (top-five protected), which it would otherwise convey to the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers also have this year's first-round selection of the Houston Rockets—a pick that should fall in the 20s.
Should Los Angeles continue to falter, there's still a possibility the team winds up with the draft's No. 1 overall selection—and presumably Duke center Jahlil Okafor.
Now, consider this—Dragic will be a free agent this summer, and there's still a chance the Lakers can acquire him via free agency as well. All of a sudden, Los Angeles would have a young, talented player to build its frontcourt around and a vastly improved veteran guard to solidify the backcourt.
What if Dragic re-signs with Miami? Well, then the Lakers miss out; however, keep this statement from Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times in the back of your mind:
"There's a strong chance Dragic will re-sign in Miami, but then the Lakers can turn their sights to Rajon Rondo if he doesn't want to stay with the Dallas Mavericks. The Denver Nuggets were rumored to have point guard Ty Lawson on the market, perhaps the Lakers can pursue a trade angle down the road.
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Perhaps head coach Byron Scott put it best during an interview with Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times, "I think we need pieces at every position."
If the Lakers had taken part in a blockbuster trade prior to the deadline, they would have offloaded the remainder of their already limited assets. Sure, they would have acquired a top-flight veteran, but at this point, one player won't be enough to turn this team around.
The fact of the matter is this: Los Angeles has plenty of options going forward.
So, where does the team go from here?
The front office will spend the remainder of this season evaluating players. The Lakers must decide which members of their current roster have futures with the team and which they will allow to walk into free agency or trade during the offseason.
Jordan Clarkson is showing promise in the backcourt, averaging 7.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 18.1 minutes per game. He has the rest of the year to continue his development before Scott and Co. decide what kind of role he'll be playing down the road. The team still doesn't know what it has in Xavier Henry and Julius Randle, and both players should be expected to provide a big boost next season.
With Clarkson gaining experience and Henry and Randle getting healthy, plus the impending additions of valuable rookies with two first-round picks and the financial flexibility to acquire top-notch veterans during the summer, the Lakers have a solid chance to forge a massive turnaround.
Standing pat at the trade deadline just brightened the light at the end of the tunnel for the Lakers.
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