Fresh NBA Trade Deadline Deals for the Los Angeles Lakers to Consider
The Feb. 18 midseason trade deadline is less than two weeks away. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers continue to sputter in last place in the Western Conference—large blocks of losses sporadically interrupted by a feel-good win or two.
Apart from the Kobe Bryant farewell tour and the chance for fans to witness some throwback performances like his 38-point bombast while beating the Minnesota Timberwolves Tuesday night, this season is just another step forward in an ongoing rebuild.
L.A. has exciting young players like D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson who position them well for the future. But when it comes to other trade assets teams might covet, the Lakers aren’t exactly flush.
I reached out to Joel Cordes—Bleacher Report’s Associate NBA Editor and resident trade guru—and solicited his opinion on scenarios that might help steer L.A. back on the road to success. From modest to ambitious, the proposals were intriguing.
Let the Great Debate begin.
Low-cost Future Center
To Rockets: Lou Williams, Brandon Bass, Ryan Kelly
To Lakers: Corey Brewer, Donatas Motiejunas
Cordes: The Houston Rockets add a guy who can score off the ball while also handling some facilitating duties for James Harden (which is what the failed Ty Lawson experiment was all about). They also bolster the frontcourt in advance of likely moving Terrence Jones as well (which feels inevitable these days).
Giving up on Donatas Motiejunas is a tough pill for Houston, but he's also been hurt and fallen out of the rotation. He's still a highly skilled big, however, and could be a very intriguing fit at starting center alongside Julius Randle going forward. You jump at this deal if LAL, since Corey Brewer is a high-character guy who could help hold down the SF position for a couple of years until that gets sorted out long-term. You're not sending out anyone that's irreplaceable.
Murphy: I get a bit of a twinge when it comes to sending Sweet Lou away. He's one of the Lakers' primary scoring threats, and his presence will be even more integral next season after the Mamba has left the building. But this helps L.A. in their two most critical “need situations” going forward—small forward and center.
L.A. was reportedly interested in Brewer last summer, according to ESPN’s Chris Broussard. And as Corey Hansford at Lakers Nation remarked at the time, the veteran defender is still a “high energy guy who is constantly flying all over the court, and excels at getting out on the break.”
Motiejunas has been tuning up with the Rio Grande Vipers prior to returning to the Rockets. He’s big, still young and has a lot of versatility. If he can get his back right and stay healthy, he’d be a nice piece for the Lakers. Not only does the ESPN Trade Machine approve this deal, I do as well.
Hypothetical, for Science
To Suns: Roy Hibbert
To Lakers: Tyson Chandler, T.J. Warren
Cordes: This technically doesn't work now that Warren is out for the season (and thus can't pass a physical), but it's the type of deal LAL should consider. Taking on the Chandler contract is not something any team wants, but he'd still be an upgrade over Hibbert any day. Yes, he bites into the Lakers' FA money, but who are they really luring this offseason anyway?
By the time the cap explodes again in 2017, Chandler's deal won't look so bad (and could be bought out or stretched if needed). He's also typically played much better once a team is ready to contend for something.
This is really about the Lakers getting a look at their potential SF of the future, as Warren has shown a lot of tools in Phoenix, including an improving jumper. A core of Russell/Clarkson/Warren/Randle is eminently versatile. The Suns like Warren, but freeing up the Chandler contract is probably a price they're willing to pay, as they have young options elsewhere in the meantime (Devin Booker).
Murphy: This one’s a bit dicey for me. I’m not that concerned about Warren, even though foot injuries can be tricky.
Chandler, on the other hand, worries me. He’s just a few months into a $52 million contract, and this is his 15th year in the league. I understand the argument made about the cap exploding again in another year, but is it wise to limit spending options in the meantime, regardless of a potential lack of big-money prospects this summer?
Still, Chandler does offer veteran leadership and still has some game left. Ultimately, I feel a bit split. Chandler’s contract feels like an unnecessary albatross but Warren seems like just the kind of young player who could fill a future gap, tag-teaming with Anthony Brown (the Lakers' promising second-round rookie) at small forward.
The trade machine, however, concurs with Joel.
Piggybacking a Blockbuster
To Wizards: Ryan Anderson (NOP), Alonzo Gee (NOP)
To Hornets: Nene Hilario (WAS), Lou Williams (LAL)
To Pelicans: Al Jefferson (CHA), Nick Young (LAL), Cody Zeller (CHA)
To Lakers: Omer Asik (NOP), Jeremy Lamb, Kelly Oubre Jr. (WAS)
Cordes: Along the same logic as the previous trade, this blockbuster sees the Lakers swallowing the Omer Asik contract (which is longer than Chandler's, but the former's younger and costs less per year) in order to nab a couple of intriguing prospects who could become part of the core. It only costs a couple of vets who shouldn't be part of the big picture anyway.
LAL is essentially swooping in on other teams' big deal here, as New Orleans tests out Al Jefferson and Anthony Davis together (which could work very well now that AD is becoming stretchier) while strengthening their shaky bench.
The Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets are both shuffling their decks and addressing areas of need from positions of strength while grasping at low-seed playoff bids. In either case, if the experiment doesn't work, their acquisitions are FAs and they just opened up some cap space in the process.
Murphy: Asik is overpriced and having a lousy season. As a result, his trade value is in the dumper and the Pelicans would probably jump at a chance to unload him. Lakers fans would probably moan and groan at this one.
But, the guy’s not a bum. He’s still rebounding well and is a definite upgrade from Hibbert. Plus, his $9.2 million a year won’t crush L.A.’s free-agent dreams. Then you move on to the real positives. Lamb has gone from being a quasi-bust with the Oklahoma City Thunder to a nicely developing role player with the Hornets. Having him back up Jordan Clarkson at the shooting guard slot? Sweet.
Oubre Jr. has been parked on the bench a lot during his rookie season with the Wizards. Here in L.A., he’d also spend time there, backing up Bryant during the legend’s farewell tour. But next season? This kid would have a legitimate shot to start.
The Lakers would have to jump on this one. And the trade machine signs off as well.
The Next Great Lakers Center?
To Heat: D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Robert Sacre
To Lakers: Hassan Whiteside, Chris Andersen, Beno Udrih
Cordes: Mikan, Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, O'Neal, Howard (sorry?) and now...Whiteside? The Lakers have always been about top-flight centers, so would they roll the dice on acquiring their next one if all it cost were their two recent rookie prizes?
The likelihood of Whiteside giving up the chance (in free agency) to stay as LAL's centerpiece is very low once he's in the building and getting that first monster contract. Plus, the Lakers still have Jordan Clarkson and their future picks going forward. An argument could be made against giving up this much when the Lakers could just steal away Whiteside from Miami in free agency anyway (with Hibbert and Kobe's contracts expiring), but that's putting the Lakers in a competition with a lot of other teams..
The Heat should jump at a deal like this if they have any inkling (or secret preference) the stat-grabbing monster might not be a good fit for them (which the on/off numbers keep pointing to).
Murphy: The first thing my eyes focused on was giving up Russell and Randle. My immediate and strong reaction was, no! Are you kidding me? Handing over a No. 2 and No. 7 pick? The Lakers lost so bad to get these guys—they’re L.A.’s future!
But then there’s Whiteside, the Cinderella center who bounced around the periphery of professional basketball before landing with the Miami Heat and catching on in the NBA. This guy’s a double-double machine, finishes great in a crowd, snags loose balls with his long reach and has good defensive instincts.
On the other hand, the 7-footer lacks versatility on the offense end of the floor. Will he become a truly elite franchise center? Maybe yes, maybe no. A work in progress.
As for the other components in this proposed swap, I’ve always liked Andersen but there’s not a lot left in his tattooed tank. Beno Udrih is also on the downside of his career.
I’m tempted, seriously temped by Whiteside. But not enough to give up both Russell and Randle. Both Cordes and the trade machine say yes. But I’m going to pass.
These were four worthy trade proposals, delving into critical future need areas for the Lakers. Two were a solid yes, one was a maybe and the last was a no. Thanks to Joel for providing excellent food for thought. You can follow him on Twitter @bball__joel and myself at @davem234.
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