After trading D’Angelo Russell and three second-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, the Los Angeles Lakers have set the stage for what should be a series of moves to bolster their roster. With LeBron James nearing the twilight of his career, Rob Pelinka must act decisively to ensure the Lakers are serious contenders in the West.
Here are three trades the Lakers can make, all of which work financially using ESPN’s Trade Machine:
Trade 1: Lakers Acquire Jordan Clarkson
Lakers Get: Jordan Clarkson
Jazz Get: Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino
Adding Jordan Clarkson gives the Lakers a dynamic scorer off the bench and a veteran who can create his own shot. Clarkson’s offensive versatility would lighten the load on LeBron and Anthony Davis, especially during key stretches of the regular season and playoffs. Plus, he's been a member of the team before and is well-versed with the big market.
Trade 2: Lakers Acquire Jonas Valanciunas
Lakers Get: Jonas Valanciunas
Wizards Get: Jarred Vanderbilt
Jonas Valanciunas provides the Lakers with a much-needed post presence to complement Anthony Davis. As a double-double machine, Valanciunas would give the Lakers toughness in the paint while allowing Davis to play power forward more often if that's something JJ Redick would want to experiment with. Losing Vanderbilt’s defensive versatility is tough, but Valanciunas addresses a bigger need.
Trade 3: Lakers Acquire Seth Curry
Lakers Get: Seth Curry
Wizards Get: Jaxson Hayes
Adding Seth Curry gives the Lakers a lights-out shooter who can space the floor for LeBron and AD. His ability to knock down threes consistently will open up driving lanes for the Lakers’ stars and make them harder to guard in the halfcourt.
Projected 9-Man Rotation After the Trades
Starters: PG Austin Reaves, SG Max Christie, SF Dalton Knecht, PF LeBron James, C Anthony Davis
Bench: Jordan Clarkson, Seth Curry, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jonas Valanciunas
This rotation strikes a balance between offense and defense. Reaves, LeBron, and Davis would orchestrate the offense, while Christie and Knecht add sharpshooting. The bench becomes dynamic with Finney-Smith’s defensive versatility, Curry’s elite shooting, Clarkson’s scoring, and Valanciunas’ interior presence.
Betting Impact
The Lakers currently have +3500 odds to win the NBA title at BetMGM, implying a 2.78% chance of winning it all. These trades could significantly improve their standing in the Western Conference, potentially making them a stronger contender against elite teams.
If Pelinka can pull off these moves, the Lakers could transition from a middling team to a legitimate title threat, giving LeBron a shot at another ring.
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