Holiday shopping isn’t over for the Los Angeles Lakers, who are “monitoring the sellers around the NBA,” per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Singling out the Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, and Chicago Bulls as potential trade suitors, the insider reveals that L.A. is willing to move up to three first-round picks for immediate help. The caveat is that they want a player who Lakers head coach JJ Redick can help mold after LeBron James retires.
Shams Charania: “They’re [Lakers] monitoring the sellers around the NBA: Portland, Washington, Toronto, maybe Chicago.”
— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) December 26, 2024
If so, the Wizards are the best option among the listed teams.
Wizards Trade Fits Lakers’ Needs Most Amid Recent Rumors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors appear committed to the young core of Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Scottie Barnes right now. As a result, Jakob Poeltl would likely be the focus of and best player in their trade talks, even if the Lakers had their eye on young players like Gradey Dick and Ja’Kobe Walter. A broad shouldered center with a familiar European game, Poeltl can definitely fortify their frontcourt rotation.
Portland Trail Blazers
A package from the Blazers would likely revolve around Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant.
There aren’t many differences between Simons and D’Angelo Russell, who L.A. has been dangling as trade bait. Yet, the best part of adding Simons is his youth, as he’s just 25 years old.
Grant is probably a more valuable addition as he’s a more advanced scorer than Rui Hachimura is right now. However, the former ninth overall pick is valuable glue piece in the starting lineup. Giving him fewer minutes may not work in their favor. The same goes for the idea of Grant allowing James to rest more.
Chicago Bulls
High-flying wing Zach LaVine might finally land in Los Angeles after years of speculation. That is, unless the Lakers turned their attention to Nikola Vucevic, whose blistering hot shooting could open up the paint for players like James and Anthony Davis. LaVine is a deadly marksman himself though, which should matter for a team that ranks in the bottom-10 in three-point conversions, three-point attempts, and three-point percentage (.348).
If the Lakers are set on adding a younger player, 2021 No. 6 pick Josh Giddey fits the description. In the immediate future, he’d be a high IQ floor general who stabilized the point guard position. Down the line, he could star in it.
Washington Wizards
If the Lakers were able to strike a deal with the Wizards, they could come away with a package that includes Kyle Kuzma, Jonas Valanciunas, and Jordan Poole. However, the math suggests that L.A. would have to be willing to trade Hachimura to acquire the Poole.
Kuzma hasn’t gotten off to a great start this season. Nonetheless, he’s an underrated scorer with playmaker who won a championship with L.A. in 2020. Valanciunas, who’s even more skilled than Poeltl, was among the players James was willing to take a small paycut for this offseason. Poole, an NBA champion with a smooth offensive game, also has a tendency to shine in the clutch.
By making this trade, it’ll be like consolidating the other potential packages.
Like Grant, Kuzma —who should already have chemistry with James and Davis —helps solidify the frontcourt rotation. Valanciunas does the same. Furthermore, whether or not his three-ball is falling like Vucevic’s, he possesses the physical tools the Lakers have been looking for at center. Poole isn’t as explosive as Simons or LaVine but he’s quick, crafty, and on fire.
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