After a terrible season missing the playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers clearly needed to make some changes to their roster. They ended the season with a record of 33 wins and 49 losses, which is very disappointing for a team with two star stars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis .
Night of the 2022 NBA Draft is quickly approaching, which means there may be some trades happening during this time. Maybe the Los Angeles Lakers can get involved too. Here are 5 hypothetical trades that the Lakers could implement on draft night.
The Lakers and Rockets exchanged point guards
The Lakers received: John Wall
The Lakers sent: Russell Westbrook
The transaction of Russell Westbrook and John Wall is just a hypothesis, in The 2022 trade deadline has been heavily reported. Many people think this is a good option for the Los Angeles Lakers, but it may also be the best option.
For the Houston Rockets, this move will give them a veteran leader in Russell Westbrook, who will likely serve as the team's sixth man. During the rebuilding process, it's important to have reliable veterans who can mentor the younger players, and Russell Westbrook can provide that for the Rockets.
The Houston Rockets have sent Christian Wood to the Dallas Mavericks, so the only "veteran" left on the roster is Eric Gordon. The Rockets also appear to want to trade him, as his asking price is a first-round pick. Someone has to provide a veteran voice in the locker room, and maybe that person could be Russell Westbrook. John Wall has been benched in the team's games. Perhaps using him in exchange for Russell Westbrook, a player who can provide intangible assets and experience will be beneficial to the team.
Trading Russell Westbrook for John Wall would make sense for the Los Angeles Lakers as the team attempts to restart its championship pursuit next season. Maybe adding a better fit in John Wall will help them, and he will be able to compete for a championship with LeBron James and Anthony Davis as the third option.
Overall, this trade would allow these two teams to move away from players who are not a good fit for them and put the teams they trade for in a solid position. Russell Westbrook will be fun to lead a young Rockets team, and John Wall will be able to truly compete for a ring.
The Lakers received two veterans who can play complementary roles
The Lakers received: D'Angelo Russell , Patrick Beverley , a 2023 second-round pick
The Lakers sent: Russell - Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker
The Minnesota Timberwolves entered the first round of the season after winning the game, but were defeated by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. Maybe that means they're going to make some changes to their core. D'Angelo Russell is their trade target, and maybe they will consider a point guard with a different style like Russell Westbrook.
Russell Westbrook struggled for the Los Angeles Lakers, but that was partly due to mediocre shooters in the lineup. When paired with Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns , he will likely have open shooting opportunities due to the offensive gravity of these two stars on the perimeter. The same goes for Talen Horton-Tucker, , who is known for his dunks and drives to the rim. Both players will get more shooting opportunities in the lineup.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, this return means getting a complementary point guard in D'Angelo Russell, as well as a star defensive back in Patrick Beverley. Beverley has previously stated that he "wouldn't hesitate" to join LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, which would give him the opportunity to do so.Although the contracts of D'Angelo Russell and Patrick Beverley are about to expire, considering the value of the contracts sent by the Lakers, such a return seems fair.
Whether the Minnesota Timberwolves are willing to make this trade remains to be seen. Maybe a trade like this happens if they don't get a better return for the two veterans, but it's an interesting proposition for both teams.
Lakers got some shooters from Heat but got huge contracts
Lakers received: Kyle Lowry , Duncan Robinson , Max Strauss, No. 27 overall
Lakers sent away : Russell Westbrook, Talon Horton-Tucker
Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat This transfer is beneficial to both parties. The Miami Heat invested heavily in Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson, but both players have been disappointing in the playoffs. The Los Angeles Lakers can help them solve this problem while also giving Russell Westbrook and Talon Horton-Tucker a changed environment. While giving up Max Strauss and the No. 27 pick would hurt in this hypothetical scenario, it would be worth it because it would give the team future flexibility.
Russell Westbrook's contract expires at the end of the 2022-23 season, and he may also become a free agent if Talon Horton-Tucker declines his player option. If the Miami Heat accept this deal, they will clear the long-term contracts of Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson. Even if Talon Horton-Tucker takes up his player option, he could be a potential player for the Miami Heat to develop, just like they do with other players.
In the 2022-23 season, Russell Westbrook and Talen Horton-Tucker will be solid rotation options for the Miami Heat. Westbrook will likely become the starting point guard, while Talon Horton-Tucker may play the role of backup scorer, and Tyler Herro may become the starting shooting guard after the trade. The famed "Heat culture" may help both players thrive, especially Russell Westbrook, who fits the pragmatic mindset the Heat have cultivated over the years.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, this deal will bring them a large number of shooters and the No. 27 pick. Duncan Robinson, Kyle Lowry and Max Strauss all provide good spacing, a key requirement when playing next to Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Duncan Robinson is particularly known for his excellent movement off the ball. Kyle Lowry will be the starting point guard, a player with championship experience who can thrive in a smaller role next to a superstar. His job is to run the offense and space the floor. Max Strauss had an amazing performance in this year's playoffs and may become the Lakers' starting shooting guard. In this case, the No. 27 pick would be used to draft a win-now player who can fill a role for the Lakers and provide defense for the team.
This trade will help the Los Angeles Lakers acquire players who better fit them while also moving on from players who were disappointed last year. Maybe this is the trade they need to build a championship roster around Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
The Lakers also reduced the salary of Pacers while getting healthy players
Lakers received: Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon
Lakers sent: Russell Westbrook , Talon Horton-Tucker
This trade may happen if the Pacers do not receive Malcolm Brogdon draft compensation in a trade with another team. The deal would allow the Pacers to move his contract and free up cap space for the future. The Indiana Pacers have proven that they are entering a rebuilding phase, and signing a long-term contract is usually something rebuilding teams don't want.
Talen Horton-Tucker will be a key addition to the Indiana Pacers.If this deal goes through, and the Indiana Pacers like his performance in 2022-23, they could offer him a lucrative contract extension that would allow him to be Tyrese Haliburton for years to come. backcourt partner. Russell Westbrook is unlikely to play a major role on this team as they will be rebuilding their defense, but he could become their veteran mentor, much like he did with the Houston Rockets.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, this is an opportunity to acquire two veterans who would be a good match for their stars. Malcolm Brogdon is an excellent shooter and organizer: he averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game for the Pacers this season. He will be the Lakers' first choice under Anthony David. A third option after James and LeBron James. Myles Turner will be the Lakers' rim protector and space defender, and he and Anthony Davis will make the Lakers a top defender. Whether transactions under a framework like
will happen remains to be seen. There are other teams interested in Malcolm Brogdon and Myles Turner, and the Lakers' offer may not be the best. If such a trade really happens, the Lakers are very likely to enter the playoffs in the 2022-23 season.
The Lakers traded Anthony Davis for John Collins
The Lakers received: John Collins, Clint Capela , No. 16 pick, future first-round pick
The Lakers sent: Anthony Davis
this The deal traded Anthony Davis for a young power forward, John Collins, as well as Clint Capela and some draft compensation.
While a healthy Anthony Davis is an All-Star, reports have previously suggested that his trade value has dropped significantly. Maybe atlanta the Hawks can do a consolidation deal for the Lakers stars, sending out a deal centered around John Collins. The talent of Anthony Davis is definitely worth the risk. Anthony Davis will provide the Atlanta Hawks with a second star player to pair with superstar Trae Young. There is no doubt that he will Increase their talent level. He's a do-it-all big man who has proven to be a championship-caliber second option and is individually better than both Clint Capela and John Collins. In this case, the Atlanta Hawks will also be able to retain valuable players such as Kevin Huerter and Bogdan Bogdanovic , so they may become a powerhouse in the East.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, this trade will give them durable players who can withstand the regular season. The Lakers' lack of youth and athleticism is obvious, and John Collins and Clint Capela can provide just that. They will provide starting-caliber players at power forward and center, both of whom are solid starters. John Collins, in particular, has a lot going for him and has proven in the past that he can thrive in a bigger role. It's worth noting that Collins would provide much-needed spacing at the power forward position, as he's a star shooter at big size.
In this case, the draft compensation provided by the Atlanta Hawks will help the Los Angeles Lakers acquire some young promising players. The No. 16 pick in this season's draft could be used to sign a player who can contribute immediately, and future picks could be used to do the same thing if the Lakers are still contending in the future.
Overall, this deal will allow the Los Angeles Lakers to get rid of their top-heavy lineup and create a more balanced lineup, which is definitely an earth-shattering deal.
