The Los Angeles Lakers look a lot improved underneath JJ Redick, however they aren’t glad.
The Lakers might want to face a problem within the Western Convention to even take into consideration contending for a title.
Does Los Angeles have sufficient expertise to do it?
Rumors that the Lakers are on the lookout for a 3rd star won’t ever cease, particularly since Los Angeles has useful draft belongings and promising younger gamers like Dalton Knecht to dangle in entrance of sellers.
Trae Younger is a commerce goal that continues to make sense for the Lakers, particularly contemplating the messy state of the Atlanta Hawks.
It is clear that Atlanta just isn’t scuffling with its present core. Extra typically talking, it is tough (if not inconceivable) to contemplate your self a contender if Trae Younger is your finest participant. Trae Younger apologists will level to the truth that Atlanta reached the Jap Convention Finals in 2021, however have been the Hawks actually thought-about contenders then?
It is smart for the Hawks to maneuver on from the Trae period and stack first-round picks consequently. 22-year-old ahead Jalen Johnson has seemed excellent for Atlanta this season – he is an ideal piece to maintain in place. No. 1 general decide Zacharie Risacher has already proven he belongs within the NBA. Risacher took on a beginning position in Atlanta at age 19 and is enjoying inside himself.
From the Lakers’ perspective, they’d like to retain Knecht and develop him sooner or later, however they’d most likely nonetheless be keen to half methods with him if it meant bringing in Trae.
Zach Lowe, common basketball analyst spoken in July on The Lowe put up podcast about how Knecht would seemingly be in a Younger-to-Lakers deal if it fell by way of.
“If the Lakers supplied all their picks, now together with Dalton Knecht, and different good things, Trae Younger could possibly be on the Lakers proper now,” Lowe stated.
Max Dible from Heavy.com added to Lowe’s assertion whereas explaining what buying and selling Trae for Los Angeles would seem like.
“Los Angeles can commerce unprotected first-rounders in 2029 and 2031 with Knecht, who the franchise took with the No. 17 choice within the 2024 NBA Draft,” Dible stated.
“Younger will make greater than $43 million subsequent season, so D’Angelo Russell and the almost $19 million remaining on his contract ought to seemingly be a part of the deal to fill his wage.”
“Nevertheless, among the different ‘good things’ Lowe is referring to could possibly be younger abilities like Max Christie, who the Lakers signed to a four-year extension price $32 million this offseason.”
Neither Knecht nor Christie could be traded earlier than December 15.
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