May the 15-12 Los Angeles Lakers – who have not made a single commerce since February 9, 2023 – be heading for the fences with a pricey deal to avoid wasting their 2024-25 season from what in any other case seems to be one other fast playoff sequence exit?
It seems that, given group president and common supervisor Rob Pelinka’s reluctance to half together with his future commerce belongings at previous commerce deadlines, he isn’t significantly assured in Los’s upside prospects. Angeles.
That stated, with a rabid fan base and sure some behind-the-scenes strain from the league’s oldest energetic participant — 39-year-old All-NBA energy ahead LeBron James — it appears probably that Pelinka should at much less make some marginal actions. to enhance its workforce.
Alternatively, the Lakers might look to go a little bit additional, whereas threading the needle a bit, by hanging a win-now deal to bolster their offensive versatility with out giving up all of their future draft fairness.
Los Angeles might in all probability get away with giving up a closely protected first-round decide or maybe a number of second-round picks in trade for the contract of Toronto Raptors small ahead RJ Barrett.
Barrett, Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley and a second-round decide had been shipped to Barrett’s hometown Raptors in trade for oft-injured championship ahead OG Anunoby. So it is attainable that no first-round picks shall be poached in a subsequent commerce.
The Lakers might transfer the $11 million contract of underperforming level guard Gabe Vincent, in addition to beginning combo ahead Rui Hachimura (who makes $27 million this yr), to Toronto for the contract. $25.8 million from Barrett and veteran swingman Garrett Temple, who in his prime was a enjoyable participant. two-way position participant, however is now extra of a coach who has traveled quite a bit on the sphere.
For the 7-21 Raptors this yr, the 6-foot-6 Duke product is averaging 23.5 factors on .455/.350/.725 capturing splits, 6.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists per struggle. These numbers would naturally drop as he probably turns into fourth fiddle behind All-NBA frontcourt stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis and level guard Austin Reaves, however Barrett is a extra athletic and constant scorer than the slower Hachimura, who performs outdoors de – small ahead place subsequent to James, even slower, anyway.
This may be an economical approach (when it comes to belongings) for Los Angeles to make a big roster shake-up and not less than attempt to add a little bit extra punch to their offensive assault.
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