Breaking News: Three Lakers Trade Objectives to Steer Clear of at All Costs

Breaking News: Three Lakers Trade Objectives to Steer Clear of at All Costs

The Los Angeles Lakers are under pressure to bolster their roster in the next summer. JJ Redick’s hire was the first of the Lakers’ adjustments following their poor playoff performance against the Denver Nuggets. The roster rearrangement process will go on.

The Lakers’ greatest option, given their limited cap space, is to bolster their squad by being active in trades. They must avoid, nevertheless, the error of becoming overly forceful and acting just to initiate contact. It is imperative that they select players that complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis and offer them a genuine opportunity to challenge for championships. They should stay away from these three players at all costs.

Given that his trade market is apparently not very strong, acquiring the two-time All-Star won’t likely be very costly. Yes, there is a rationale behind that. LaVine’s contract runs until the conclusion of the 2026–2027 season, and he is owed $43 million for the 2024–2025 season.

For the last two seasons, he hasn’t performed at a level that is appropriate for that level. Due to injury, he was limited to just 25 games last year, but even in those 25 games, he was everything but his typical self, averaging 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists on 45.2/34.9/85.4% shooting splits.

 

When performing well, LaVine is a useful player. He can go to the rim, generate shots for his teammates, and shoot the ball with deadly accuracy. Nevertheless, he is an offensive-only player who has never faced postseason opposition.

For any club, taking on his massive deal is a bad idea, but for the Lakers—who have LeBron James and Anthony Davis on max contracts—it would be exceptionally terrible. To acquire Zach LaVine, you don’t want to completely forfeit your cap space and financial flexibility.