'Growing possibility' Lakers move Bamba, Beasley, and pick 17

It’s a growing possibility that the Lakers will package Mo Bamba and/or Malik Beasley along with the 17th overall pick for a starter-level upgrade.

There are a variety of options for LA if they pursue this trade. With teams that own multiple first-round picks and want to trade up, the Lakers could take advantage.

There’s a growing possibility that the Lakers can make a move at the 2023 NBA Draft, flipping their pick (No. 17), along with Mo Bamba and/or Malik Beasley for a starting-level upgrade.@jovanbuha has the latest on the Lakers: https://t.co/A3VUeQdoe2 pic.twitter.com/pKQIuxS45W

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 16, 2023

One option is Indiana Pacers sharpshooter Buddy Hield. Hield has long been a target for the Lakers due to his elite shooting ability. Indiana holds the 7th, 26th, and 29th picks in the first round of the draft.

They are a team on the radar to move back up to the middle of the first round. To make this work, the Lakers could accept Beasley’s team option and send pick 17 to the Pacers for Hield and pick 26.

This would allow LA to still make a pick in the first round and acquire one of the league’s top shooters. Hield averaged 17/5/3 this season, shooting 42.5% from three.

"Lakers are exploring trades with teams that have multiple first-round picks."

Indiana has 26, 29 and 32. They also have Buddy Hield, who the Lakers have targeted for years and whose salary is almost identical to Malik Beasley's.

Come on Rob. This one is pretty straightforward. https://t.co/LzDNSTeOPH

— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) June 14, 2023

Another team that could trade up in the draft is the Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn holds the 21st and 22nd picks in the first round. 

Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale are two potential targets for a ‘starting-caliber’ upgrade. A Finney-Smith trade could look like Beasley and pick 17 for Finney-Smith and pick 21 or 22. Finney-Smith is a great 3&D wing and would fit well in LA. 

He averaged 9/5/2, shooting 41.4% from the field and 35.5% from behind the arc.

Very interesting details here on Dorian Finney-Smith via @NetsDaily pic.twitter.com/sGdJ2ysQNs

— Lauren Gunn (@TheLaurenGunn) June 16, 2023

O’Neale averaged 9/5/4, shooting 38.9% from downtown. He is another 3&D wing that would fit well with the Lakers. A trade for O’Neale would include Bamba and pick for O’Neale and pick 21 or 22.

Rob Pelinka and the front office is wise to explore all of their options. If they are able to pull off a trade to acquire a starting-caliber role player by trading down, it would be highly beneficial. 

As they explore these trades, Hield, Finney-Smith, and O’Neale should be three targets at the top of their priority.