Lakers looking to make a trade for long-term success
According to NBA insider Dave McMenamin, the Lakers are looking to make moves that “can improve the team over the next three years or even more.” This comes as sort of a surprise because it seems that the front office could be on a wait-and-see approach with this mindset. LA’s current roster has many players that are on 1-year expiring contracts, which helps out the team if they wait to make a move in the offseason.
If the Lakers were to stick with the current roster for the entire season, they would be dealing with approximately $34 million in cap space this offseason. That number is larger than what they have had in previous offseasons. But knowing the Lakers fan base, the fans do not want to wait for success; they want success now.
Demarcus Cousins is set to work out with the team today, and this report excited some fans. Darvin Ham’s group has lacked shooting all year, as well as bigs who can stretch the floor. The rotation has two bigs capable of doing that with Anthony Davis and Thomas Bryant. Cousins would be another big addition to this roster.
The Lakers are working out Demarcus Cousins TOMORROW! 👀 pic.twitter.com/OzYkgFuafK
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) January 12, 2023
Along with Cousins working out with the team, Meyers Leonard is also set to be in the gym for a workout as well. Leonard is a seven-footer, a career 39% three-point shooter, but he has some off-court issues as he was fined and suspended for saying an anti-Semitic slur during a livestream.
The team also recently signed Sterling Brown to a 10-day contract, but he has not provided much. He has appeared in 4 games but has yet to score a single point. LA may look to add Cousins or Leonard to that 10-day contract and then assess if they can be an asset for the rest of the season.
As far as trades go, the Lakers have pieces that teams may be interested in, such as Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn, and draft picks. One player that has been on the front office’s radar for years now and would be a great fit is Gary Trent Jr. Trent Jr. is a two-way player, which is something that is valued within the organization. He is averaging 18 points while shooting 35% from three-point range this season. He is making $17.5 million this season and has a player option for $18.3 million next season. A trade centered around him would put the Lakers in a great position, plus he is only 24 years old.
A potential lineup of Schroder, Trent Jr, LeBron, Davis, and Bryant with Walker, Reaves, and Westbrook off the bench would provide this team with a lot more depth than what they had to begin the season.