Starting in 2023, Kyrie Irving will be at his best. Which one do you prefer?
Despite falling short of expectations this season, the Los Angeles Lakers may soon receive some much-needed assistance as they sit at 16–15. Los Angeles has already been the site of numerous trade speculations; the latest of these claims suggests that Rоb Pelinka could be interested in trading for two Nets role players.
An article by Jovan Buha stated that the Lakers’ interest in those two players dates back to last summer, possibly even to the trade deadline. “Those two me𝚗 are definitely ones they would be interested in signing.”
The Lakers are staying afloat in the early going thanks to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who are leading the charge. Still, the Lakers’ need for more assistance in achieving a top-six seed this season has been increasingly apparent as of late. Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith, two-way veterans on the Lakers’ wings, would not be the ideal choice, but they’d add depth and outside shooting to an already dangerous Lakers team.
What Are the Lakers’ Top Trade Targets?If the Lakers are going to be competitive this season, they will want wing support, since their offense ranks 24th with an average of 114.1 points. The Lakers, who are now depending on Cam Reddish and Taurean Prince to distribute the floor, would benefit greatly from the return of Royce O’Neal and Finney-Smith. It would be a huge win for Rоb Pelinka if the team can acquire those guys without trading their key players (LeBron, Davis, Reaves, and Rui).
In that case, alternate possibilities are not ruled out. A lot of rumors have been circulating in the trade market recently, and the Lakers have been linked to the majority of them. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are both available in Chicago, and they’re not expensive either. Also, there’s the scenario in Toronto with the trade talks involving Pascal Siakam and valuable two-way veterans OG Anunoby. From any angle, the Lakers can improve their chances of winning by making a move; the question is whether or not this will be sufficient to lead to a deep playoff run.
Western Conference’s Lakers Are a Wild CardIf the Lakers lose LeBron James, they still have a shot at making the playoffs this season. According to some, LeBron is having his greatest season in a long time as he shoots 53.9% from the field and averages 25.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. You can’t write out the Lakers this season just because of his performance. Naturally, there’s Anthony Davis’s performance; he’s been one of the league’s top defenders thus far this season.
Those two superstars have had to shoulder the load for the Lakers since the rest of the squad has been erratic. Currently, the only way to save this season is by a trade, and it will be Rоb Pelinka’s job to locate a fair transaction. Eventually, things will change, whether it’s with the Nets, the Bulls, or another team.
