The Los Angeles Lakers just might make the trade that everyone’s been talking about.
The Lakers probably need a third megastar to push them to the top of the Western Conference, even with the recent emergence of Dalton Knecht.
That’s exactly why LA’s GM Rob Pelinka is likely mulling a Trae Young trade, despite Young’s defensive drawbacks.
The allure of a Trae deal for the Lakers is that they wouldn’t have to give up Knecht or Austin Reaves to get him, which would mean their resulting rotation would look nuclear offensively.
On Friday, Bleacher Report’s Zack Buckley outlined what a deal would look like for Young:
“Young and Cody Zeller to the Los Angeles Lakers for D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick,” Buckley said.
“The Lakers, who have been linked to Young in the past, might still feel they need more star power and shot creation around LeBron James and Anthony Davis to contend for the crown,” Buckley added.
“There would certainly be defensive questions upon Young’s arrival, but he could up the team’s three-point volume and ease James’s burden on the offensive end. And if anyone could successfully anchor a defense behind a Young-Austin Reaves backcourt, it just might be Davis. Zeller, who hasn’t played this season due to personal reasons, would simply help make the money work.”
“The Hawks may not get much value beyond the 2029 first here, but that’s still a coveted asset (especially in return for someone with seemingly little to no interest). Plus, they’d gain a future second and might have better luck developing Hood-Schifino, last year’s 17th pick. Russell is an on expiring contract, while Hachimura and Vincent will be next season, so Atlanta wouldn’t be tied long-term to any of the three unless it wanted to.”
A Lakers rotation of LeBron and AD surrounded by Young, Reaves, and Knecht would undeniably be amazing to see. Should Pelinka get on the phone with Atlanta?