The Los Angeles Lakers need another center and more depth in general, a two-pronged issue that makes the Portland Trail Blazers an ideal trading partner for L.A.
The Trail Blazers have an entire roster full of tradeable assets, some of which would provide real value in the Lakers’ rotation.
On Wednesday, Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale proposed an interesting trade that sends a two-player package from Portland of Jerami Grant and Robert Williams III to Los Angeles in exchange for D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and two first-rounders.
“Jettisoning their only two movable first-round picks without grabbing a patented star may come across as a bummer (to the Lakers),” Favale said.
“Still, a healthy RW3 provides a major boost to the big-man rotation and defense, both with and without Anthony Davis. And Jerami Grant can wear all sorts of hats on both ends, often to the point he looks like a fringe star.”
“Los Angeles can haggle over the picks and push for swaps instead of an outright obligation in 2031. Portland is giving up enough to draw the line. If the Lakers are at all serious about capitalizing on what’s left of the joint AD-LeBron James window, they should give this at least some consideration.”
Grant is in year two of a five-year, $160 million contract. Williams III is in year three of a four-year, $48 million contract.