The Los Angeles Lakers have taken a step forward this season compared to last. After failing to sign any of the top names in free agency, many believed that the Lakers would find themselves fighting for a Play-In spot, but they have instead started the season 7-4 and are currently fourth in the Western Conference.
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While the season is still young the Lakers, under new head coach J.J. Reddick, have shown many signs of improvement. Anthony Davis has also dominated in the early part of the season and LeBron James has showed no signs of slowing down in his 22nd season.
With the Lakers looking as though they could chase championship No. 18 this season, they still need to clean some things up, including their defense. While they are averaging 117.6 points per game, Los Angeles is giving up 117.5 points per game to opposing teams.
They could trade for another star to help on both ends of the court. One player who has been in trade rumors since the offseason is the Portland Trail Blazers center, Deandre Ayton.
With the Blazers taking Donovan Clingan seventh overall in the 2024 draft, it seems as though they are ready to move on from Ayton. The former first-overall pick has started 11 games for the Blazers this season, but Clingan has shown promise in a starting role as well and could push Portland to trade away Ayton before the deadline.
If they do decide to trade him, the Lakers should be one of the first teams to call. In a possible trade, the Lakers could send D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino and draft capital to the Blazers for Ayton and Dalano Banton.
This allows Los Angeles to pair Ayton alongside Davis and LeBron, creating a new big three. With Ayton and Davis inside, the Lakers’ post defense would be greatly improved and so would their post scoring.
Banton would also provide the Lakers with a young guard who has proven that he can be a great scorer when given the opportunity. He averaged 16.7 points per game over 30 games last season and is currently averaging 9.3 points and 1.1 steals per game this season off the bench.
While this trade may not make the Lakers the favorite in the West, it does help improve their roster as long as their stars are able to stay healthy.