The Lakers need more talent to compete at the highest levels in the Western Conference. They may explore the trade market to do exactly that.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin noted during a recent appearance on the Hoop Collective podcast that centers like Jonas Valanciunas and Nicolas Claxton could be options for Los Angeles. There was a third name the insider mentioned that makes the most sense given the Lakers’ limited assets.
Here’s the trade the Lakers can afford to make while still giving them the upside they’re looking for.
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McMenamin posited that Robert Williams III could also be on the Lakers’ radar.
The 2022 All-Defensive center recently returned to Portland’s lineup after yet another injury, and he’s played very well thus far. He’s averaging 12.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocks in just 18.0 minutes per game.
The Lakers are operating above the first apron of the salary cap, so they can’t take in more money than they send out in a trade. They also have limited draft picks to get a deal done. They have two first-round picks to move, which they have been extremely reluctant to part with. More available are the five second-rounders and three first-round pick swaps at their disposal.
They wouldn’t have to dip into much of that base to get Williams.
The trade
Lakers receive:
- Robert Williams III
- Dalano Banton
Blazers receive:
- Gabe Vincent
- Jalen Hood-Schifino
- Five second-round picks
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Why the Lakers do it
The Lakers have been reticent to go all in to boost their chances this season. This trade lets them dip a toe in the water without sacrificing their future.
The cost here is minimal. Vincent hasn’t been hitting shots since he got to Los Angeles. The team already signaled that they are moving on from Hood-Schifino after not picking up his third-year option. He could be gone next summer for no return. And second-round picks are usually available if the Lakers need to replenish their stash. The Thunder recently traded five of them for the No. 26 pick in the 2024 draft, for example.
Williams carries very serious injury risks, which is why he’s available at a discount. He’s averaged only 36 games per season in his career, including just 41 over the past two years. If he does get hurt again, the Lakers will be stuck with his $13.3 million salary dead on their books next year.
That’s the worst-case scenario. Best case, the Lakers get one of the most promising defensive big men in the game. Williams can still guard at an incredible level, he is a great lob threat and he’s a nifty passer who would fit in well in JJ Redick’s offense.
The Lakers wouldn’t need Williams to play a ton. By keeping his minutes low in a backup role, they might be able to preserve his health.
Banton needs to be in this trade to make the financials work. He’s more than just a throw-in, though.
Banton is one of the Blazers’ few success stories, scoring the ball at an extremely efficient rate and creating offense for himself and others. He’s never been much of a shooter, but he is hitting 41.7 percent of his 3s this season. He has great positional size as a 6-9 point guard, giving the Lakers a completely different look from D’Angelo Russell.
Why the Blazers do it
This is one of the rare times when Williams has been healthy, so moving on from him now while his value is the highest makes sense. Plus, No. 7 pick Donovan Clingan has shown he needs way more minutes behind Deandre Ayton.
Portland also needs to trade those guys because it will make the team worse. The Blazers owe their pick to the Bulls if it falls outside of the lottery. They’re currently tied as the eighth-worst team with the Pistons.
The Blazers still need that superstar player to build around, and the 2025 draft should be their top priority. Cooper Flagg can fix their future, and this gets them closer to their goal. They gain an expiring salary in Vincent, a young prospect in Hood-Schifino and a ton of second-rounders to keep taking shots at diamonds in the rough.
This is a win-win trade that makes too much sense not to happen.