4. Package Lou Williams and the 32nd Pick to Try and Move Up in the Draft
Seeing how the market for trigger happy guard, Lou Williams, was relatively mum around the trade deadline, it’s doubtful that his value has risen that much in the last month. The Lakers’ front office claims that Williams, along with their young guns, is the core that they fully intend to move forward with but they’ve also said that no one is off limits.
Trading Williams and the 32nd pick to move up in the draft would likely mean that the Lakers would have to eat some contract in the process, but if Kevin Durant and the Thunder end up winning the NBA Finals, LA will have more cap space to waste come summertime.
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Thon Maker is a prospect that many think will require development in the D-League before making his presence felt in the NBA, but could prove to be an interesting piece for LA at the five position. A lineup of D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, preferably Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle and Thon Maker would be a long, athletic, switch heavy monster similar to what the Milwaukee Bucks hoped to be this season.
We all know how well that worked out, but they’d be a force to be reckoned with if Luke Walton could get them to buy in on the defensive end of the floor. Additionally, a free flowing offense would work great with five players who are comfortable at handling the ball and knocking down outside shots, sans Randle in that department.
Next: Draft Ingram/Simmons and Trade Them For a Star