With the trade deadline just a month away, we’re taking the next few weeks to break down trade targets at every position for the Los Angeles Lakers.
As fans grow tiresome with the lack of production from D’Angelo Russell, the idea of trading him has been floated around. Anyone with half a brain cell knows what a terrible idea that is.
Russell is only 20 years old and is coming off of a historically great rookie season under a head coach that seemingly set him up to fail. Why the Lakers would trade him at this stage of his career is beyond me.
However, fans have proposed an alternative to trading Russell that is so crazy that it might just work.
Russ at 2 and Fultz at 1
— Ryan Parsons (@RyanParsons31) January 18, 2017
russ SG
— braulio (@_jimbo21) January 18, 2017
This stems from the idea that Russell isn’t a true point guard, which isn’t true, but for the sake of this argument we’re going to assume that it is. Maybe Russell is just a skilled, playmaking shooting guard. Okay, so who’s his point guard?
We’re going to look at a few names that could suit up for the Purple and Gold assuming Russell moves to the off-guard position–which is assuming a lot.
Players like Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook, etc. will be excluded from this list because they’re virtually unattainable. We’re also going to assume the Lakers can acquire these players without giving up pieces of their young core.
Goran Dragic
Age: 30
Contract: Signed a five-year, $86 million in 2015, with a player option in 2019.
2016-17 Relevant Stats: 19 PTS, 3.9 REB, 6.4 AST, 0.9 STL, 0.2 BLK
Pat Riley and the Miami Heat are going to have to eventually accept the direction the team is going and verbally commit to the dreaded “R” word: rebuild.
They already have a number of exciting young prospects like Justise Winslow, Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson. Not to mention their franchise cornerstone–if he can keep his head on straight–Hassan Whiteside, who signed a huge deal to stay in Miami this past summer.
The Heat should be looking to acquire assets to complement their young players by offloading some of their veterans. Namely, Goran Dragic, who arguably has the highest trade value on the team by anyone not named Hassan Whiteside. It affects the team.
Both parties are reportedly interested in a trade, according to Chris Mannix of The Vertical:
"Dragic is a dilemma. When Dragic forced a trade to Miami two years ago, he thought he was joining a team one piece away — him — from being a conference contender. Today he’s leading a roster that’s a couple of losses from falling below Philadelphia in the East basement. Dragic is open to a trade, league sources told The Vertical, and Miami has pursued that option."
Dragic later denied that he was open to a trade, calling it “bullsh–,” but that doesn’t mean the organization still isn’t trying to find him a new home. If that’s the case, Los Angeles should make an offer.
Dragic might not be the same crafty young point guard he was in Phoenix, but he’s still really good. He is one of the few players this season averaging at least 19 points and 6 assists per game, alongside names like LeBron James, Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
His combination of speed, playmaking and shooting paired with Russell’s similar skillset would give the Lakers one of the more dynamic backcourts in the NBA. In order to pull this deal off, LA could send a package including Lou Williams, Nick Young and Jose Calderon and a pair of second rounders for Dragic and Josh McRoberts.
Miami would get a pair of expiring contracts, a solid veteran scorer on a dirt cheap contract and a pair of picks. With their current record (12-30), they’ll have a chance to replace Dragic with a top-two pick in a guard heavy draft. Can you imagine Lonzo Ball, Justise Winslow and Hassan Whiteside leading Miami back to the glory days? I can.
This trade would also require Jordan Clarkson and Dragic to make amends, which shouldn’t be too hard. Luke heals all.
Ricky Rubio
Age: 26
Contract: Signed a rookie contract extension in 2014 worth $56 million through the 2019.
2016-17 Relevant Stats: 7.9 PTS, 3.9 REB, 8.1 AST, 1.9 STL, 0.1 BLK
Remember when the Timberwolves were supposed to be good this year? That hasn’t exactly gone to plan. While their young nucleus of Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine have been impressive, Minnesota’s head coach and President of Basketball Operations Tom Thibodeau isn’t easily impressed.
Thibs has never been scared to shake things up, and it looks like he’s just about ready to do that. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Timberwolves are “actively shopping” the 26-year-old Spanish point guard.
"The Timberwolves have attached Rubio to multiple offers with Shabazz Muhammad to several teams around the NBA, league sources said. Minnesota has been seeking something of a “bridge” guard in return, a player capable of starting in the short term, but who’ll ultimately settle into a backup role and give way to rookie Kris Dunn to become the long-term starter, league sources said."
This is less about Rubio’s production and more about Minnesota’s faith in Kriss Dunn, who they selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. If Minny wants him gone, LA would be a good landing spot.
While his numbers might seem underwhelming, Rubio’s actually among the league leaders in multiple statistical categories including assists (No. 6) and steals (No. 5). He is the only player in the NBA averaging more than 8 assists per game while turning the ball over less than 2.5 times per game.
However, his defense is what makes him the most attractive to the Lake Show. Anyone who has watched more than five minutes of a Lakers game knows they’re not the best defensive team in the league, especially when it comes to their guards.
Whenever Nick Young is dubbed “one of the better defensive players on the team,” it’s safe to assume that the defense is struggling mightily. Would Rubio fix this by himself? No, but it would be a great start.
The Lakers could send Luol Deng, Jose Calderon and Lou Williams in exchange for Rubio, Nikola Pekovic and Shabazz Muhammad.
Minnesota would get a $7 million contract cleared from their books at the end of the season, a cheap veteran scorer and a potential frontcourt mate for KAT that is familiar with Thibs in Luol Deng.
LA would get Rubio, Los Angeles native and athletic wing Shabazz Muhamad and Nikola Pekovic’s bad contract. You can’t give a bad contract and not get one back.
Rajon Rondo
Age: 30
Contract: Signed a two-year, $27 million deal in 2016. $3 million guaranteed in 2017-18.
2016-17 Relevant Stats: 6.9 PTS, 5.9 REB, 6.9 AST, 1.3 STL, 0.2 BLK
From Dec. 31, 2016 to Jan. 9, 2017, Rajon Rondo did not suit up for the Chicago Bulls. Was it because of an injury? Surprisingly, no. Rondo was completely healthy, his team just didn’t want to play him. That’s called a DNP, or “did not play.” This is common with NBA reserves, like Lakers’ Marcelo Huertas, but it’s not common with players that just signed a two-year, $27 million deal just a few months ago. How did we get here?
To be clear, when Chicago signed Rondo, it was widely viewed as a bad deal. Rondo isn’t just a pass first point guard, he’s a pass only guard. He can’t shoot–we knew that–but he seemingly can’t finish anywhere on the floor. Rondo is shooting a career-worst 36.2 percent from the field. Again, two years, $27 million. What are the Bulls to do?
Well if this was any other version of Rondo, they would rush him out of the locker room. This Rondo has handled his demotion like a pro–so far.
However, if he continues to be asked to come off the bench, Rondo told Vincent Goodwill at CSN Chicago that he would ask for a trade.
"The Bulls guard stood at his locker moments later, candidly and honestly answering questions from the media about his future — one that seems to be in doubt some 30 games into his first season as a Bull. “Absolutely,” said Rondo when asked if he accomplished enough in the NBA for the Bulls to accommodate him on a trade or some transaction to allow him to seek another team should the benching continue."
The question now is, who actually still wants Rajon Rondo? Teams like Sacramento and Dallas that desperately need a point guard have already been disappointed by Rondo firsthand. I guess you can make a case for the Philadelphia 76ers, but they’re doing just fine with Joel Embiid carrying their offense and Ben Simmons is due back any day now. That leaves the Los Angeles Lakers.
Do the Lakers need Rondo? No, but the Lakers have something the Bulls need in order to crack into the playoffs: shooters.
Throughout their careers, Nick Young and Lou Williams have established themselves as career bucket getters. Both of them have been phenomenal this season, for the most part, and it just so happens that their combined salaries work in a trade for Rondo.
Lou and Young for Rondo straight up sounds like a really bad idea, and that’s because it is. Throw in a pick, however, and now we’re talking.
Chicago owns the rights to Sacramento Kings’ top-10 protected 2017 draft pick. If it falls in the top 10, Chicago would instead get their 2017 second round pick. Currently, the Kings hold the 10th worst record in the NBA. You see what I’m getting at?
If the Bulls can get some firepower off the bench for Rondo a second rounder, that’s a steal. If the Lakers can get a low-end lottery pick for Lou Williams and Nick Young, that’s highway robbery. It would be a risk for both teams, but a risk worth taking nonetheless.
Just imagine Rondo mentoring the young guys. I can’t stop laughing.
Next: Catching up with the D-Fenders!
But what do you guys think? Is there any point guard you’d like to see suit up for the Purple and Gold? Do you think the Lakers still need a point guard? Let us know in the comments below or send us something on Twitter (@TheLakeShowLife).