With the trade deadline just under a month away, we’re taking the next few weeks to break down trade targets at every position for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Over the past few weeks, we have been talking about the uncertainty that lies in the Lakers’ backcourt. Is D’Angelo Russell better suited as the primary ball handler or is he more effective playing off the ball? The easy answer to that question is “uh, why can’t he be good at both?” but for the sake of trade scenarios, we argued one over the other.
This week, however, we’re going to with the assumption that the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Brandon Ingram, is the Lakers’ small forward of the future. That’s about the closest you’ll get to a sure thing on this roster.
Despite a handful rough games recently–I mean, really rough games–Ingram has shown enough in spurts this season for fans to be excited about their new franchise player. Earlier this season, Ingram nearly became the youngest player ever to record a triple-double. The youngest? LeBron James of course.
With that being said, the Lakers could still use a little help on the wing to support Ingram. Yes, they just signed Luol Deng to a monster four-year, $72 million deal, but there is always a chance he gets moved at the deadline. A slim chance, but a chance nonetheless.
Unlike our last two articles, these trades would be to bolster the Lakers already productive bench. None of these players are necessarily franchise changing players, but they could help even out the roster and add wing depth to a team that desperately needs it.
Here are a few names the Lakers should consider at the deadline at the small forward position.
Thabo Sefolosha
Age: 32
Contract: Signed a three-year, $12 million deal in 2014 that expires in the summer of 2017. Average $3.8 million a year.
2016-17 Relevant Stats: 7.6 PTS, 4.3 REB, 1.6 AST, 1.7 STL, 0.5 BLK
The Lakers are a really bad defensive team, according to my sources (my sources are my eyes). While it shouldn’t be used as an excuse, the Lakers really don’t have any defensive specialists on their roster. The word “defensive potential” has been used to describe Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and even D’Angelo Russell.
One name they should look to trade for at the deadline is Atlanta Hawks’ Thabo Sefolosha. At 32 years old, Sefolosha isn’t going to lead the Lakers into the playoffs, but he could provide the Purple and Gold a little security on the defensive end.
Outside of Luol Deng and Brandon Ingram, the Lakers have zero depth on the wing unless you count Metta World Peace. You really shouldn’t, but to each his own I suppose.
Ingram and Deng are two of the better defenders on the team, but that’s not saying a whole lot considering their competition. They have also both struggled to keep that defensive intensity in late game situations; Deng because of his age and Ingram because of his inexperience.
Sefolosha could be the Lakers’ go-to guy on defense when the Lakers are matched up against some of the elite wings in the Western Conference like Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, and Gordon Hayward. His defensive box plus-minus (+3.1) is the highest it’s been in his career, as his steal percentage (3.2 percent).
Despite dealing Kyle Korver to Cavaliers earlier this month, the Hawks are still very much in the playoff picture. If they plan on making it past the first round, though, they’re going to need to do something about their bench.
It may come as a surprise to you, but Malcolm Delaney and Mike Muscula aren’t exactly getting it done for the Hawks. Adding Lou Williams to the mix would change their bench production virtually overnight.
Sending Williams and Marcelo Huertas for Sefolosha, Mike Scott and a protected first rounder would be a great deal for both teams.
The Hawks are currently projected to pick as low as No. 22 in the draft, so it’s not like they’d be parting with a top-10 pick. The Lakers would also get Sefolosha and Scott’s expiring contracts, opening up just over $7 million in cap space.
Stanley Johnson
Age: 20
Contract: Signed a rookie scale, three-year, $8.9 million contract in 2015. Team options in 2017 and 2018. Average $2.9 million a year.
2016-17 Relevant Stats: 6.6 PTS, 3.4 REB, 1.5 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.4 BLK
If the Lakers can pull off a trade for Stanley Johnson without giving up any of their young pieces, I will take back everything I have ever said about the front office.
Drafted No. 8 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Johnson came into the league with a reputation of being a defensive-minded forward. He showed flashes of his defensive prowess throughout his rookie season, most notably against LeBron James in the first round of the playoffs last year.
However, when the Pistons acquired Tobias Harris at the trade deadline last year, it was unclear how Johnson fit in Detroit’s plans. Almost a year has passed and there is still some uncertainty.
Johnson has struggled to make an impact in his limited playing time with the Pistons this season which has led to a handful on DNPs and D-League assignments for the second-year forward.
He has scored in double figured only three times this season, all three times well below 20 points. While Johnson has never been known as an offensive star, that’s still not what you want to see from an athletic 20-year-old forward.
Related Story: Trade targets at point guard
His production, or lack thereof, is one of the reasons the Pistons’ bench in suffering. The Pistons have one of the worst benches in the NBA, ranked No. 27 in points per game and dead last in three-point percentage. Unfortunately, their 3-point woes go beyond their bench.
The Pistons are ranked No. 27 in the NBA in three-point percentage, which isn’t surprising when you look at the makeup of their roster. With the exception of Andre Drummond, no one on the team is shooting above 40 percent from behind the arc. You know, like everyone expected.
The Pistons (21-27) can still make the playoffs and with teams like the Chicago Bulls (24-25) imploding, it’s more likely than not that they will, but Detroit should prioritize acquiring a pair of shooters at the deadline. It just so happens the Lakers have a few players that shoot the rock really well.
Lou Williams and Nick Young have made their livings scoring in bunches, whether it be off the bench or starting for a team with few options. Combined they’re putting 31.9 points per game, more than Detroit’s FOUR leading bench scorers–none of which are Stanley Johnson.
Sending Williams and Young for Johnson and Aaron Baynes would be a solid deal for both teams. The Pistons would get two high-quality scorers on dirt cheap contracts while the Lakers would get another promising young piece to add to their young core.
If the Pistons asked for a few second rounders on top, then so be it. Just get it done.
Kelly Oubre Jr.
Age: 21
Contract: Signed a rookie scale, three-year, $6 million contract in 2015. Team options in 2017 and 2018. Average $2 million a year.
2016-17 Relevant Stats: 6.3 PTS, 3.9 REB, 6.4 AST, 0.9 STL, 0.2 BLK
The Washington Wizards are a good basketball team again! Once a 6-12 team destined for another trip to the lottery, John Wall and his supporting cast of Bradley Beal and Otto Porter have led the Wizards back to playoff basketball. Great, now what?
Are the top heavy Wizards going to hold up the likes of Boston, Cleveland, Toronto and even Atlanta in the playoffs? Probably not. Not with their current bench at least.
The Wizards have the second lowest scoring bench in the NBA, only trailing the 19-29 Minnesota Timberwolves. This is a problem. I’m not even sure you could point to a definitive sixth man off the bench for Washington.
While all starters are averaging at least 10 points a game, no one off the bench is averaging more than 7 points. That probably has something to do with the fact that none of the bench players are averaging more than 20 minutes per game. Again, this team is top heavy.
Related Story: Trade targets at shooting guard
Arguably their weakest spot on the roster is their depth at both guard positions. Outside of Wall and Beal, the Wizards can’t seem to get any meaningful minutes out of their backup guards. Finding a guard that can create his own shot and get up points in a hurry while Washington’s star guards get a rest should be a priority for the Wizards at the deadline.
One guy that fits that bill is Sweet Lou Williams. If I haven’t said this to the point of exhaustion again, allow me to say it again: Lou Williams is a one-man bench mob.
Williams is the only player in the NBA averaging more than 15 points in less than 25 minutes of playing time per game. When he’s hot, he’s as good as any guard in the NBA starting or not.
If they wanted him, they would have to give up a few fringe rotation players and a pick. If not a pick, then a young player. In this case, we’re hoping it’s Kelly Oubre Jr.
Nothing about Oubre’s stats will get fans too excited, nor will his upside–yet. Oubre is the type of player the Lakers can give meaningful reps to in a lost season to see what the kid can do. The results could be fantastic.
To make salaries work, the Lakers could send Lou and Marcelo Huertas in exchange for Oubre, Trey Burke and a filler. Burke is another player worth testing out if he can stay healthy.
By in large, this trade won’t make the Lakers contenders over night, but it will give them a chance to look at young players on cheap contracts up close. If it doesn’t work out, they’re paying them virtually nothing.
Next: Zubac turning the corner
But what do you guys think? Do the Lakers need to trade for a wing with Deng and Ingram on the roster? Is there anyone you have been keeping your eye on? Let us know in the comments below!