The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly shopping former Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams. Here are five potential landing spots for Sweet Lou.
In one week, the Lakers could look very different. The Feb. 23 trade deadline is just a week away and for the first time in a few years, the Lakers have players–yes, more than one–that could really help teams contending for a playoff spot. Yes, that does mean the Lakers are not contending for a playoff spot. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Yes, that does mean the Lakers are not contending for a playoff spot. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
One name that has popped in trade rumors as of late is Lou Wiliams. The Lakers are fielding offers for Williams, according to Hoops Hype’s Alex Kennedy.
The Lakers have shopped Lou Williams, a general manager told me. It's looking more and more likely he'll be traded: https://t.co/c7m890Tfvr
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 15, 2017
Williams leads the league in bench scoring and could help a team that needs scoring a ton. An ideal trade would give the Lakers one of two things: a pick and/or another young player. These trades also shouldn’t push the needle a ton, at least this year. The Lakers have a pick to protect, and adding a superstar just to finish in the No. 9 seed in the West would be, in a word, stupid.
These trades also shouldn’t push the needle a ton, at least this year. The Lakers have a pick to protect, and adding a superstar just to finish in the No. 9 seed in the West would be, in a word, stupid. Here are three trades that fit that criteria.
Washington Wizards
While history tells us that betting against LeBron James probably isn’t the best idea, the Washington Wizards have a real chance of robbing NBA fans of the Finals rematch they want to see. In order to do that, however, the Wizards need something that resembles a capable NBA bench. Right now, they do not have that.
The Wizards’ bench produces the second-fewest points per game (23.6), only worse than Tom “let’s play the starters 40 minutes a game” Thibodeau and the Minnesota Timberwolves. If it weren’t for Washington’s starters, who are second in the league in points per game, the Wizards would be at best a playoff bubble team.
No one on the Wizards’ bench puts up more than 10 points per game. Not one player. Lucky for them, all they need is one player. Washington’s starters are so good that one solid bench contributor would be enough for them to make it to The Finals comfortably. Lou Williams could be that guy for the Wizards.
In this trade, the Lakers would send Lou Williams, Jose Calderon and Denver’s 2018 second round pick for Trey Burke, Kelly Oubre Jr., Andrew Nicholson and Washington’s 2017 first round pick.
The Wizards would add two productive veterans to a bench that desperately needs some direction, while the Lakers would get a bag full of question marks.
Oubre and Burke, both former lottery picks with a combined four years of NBA experience, offer the Lakers nothing but potential. This move wouldn’t make the team any better this year, and there’s no guarantee Oubre or Burke live up to their draft hype, but the potential reward far outweighs the risk.Nicholson’s contract, still worth $18 million over the next three years, will be a tough pill to swallow, but the Wizards’ first round pick would be sufficient
Nicholson’s contract, still worth $18 million over the next three years, will be a tough pill for the Lakers to swallow, but the Wizards’ first round pick should be sufficient compensation. With the Wizards’ current record (33-21), will land somewhere in the late twenties. If the Lakers luck out and keep their own pick, they will have two picks in what is regarded as an extremely deep draft to either add more young talent or use in a blockbuster trade over the summer.
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are currently the No. 8 seed in the Eastern conference, which is great and all, but will they still be in the playoff picture when March rolls around? Not with their bench they won’t.
The Pistons have the fourth least scoring bench in the NBA, with their second unit only putting up 30.9 points per game. Russell Westbrook averages more points per game than the Pistons’ bench, which is either a testament to how good Westbrook is or how bad Detroit’s bench is. For the sake of our argument, we’ll assume it’s the latter.
Leading Detroit’s bench is 6-foot-10, 228 pound forward Jon Leuer, the only player outside of the Pistons’ starting five averaging at least 10 points per game. The frontcourt has been a bright spot for the Pistons this season and is probably the only reason they’re still in playoff contention. In fact, four of the Pistons’ six leading scorers log most of their minutes at the four or five. The backup guards, on the other hand, have left much to be desired.
Detroit’s backup guards, Ish Smith and Ben Udrih, combine for 14.1 points and 7.8 assists per game. Not terrible, but also not great. A little scoring off the bench could help this team a ton, especially if they’re planning on holding the Cavs off in the first round of the playoffs like they nearly did last season.
In this trade, the Lakers would send Lou Williams, Tarik Black and Denver’s 2018 second round pick for Stanley Johnson, Aron Baynes.
The Pistons could rest their starting backcourt, Reggie Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, while Smith and Williams ran the second unit. Williams could also play in smaller lineups alongside Jackson where KCP would play small forward. The result could be Detroit’s own version of the death lineup.
The Lakers would get Johnson, a native to Los Angeles with the potential to be a dominant two-way force in the NBA. At just 20 years old, his athleticism and defensive intensity are unlike anything on the Lakers’ roster, at least in the backcourt. He would be a defensive upgrade over Lou Williams, to say the least. His jumper is still a work in progress, but if that comes along sooner than later, we’re talking about a real special talent.
Black and Baynes are two capable backup centers with very similar contracts, however, the Pistons see Baynes as a flight risk in free agency and Black has a team option on his contract next season.
Milwaukee Bucks
Remember when the Lakers “missed out” on signing Greg Monroe just a few summers ago? Oh how quickly things change.
Monroe hasn’t quite worked out in Milwaukee, to put it kindly, and the Bucks are trying to get value out of him before he inevitably tests free agency at the end of the season. The Bucks have reportedly been trying to move Monroe all season, but their latest trade “sets the table” for Milwaukee to move the 26-year-old big man, according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times.
While Monroe’s trade value might be at an all-time low, the Bucks shouldn’t be in any hurry to ship him out for a bag of saltine crackers. Milwaukee is only two games outside of the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. Even with Jabari Parker sidelined, they have a real chance of making the playoffs.
Khris Middleton’s return from injury should help, as should having a 6-foot-11 Greek unicorn. If and when the Bucks trade Monroe, it’s going to be a for a player or players that are going to help them make the playoffs. This could be that move.
In this trade, the Lakers would send Lou Williams, Jose Calderon and Tarik Black for Monroe, Rashad Vaughn and a lottery-protected first round pick in the upcoming draft.
The Bucks have one of the better scoring benches in the NBA, putting up 39 points per game, but that could be changed dramatically with Parker’s injury. Players that usually come off the bench will have to play bigger roles, and there’s no guarantee any of those players are ready.
That’s a risk you can’t take if you’re competing for a playoff spot. Lou Williams and Tarik Black could help the team win games while young prospects Malcolm Brogdon and Thon Maker continue to grow into their roles with the team.
The Lakers would get Monroe’s expiring contract and a promising young shooter in Rashad Vaughn. Vaughn was taken with the No. 17 pick in the draft with the hope that he would blossom into a spot up 3-point shooter for the Bucks. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet.
For the second straight year, Vaughn is averaging just under 4 points per game on 35.8 percent shooting from the field. However, his potential as a three-point shooter makes him an attractive asset for the Lakers. At just 20 years old, he’ll have an opportunity to grow with the Lakers’ young core and have the chance to start alongside D’Angelo Russell.
If he doesn’t pan out, the $1.8 million he’s due over the next two seasons won’t be a tough pill to swallow. Plus, the Lakers get a first-rounder in the low twenties in this trade.
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But what do you guys think? Would you do any of these trades? Which trade is least likely to happen? Let us know in the comments below!