Los Angeles Lakers: Three post draft lottery trade scenarios
The Los Angeles Lakers trade LeBron James to the Memphis Grizzlies for Mike Conley and the No. 2 pick.
If the Grizzlies pull off this trade it’s about making money. The Grizzlies are a small market team that is years away from making the playoffs. They’ll be lucky if they get two nationally televised games next season and they’ll be even more fortunate if they sell out five of their home games.
If the Grizzlies trade their No. 2 pick for LeBron James, they’d immediately transform from a team playing in the shadows into a must-see organization. They’d sell out all of their home games and garner as much national media attention as any other team in the NBA.
Memphis would also make a lot of money over the next three seasons. If they found a way to surround an angry LeBron James with four good shooters they could make the playoffs next year as well.
If the Lakers deal LeBron for Conley and the No. 2 pick that would show that they’re choosing the young core and a prosperous future over an aging LeBron James and winning during the present. With that said it, this trade wouldn’t indicate a full rebuild for the Purple and Gold, they’d still be good next season, with a shot at being great.
After the Lakers traded LeBron for Conley and then used their No. 2 pick on Ja Morant, then signed De’Andre Hunter with their No. 4 pick, and finally made deals with Nerlens Noel, Seth Curry, and Danny Green they’d have a very good opening day lineup.
Starters:
- Mike Conley
- Lonzo Ball
- Brandon Ingram
- Kyle Kuzma
- Nerlens Noel
Bench:
- Ja Morant
- Seth Curry
- Danny Green
- Josh Hart
- De’Andre Hunter
- Moritz Wagner
That’s a team that could easily make the playoffs next season but would also have the brightest future in the NBA. It’s easy to envision the Lakers winning multiple championships behind Morant, Hunter, Ball, Ingram, Kuzma, and Noel.