Los Angeles Lakers: 3 small forward trade candidates

1.) Robert Covington

Robert Covington is the exact type of player that every team would love to have on their roster. His ability as an elite 3&D wing is matched only by his incredibly team-friendly, $12 million annual salary.

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Lakers are already attempting to cobble together a trade package for Covington that would include a combination of Kyle Kuzma, Quinn Cook, and DeMarcus Cousins’ contract.

Should the Timberwolves bite on that package, the Lakers would be swapping out two of their worst defenders, for one of the best wing defenders in the league. However, Covington will be a highly coveted piece as we get closer to the trade deadline, so the Lakers are going to have to sweeten the pot if they want to win this bidding war.

But let’s get into how Covington can help this Lakers team should the team be successful in acquiring him.

First off, it gives the Lakers another elite defender to throw at the best wings in the NBA, taking even more defensive pressure off of LeBron James. Second, even though Covington’s 3-point shooting has dipped to 34.9% this year with the Wolves, he still averages around six attempts per game, which forces defenses to guard him on the perimeter, regardless of how cold he may be.

The Lakers are incredibly thin at the small forward spot beyond LeBron James, so being able to acquire Covington will be huge for the team’s depth, as well as their shooting and defense.