Lake Show Life
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Can the Los Angeles Lakers sign and trade for Fred VanVleet?

By Jonathan Kiernan

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 01: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors passes the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game at The Arena in the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 1, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 01: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors passes the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game at The Arena in the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 1, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Toronto Raptors receive: SG/SF Danny Green, C JaVale McGee, and the Lakers 2020 1st round pick

The Los Angeles Lakers receive: PG Fred VanVleet

This trade is entirely based on whether the Toronto Raptors plan on paying Fred VanVleet next season. If they pay VanVleet what he is worth then this is a non-factor.

However if they don’t pay him, this opens a world of possibility for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The purple and gold have a stacked roster. They boast depth at virtually every position. The mantra of next man up truly applies to this Lakers team.

If JaVale gets injured, Dwight and Markieff are there. If AD gets injured Kuz, Markieff and Dudley are there. If LeBron gets injured, Kuz, KCP, Danny Green, JR Smith, and even Horton-Tucker are there. Same with the shooting guard position with KCP, Caruso, Bradley, JR Smith, and Waiters all capable of playing the position.

The main area of weakness for the Lakers is the point guard position.

For the longest time, the Lakers have not needed to address the position. With Magic, you had the greatest point guard ever. With Kobe, you had a top 5 shooter ever so it didn’t make sense to have a point guard hogging the ball. Then the D’Angelo Russell era, quickly followed by the Lonzo Ball era.

With Avery Bradley now the point guard of the Los Angeles Lakers, it is time for the purple and gold to address the position long term, once and for all.

The Lakers would rather a point guard like Ja Morant, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, Trae Young, or Steph Curry but right now, Fred VanVleet would be a welcome and wonderful addition to the Lakers roster.

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