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

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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(Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Fred VanVleet’s fit on the Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have a desperate need for a secondary playmaker next to LeBron. Bradley, while playing great on defense has not been the secondary playmaker they expected he might become.

VanVleet fits that role perfectly and is an ideal player in the Lakers system.

FVV is a flamethrower from the 3-point line. With Davis and LeBron’s ability to collapse a defense inwards towards the paint, this allows for players on the perimeter to reap the benefits of wide-open shots.

Fred VanVleet would be getting countless more wide-open shots then he is currently getting with Toronto Raptors and he wouldn’t have Kyle Lowry on the roster to hog all his minutes either.

The Lakers would lose out on Danny Green’s elite transition and perimeter defense but players like KCP, Alex Caruso, and Avery Bradley are very capable defenders who might be able to fill in for Green.

FVV would be the Lakers 3rd option on the roster, I wouldn’t call him their 3rd superstar but he is a very capable 3rd option who can score 20ppg with relative ease. For a team that has LeBron James and Anthony Davis, having someone who can alleviate the pressure for a couple of minutes a night allowing them to rest or even sit out for large periods of the game will be invaluable.

There is potential that another team could offer VanVleet more money or even the Raptors could re-up FVV for more money and years but the chance to be a starting point guard on a Championship contender might be too much to pass up.

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