If possible, should the Lakers trade for John Wall or Bradley Beal?

What a John Wall trade would mean for the Los Angeles Lakers

It is no secret, John Wall may not be the prototypical third star most would envision alongside LeBron James or Anthony Davis. Wall has not played in an NBA game since December 2018.

The former number one draft pick out of Kentucky is coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon, potentially of the worst injuries a basketball player can have. Not to mention, John Wall is still owed nearly $123 million through the 2022-23 season.

With all of that being said, why would the Los Angeles Lakers even consider making a trade for John Wall?

Prior to his injuries, Wall showed why he had so much upside coming out of college. The 30-year-old point guard averaged over 20 points per game while dishing out nearly 9 assists per game in the 2018-19 NBA season.

Although LeBron James at times appears to be defying Father Time, he will need to take a step back some time. An elite playmaking point guard like John Wall could potentially take some of the burden off of James, allowing him to keep some in the tank to prolong his career even more.

Another benefit of trading for John Wall is it could potentially land the Los Angeles Lakers some draft picks, something that the team has very little of thanks in part to the Anthony Davis trade. Similar to that of other big-money players in the recent past, teams often need to attach draft picks in a deal to help get them out from under the cap-sinking contracts.

There are plenty of red flags with acquiring John Wall. If the veteran point guard can get himself healthy and motivated, it isn’t out of the question to see him prove his doubters wrong this coming season.