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Debunking Los Angeles Lakers trade package ideas

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 27: Montrezl Harrell #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the sideline while playing the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center on December 27, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 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 aImages License Agreement. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 27: Montrezl Harrell #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the sideline while playing the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center on December 27, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 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 aImages License Agreement. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports – Los Angeles Lakers
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. Trading Montrezl Harrell for a stretch four

This trade idea first surfaced on Bleacher Report as Zach Buckley outlined one possible trade for all 30 NBA teams in the league. For the Lakers, Buckley suggests that the purple and gold should flip newly-signed Montrezl Harrell for a stretch big.

Nemanja Bjelica of the Sacramento Kings is the player that Buckley keys in on, acknowledging that Bjelica is not the overall player that Harrell is but that he does add that stretch big dynamic. Bjelica is shooting 31.3% from three this season, albeit he is a career 39.1% three-point shooter.

The Lakers do not need another stretch big, that is something that is already covered on the team. Frank Vogel wants Anthony Davis to take more threes and he has been great from beyond the arc this season and Kyle Kuzma and Markieff Morris also provide shooting off the bench.

While he has not been utilized as much in this department, Marc Gasol also has a smooth three-point stroke. The Lakers would not be adding any new dynamic to the roster and would be losing Harrell’s intensity down low.

Some Laker fans soured on Harrell after the Portland Trail Blazers game as he was targeted and exposed by Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic. However, those are two of the best players in the league in the pick-and-roll and we have outlined why fans should not overreact about that showing from Harrell.

He is not great defensively and he cannot shoot but that does not mean he is not valuable. If the Lakers included him in a package for a bigger star then sure, that makes sense. But going backward in overall talent just to get someone who shoots better is not something that will interest Rob Pelinka.

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