Two Pelicans the Los Angeles Lakers could potentially trade for

Potential Los Angeles Lakers target: Willy Hernangomez

The two things in common between the two players is that they are not that exciting as standalone targets and they both add depth to the center position. Willy Hernangomez provides more traditional center depth, as he is a traditional center.

Hernangomez is getting so little playing time on the New Orleans Pelicans that the picture on the top of the slide is him with the Charlotte Hornets. Hernangomez has appeared in only three games and has averaged four minutes per game.

The Lakers do not need to send any sort of draft capital (no second-round picks here) for Hernangomez. The Pelicans would be upgrading from a Hernangomez for Alfonzo McKinnie swap and that alone would probably be enough to get the job done.

Hernangomez might be rather inactive this season but he has shown that he is a decent backend rotation player that can provide that “just in case” rim-protecting presence at the center position.

In his career with Charlotte Hernangomez averaged 13.1 minutes per game with 6.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.3 blocks. He is around a league-average defender and his per-36 numbers are really similar to that of Dwight Howard last season.

Howard is obviously the better player, but Hernangomez’s output could be at a similar pace in LA. Hernangomez averaged 18.5 points, 13.9 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per 36 minutes in Charlotte. Last season, Howard averaged 14.3 points, 14 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per 36 minutes.

Again, not the most thrilling names and I would love to see Lonzo Ball back on the Los Angeles Lakers, but that simply is not sensible.