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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 players to target from the East’s worst teams

By Jason Reed

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 24: Wayne Ellington #8 of the Detroit Pistons shoots against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at the Smoothie King Center on February 24, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 24: Wayne Ellington #8 of the Detroit Pistons shoots against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at the Smoothie King Center on February 24, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Mo Bamba

The Los Angeles Lakers fix their size issue both now and in the future

Mo Bamba is one of very few players that the Los Angeles Lakers should be willing to trade Talen Horton-Tucker for. And the only way that the team would trade THT is if they believe that he will get the poison-pill offer sheet — which has been speculated — which would price him out of LA.

If that is the case then the Lakers could essentially trade half a season of THT for someone who could have a long-term impact like Mo Bamba. Again, it is a big if, but it certainly is a possibility.

Bamba just has not gotten the chance to succeed in Orlando. Nikola Vucecic is the face of the franchise right now and despite trade speculation it does not appear that Orlando is willing to move on from their all-star big man.

With Bamba only having one more year under contract I would not be shocked if the Magic flipped him for more draft capital and another young asset, like THT, that they could sign to an extension and continue to fill out the roster.

Just imagine the defense in Orlando as THT develops and Jonathan Isaac returns. It would be special.

As for the Lakers, they would be getting that second traditional big man to bring off of the bench behind Marc Gasol. Yes, he is inexperienced, but all the Lakers really need right now is someone who can be a rim-protecting presence to avoid the worst-case scenario against guys like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid.

What is really intriguing about this deal is the Los Angeles Lakers could plan ahead and plan to re-sign Bamba to replace Marc Gasol as the starter in LA and then would suddenly have their long-term, young option at the center position as well.

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