1. How the Los Angeles Lakers can trade for Lauri Markkanen
The one thing that the Los Angeles Lakers can capitalize on to trade for Lauri Markkanen is the reports that the Chicago Bulls are potentially interested in Dennis Schroder. Chicago could use a third scorer like Schroder and would not have the money to outright give him what he wants.
However, in a sign-and-trade, the Bulls can utilize the cap space they have via Bird Rights for Markkanen with the Lakers utilizing the cap space they have with Schroder’s Bird Rights. Neither team would be willing to pay the other player their salaries unless it was in a sign-and-trade like this.
This might not seem like a great return if you are a Bulls fan but you have to look at the situation that Chicago is in. They are looking to end their playoff drought after trading for Nikola Vucevic and the one thing they are seemingly prioritizing this offseason is a playmaking point guard.
Schroder is exactly that and is a solid option for a team like Chicago to target as third banana. Markkanen has potential but he has not fully pieced it together in Chicago. It makes much more sense for the Bulls to flip Markkanen for something they want rather than see him accept an offer sheet that they simply do not want to match.
As I have touted countless times here at Lake Show Life, it is better to move the asset for another asset rather than simply letting it walk.
Schroder is reportedly asking for a contract in the $100-120 million range and the Bulls are the perfect desperate team that would be willing to give him that. Schroder could sign a four-year, $25 million contract, which means that Markkanen’s contract would have to be in that ballpark as well.
That is where the risk comes in. Let’s break down why the Los Angeles Lakers could potentially say yes to this trade.