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2 trades the Lakers can now make with Blazers after Damian Lillard injury

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 31: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to a play during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on December 31, 2021 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 Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 31: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to a play during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on December 31, 2021 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 Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. Los Angeles Lakers trade for Robert Covington

Trading for Robert Covington may have seemed like a pipe dream earlier in the season and we actually broke down a theorized deal that was similar to this and ultimately said it was unrealistic as the Blazers would likely want to hold onto Covington for a playoff push.

With the playoffs now out of the picture, unless the Blazers have plans to overpay him in the offseason, it makes much more sense for Portland to trade him for any asset that they can. The Lakers have a nice asset in a young Talen Horton-Tucker for half a season of Robert Covington.

This would be a risky trade for the Lakers as they would be punting on THT’s future potential for a chance at the title this season. While risky, Covington is the perfect player to put on this Lakers team and play in a crunch time lineup and there is a chance that the Lakers do not even see all of THT’s potential.

I know that every Laker fan is excited for the future of THT but the fact of the matter is that the future might not be in LA. THT has a player option after next season and if he starts to blossom he can easily opt-out of his deal and take a bigger payday elsewhere. If he stays in his contract then that means he probably is not blossoming and can still leave the following offseason.

Would I instantly call the Blazers to make this deal happen? No. But with the disaster that the Russell Westbrook trade has been, the Lakers may be desperate and be more willing to make a move like this. While it can absolutely be criticized, it would still raise the team’s title chances this season.

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