Los Angeles Lakers: 3 cheap trade targets to bolster the defense

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 25: LeBron James #6 of Los Angeles Lakers reacts during action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Michelle Farsi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 25: LeBron James #6 of Los Angeles Lakers reacts during action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Michelle Farsi/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The NBA trade deadline is right around the corner and the Los Angeles Lakers are hoping to utilize the deadline to improve the team and hopefully pick up some momentum down the stretch. Anthony Davis is finally back from injury and for the first time all season, the Lakers are at 100%. They are still in the deep end, but there is at least some light at the end of the tunnel.

There are multiple things that are wrong with this team that all stem from the front office’s decision-making in the offseason. One of the biggest issues that the Lakers have is they are one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

The team’s defense is what made them so successful (besides having Anthony Davis and LeBron James) and this team has been a shell of its former self. After being one of the best defensive teams in the league over the last few years, the Lakers rank 27th in points allowed per game.

The Los Angeles Lakers should be targeting defensive help at the trade deadline.

The Los Angeles Lakers don’t have many assets to trade, especially considering that other teams don’t seem to be too interested in Talen Horton-Tucker as the prized piece in a package. Thus, the Lakers are going to have to get creative and get defensive help the cheap way.

The team is not going to land an Alex Caruso-level defender. But with players such as Trevor Ariza and Kent Bazemore dropping the ball defensively, the team can look to add a rotational defender to add value on that end of the court.

In the following pages, we will break down three potential cheap trade targets that would help on the defensive end.