Pass or pursue on proposed Los Angeles Lakers trade targets
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers should pass on Eric Gordon
Eric Gordon is the biggest name that the Los Angeles Lakers could realistically trade for this offseason after the team has reportedly given up in its pursuit for Detroit’s Jerami Grant. While the immediate answer to a Gordon trade might seem like a resounding yes, when you dive into it, it really would not be worth it for the Lakers.
Gordon is shooting at a career mark from beyond the arc this season and that should be all the reason to want to trade for him. Adding a 40% three-point shooter next to LeBron James is typically the easiest decision to make for a team.
However, this team does not need more three-point shooting. The Lakers already have the likes of Malik Monk, Wayne Ellington, Carmelo Anthony and even Avery Bradley who are all shooting well this year. This team is flawed because it has too many players who can shoot but cannot play a lick of defense. That would include Gordon.
Gordon is a well-below-average defender and that is only going to get worse as he gets older. Not only that, but he is an undersized two-guard and would practically be unplayable next to Avery Bradley as the Lakers would be sacrificing far too much size in the backcourt.
Heck, it is hard to justify playing Gordon next to anyone in the Lakers backcourt as the team would be throwing out two horrible defenders. The only player he could play next to would be Talen Horton-Tucker, who would have to be traded in this deal for it to be possible!
Even if THT’s value is not what we thought it is, the Lakers definitely should not trade him for Eric Gordon.