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Fact or fiction on 3 “dream” trades for the Los Angeles Lakers

By Jason Reed

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 06: Russell Westbrook #0 and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers warm up on the court before the NBA preseason game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on October 06, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 06: Russell Westbrook #0 and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers warm up on the court before the NBA preseason game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on October 06, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Lakers “dream” trade no. 2: LA flips youth for a proven role player

The Utah Jazz are likely going to blow things up this offseason with the team falling short in the NBA Playoffs once more as it is becoming even more clear that the Donovan Mitchell-Rudy Gobert tandem is not going to win a title.

The team will probably try and trade Gobert and surround Mitchell with the necessary pieces to contend but it would not be shocking if he too forces his way out of Utah and the team is instead forced to commit to a full rebuild, trading their assets away in the process.

One of the team’s trade assets is Bojan Bogdanovic, who is on an expiring contract next season worth $19.5 million. Bogdanovic is exactly the kind of role player that every contending team wants to add to the rotation and this package sees the Lakers sending youth to Utah for his services.

The proposed package is Talen Horton-Tucker, Austin Reaves and Kendrick Nunn. While that might seem like a lot for the Lakers to trade, it actually might be better to flip that for Bogdanovic.

THT has not shown the signs we wanted to see out of him and his contract is a bit overpriced. Utah wanted to draft THT back in 2019, so we know there is some value there. And while Austin Reaves has a lot of potential, the Lakers are going to have to give him a new contract next season and could end up losing him anyway.

The Jazz might push for a protected first-round pick to be part of this deal as well, which is something the Lakers should not send. There is absolutely a chance that the Lakers get outbid and they shouldn’t go any higher, but this is a fair package for Bogdanovic.

Verdict: Fact (but don’t bid any higher)

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