Insider suggests Lakers are saving 2029 pick for a different trade
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to rebuild the roster quickly before the 2022-23 season begins as the current version of the team is not good enough to win anything. We saw the end result last season with Russell Westbrook and the outcome would not be much different this time around.
The biggest deal that the Lakers could make would be for Kyrie Irving, which all hinders on whether or not the Brooklyn Nets are able to trade Kevin Durant. If Brooklyn does work out a Durant deal then an Irving trade would come shortly thereafter.
The price for Irving is interesting as the Lakers are the only team that is really in the market but they would also be asking Brooklyn to take on Westbrook’s salary. For that reason, Los Angeles may have to take on another contract (Joe Harris) or send two first-round picks to Brooklyn.
This is something that the Lakers have been hesitant to do but are reportedly becoming more open to doing as this situation drags on.
At the end of the day, the Los Angeles Lakers may have a different plan for that second first-round pick.
In a recent Lakers mailbag, NBA insider Jovan Buha was asked if he gets a sense that the Lakers are trying to utilize that second first-round pick in a separate trade involving the likes of Talen Horton-Tucker and/or Kendrick Nunn.
Buha confirmed that suspicion, pointing out that the ultimate price to move Westbrook in the grand scheme of things is two first-round picks. He followed by saying that the best-case scenario for LA would be getting a pick swap or two seconds back in return, but is doubtful that will actually happen.
There is one of two ways this could transpire. This could be included in the package for Irving in a three-team deal where some assets go to Brooklyn, some go to the third team and the Lakers get an additional player or two from said third team.
Or the Lakers could work out a separate trade entirely. Los Angeles can package THT, Nunn and a third contract to make the money work for either Buddy Hield or Myles Turner. That trade would include a first-round pick.
If Los Angeles gets really desperate they could offer a similar package to the Houston Rockets for Eric Gordon, who is a big name that the Lakers should avoid but might still go after anyway.
It will be interesting to see how the team manages its assets and whether or not the front office can work out two separate deals or just one. Regardless, Los Angeles needs a facelift if it has any shot of changing its fate next season.