The Donovan Mitchell saga is officially over and the Los Angeles Lakers were not part of the trade as initially expected. It was long expected that Los Angeles would be the third team in a package between the Utah Jazz and New York Knicks but the Jazz ended up doing business elsewhere.
Despite not being in the rumor mill, the Cleveland Cavaliers swooped in and made a deal for Mitchell happen. With the Knicks not involved, there was no need for the Lakers to be involved.
Sources: The Cleveland Cavaliers are trading Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks and two pick swaps to the Utah Jazz for Donovan Mitchell.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 1, 2022
While the Lakers were not directly involved it still has implications on the team. Before today, it was widely accepted that the Lakers had two avenues: either making a three-team deal with Utah and New York or making a two-for-one with Indiana.
After this deal, it might seem like an Indiana trade is the only possible trade for the Lakers. However, since Jazz President Danny Ainge covets the Lakers’ two future first-round picks, Los Angeles can still pull off a Westbrook trade with Utah if needed.
There are two different Russell Westbrook trades the Los Angeles Lakers can make with the Utah Jazz after the Donovan Mitchell trade.
Neither of the trade packages includes any of the new players that Utah acquired from the Cavaliers for Donovan Mitchell. However, those new players can give us an idea of who Utah might be willing to move as the team enters a new, rebuilding era.
To be straightforward upfront, both of these packages are probably worse than the Buddy Hield/Myles Turner package that the team can get from Indiana. However, in the case that an Indy trade is not possible, the Lakers can use one of these two trades as a contingency plan.
1. Los Angeles Lakers get Mike Conley in return
Before we dive into the meat and potatoes of this deal, it is important to realize that any Russell Westbrook trade at this point is going to have to include two future first-round picks. The only possible way the Lakers could have done the deal for one is in a Knicks-Jazz three-team trade where New York was sending a boatload of picks as well.
While that might seem concerning, especially with LeBron James getting old, the Lakers do have more first-round picks in the next several years than advertised. Los Angeles simply cannot trade a pick until 2027 because of the complications of trading future draft picks. In reality, they have a first-round pick in three of the next four years.
This is the worse of the two deals as the Lakers would be getting Mike Conley in return. Conley is certainly on the decline and is not going to be that much better than Russell Westbrook at point guard.
However, Conley also does not believe he is still the best player on the floor (like Westbrook) and would fit exponentially better as a point guard with a smaller role. That much is undeniable.
Bojan Bogdanovic is also a nice piece as he would be fantastic as a third scoring option in LA on the wing that can provide a nice off-ball shooting presence that plays off of the gravity of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The problem with this trade is Conley’s contract. He makes $22.4 million this season (which is why Utah is okay letting him go) and is under contract next season. While it is partially guaranteed, the Lakers would still be dealing with a $14 million cap hit at best for a player they would have to cut.
2. Los Angeles Lakers reunite with Jordan Clarkson
The classic four-for-two. The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly want to keep cap space open for next summer so the team has a chance to sign Kyrie Irving. Trading for Conley would hurt that pursuit and this trade would make it much easier for the Lakers to have the cap space to make it happen.
Bogdanovic and Alexander-Walker are both on expiring contracts and would create cap space for the Lakers next summer. Jordan Clarkson and Rudy Gay both have two more years under contract but combined are making less than Conley next season.
Plus, the Lakers will have a much easier time moving Clarkson and Gay next summer if they need to then they will move Conley. For that reason, this trade is better for the Lakers both for the talent they get in return as well as their future plans.
Los Angeles sends Wenyen Gabriel back in the trade because they don’t have the roster spot to take on four players and it helps take some of the money off the books for this season as the team is over the luxury tax. Utah still isn’t taking much more in this trade, though, as they are only increasing their payroll by $2.9 million.
Bogdanovic and Clarkson would be prominent role players for the Lakers while Alexander-Walker could be a young player that the team looks to keep around after this season and develop. There is some potential there, after all.
Darvin Ham has an absurd lineup idea in mind for the Los Angeles Lakers
Darvin Ham has an absurd lineup idea for the Los Angeles Lakers if the team cannot trade Russell Westbrook that simply will not work.
Rudy Gay does not have that much to offer at this point in his career but he will still be better than some of the veterans that Los Angeles brought in last season, so that is a plus. He probably is more impactful than Wenyen Gabriel as well.