Draymond Green wants to join the Lakers (per Stephen A. Smith)
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers had the biggest trade storyline of the offseason as the team explored the possibility of trading Russell Westbrook. At the end of the day, the Lakers did not find a single trade that they felt was worth trading assets with Westbrook for.
Now the biggest trade storyline involves one of the team’s biggest rivals. The Golden State Warriors have a real situation on their hands after Green punched Jordan Peele during practice. It was made worse when the video was leaked to the media.
Green is taking time away from the Warriors and it is unclear what his future holds. Poole is very obviously the future of the Warriors and many expected this to be Green’s last season in Golden State, anyway. For that reason, if things are irreparable, the Warriors could look to trade Green this season.
And with Green giving so much to the franchise, it wouldn’t be surprising if they come to him and ask him where his ideal landing spot would be. Stephen A. Smith doesn’t just think that it would be the Lakers, he claims that he knows that Draymond wants to be a Laker.
Stephen A. definitely would be someone with inside knowledge and all signs are pointing to Draymond wanting to be a Laker. He has a great relationship with LeBron James and would get to build his podcast and media footprint in Los Angeles.
So even if a trade does not happen, it would not be all that surprising to see the Lakers sign Draymond next offseason. That being said, the Lakers do not have to wait for next summer if they want to get Green in LA now.
The Lakers have trade options for Draymond Green.
Golden State is not going to take Russell Westbrook back but there are potential three-team possibilities where the Lakers can send Westbrook and picks to a third party, who then can send assets to the Warriors.
Perhaps the most realistic would be a three-team deal with the Indiana Pacers in which one of Buddy Hield or Myles Turner goes to Golden State, with the other going to Los Angeles. It would probably better for the Lakers to just trade for both Hield and Turner but if LeBron wants Draymond, he is going to get Draymond.
It might not make the most sense long-term and it might not make a ton of sense from a scheme perspective. That being said, the Lakers have shown us that they will do whatever it takes to make LeBron James and Klutch Sports happy.