2. Lakers add Obi Toppin to the trade
Obi Toppin is another young player that the New York Knicks are potentially shopping at the deadline. Toppin has not been played out of the rotation but his role has diminished behind Julius Randle, who has been playing great this season. Toppin is extension eligible in the summer and New York might be interested in getting something out of him now.
Perhaps the main reason for the Knicks to trade for Toppin is to get more assets that they can move in a different trade. It is no secret that New York wants to make some sort of superstar trade in the near future and moving Toppin could help that happen.
This would be a package that aids in that goal as the Los Angeles Lakers have some of the most valuable future picks in the entire sport. If a team like Chicago truly does want to move Zach LaVine they would definitely want that Lakers pick over Toppin. Toppin alone likely isn’t getting a first-round pick from any other team in a trade; definitely not one as valuable as the Lakers’ pick.
The protections might have to be pretty loose for the Knicks to make this trade and it might even take a pick swap in 2028. A pick swap would allow Los Angeles to still trade its 2027 and 2029 picks in the future while not totally losing a pick in 2028.
So why would the Lakers do it? The front office might be desperate to save face and not go back on their promise to LeBron James to do everything they can to build a contender. This is a move that could add some promising depth now but also be a step towards building a foundation for the future.
Los Angeles would be getting two recent lottery picks for the price of one first-round pick. The Lakers could bet on their ability to develop players and find the untapped potential in Reddish and Toppin that has not been unlocked yet.