3. Lakers make a surprising Lonnie Walker IV swap
The final Cam Reddish trade is similar to the first deal but instead of sending draft capital, the Los Angeles Lakers would be sending NBA talent in Lonnie Walker. If Reddish’s value is only a second-round pick this might be something the Knicks are more interested in as they would get NBA talent that can help this season.
A lot of Lakers fans are probably shocked at the idea of a Walker trade but this is something we have covered ad nauseam here are Lake Show Life. Walker is posting great individual numbers this season but is having a losing impact on the team as a whole. The numbers do not lie.
If Los Angeles is not planning on re-signing Walker after the season but sees a potential long-term future with Reddish then this move makes sense. It also makes sense from a basketball standpoint as Los Angeles can more than survive without Walker while Reddish could add a newfound dynamic to the team.
From a team-building standpoint, this makes a lot of sense in the long run as well. Reddish is a restricted free agent that is not going to cost as much and when it is time to potentially pay him, the Lakers would have the benefit of Bird Rights. They do not have that with Walker.
2021-2022 Los Angeles Lakers roster: Where are they now?
The Los Angeles Lakers 2021-2022 were supposed a championship-caliber roster. Today, many of them are not even on an NBA roster.
A Walker-Reddish swap would be a move in which the Lakers realize they can get value out of someone who they can replace while also having an eye on the future.