Fifth potential Patrick Beverley trade for the Los Angeles Lakers:
Perhaps the most fun trade on this entire list, the Los Angeles Lakers could attempt to get a young stud that could be part of the team’s long-term future. After all, the Lakers are reportedly taking a long-term approach when it comes to the deadline and isn’t looking for quick fixes.
The Toronto Raptors are one of the most talked-about teams in the NBA and Gary Trent Jr. is the team’s most likely player to be traded. Trent has a player option for the 2023-24 season that is he certainly going to opt out of for a pay increase.
Toronto, needing to pay the more important players on the roster, likely isn’t going to shell up the $20-25 million per year that it would likely take to retain Trent. That is why it makes sense for Toronto to trade him at the deadline, especially with the team not being in a spot to make a title push.
Trent is someone who the Lakers have shown previous interest in so you have to believe that Rob Pelinka is going to give Toronto a call at the deadline. Los Angeles does not have much to offer and it will simply depend on what the Raptors value.
If the Raptors want a collection of lesser role players that can be on the bench for Trent then the Lakers don’t make sense as a trade partner. If the team wants future draft capital (as well as a solid young player in Max Christie), Los Angeles does make sense as that 2027 pick is one of the most valuable in the NBA right now.
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The Los Angeles Lakers may have more trade options at the deadline if these teams continue to play poorly over the next month of action.
Trent would instantly fit into this Lakers team with ease and could be a long-term, young player for the Lakers to build the core around. Los Angeles would be trading for his Bird Rights and could sign the 23-year-old to a new contract after the season. That gives them much more flexibility than if they waited to potentially sign him as an unrestricted free agent.