3 trades to make the Los Angeles Lakers a contender this season

By Jason Reed | Jan 15, 2023

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 07: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on January 07, 2023 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Lakers add a sharpshooter for cheap

The Los Angeles Lakers need shooting. That was obvious in the offseason, it was obvious after the team decided not to add any shooters, and it continues to be obvious as the team struggles to shoot the basketball from beyond the arc.

There are guys on the roster that can get hot from beyond the arc, which only hammers home just how important three-point shooting is to this team. The common denominator during the five-game winning streak was good three-point shooting.

However, you cannot rely on the likes of Thomas Bryant to be a lights-out three-point shooter. That is just not sustainable. Los Angeles needs someone who can knock down shots as an off-ball shooter and Alec Burks would provide just that.

Burks is shooting 44.4% from beyond the arc in 4.4 attempts per game this season. Only two players in the NBA this season have a higher three-point percentage with as many attempts as Burks this season — former Laker Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (48.4%) and should’ve-been Laker Damion Lee (48.5%).

A second-round pick in the top 40 (which the Lakers hope to get out of) as well as an expiring contract should be enough for the Pistons to trade a role player who plays 20 minutes per game and isn’t part of their long-term future, anyway.

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