Lakers trade rumors: 5 best trades to make without a first-round pick
By Jason Reed
3. Lakers add shooting for cheap
This is a trade that the Los Angeles Lakers can make in conjunction with most other trades on this list. Not only are the Lakers not sending any first-round picks in this trade for a three-point shooter, but they are not sending any second-round picks as well.
Doug McDermott is the definition of a sharpshooter. McDermott is shooting 41.6% from beyond the arc this season and is a career 41% three-point shooter. He is the perfect kind of wing to play off the ball and knock down open threes courtesy of LeBron James and Russell Westbrook.
So why would the price for McDermott be so cheap? It is simple. First of all, McDermott does not do much else other than shoot threes. He is not a good defender at all and he is not someone who is going to create his own shot.
Second of all, McDermott is under contract for another season. While his salary is not back-breaking, a team like the Spurs should be trying to reset the books if they can and moving McDermott for an expiring contract that they can buy out is ideal.
Most teams would ask for a second-round pick WITH McDermott for the Spurs to offload the veteran shooter. Los Angeles is one of the few teams that could take him no problem, even if they have to pay him next season.