Grading the Lakers’ trades from 2022:
- 1/3/2022 (3 Team Trade): Traded draft rights to Brad Newley and Wang Zhelin to the Knicks; Traded Rajon Rondo to the Cavaliers; Received draft rights to Louis Labeyrie from the Knicks | GRADE: A
Wang Zhelin and Brad Newley never saw any time with the Lakers, and to this point have also yet to see any actual floor time in the NBA. Their losses were never going to hurt anyone. Rajon Rondo, who was back for his second stint with the Lakers, was not making strong contributions to a team that was struggling to find its identity.
Luckily for Rondo, the Cavaliers were in search of some backcourt help as Ricky Rubio had recently torn his ACL and the team came out of the gates to surprise everyone with a playoff push. This was another good look on the part of the front office, as it put Rondo in a position to mentor the young Cavs and compete for an actual playoff spot.
- 6/23/2022: Traded Cash and a 2028 second-round pick to the Magic for a 2022 second-round pick (Max Christie) | GRADE: B
The Lakers’ recruiting department has a tendency to value its options in the late first round and second round, so this trade was not a shocker by any means. Max Christie, while his numbers may not hop off the page, has looked like he could develop into a formidable 3&D role player in the future. Time will tell if this deal will pay off for the team, but for now, it seems like a low-risk move that could translate to a reward one day if Christie can continue to make strides as a player while simultaneously bulking up in the weight room.
- 8/25/2022: Traded Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson to the Jazz for Patrick Beverley | GRADE: B-
After electing to re-sign THT over Alex Caruso in the offseason of 2021 (F- for that decision, Pelinka), he was then traded the following offseason for Pat Bev. Beverley has undoubtedly brought a winning edge and mentality at every stop on his NBA journey to this juncture in his career.
While his numbers have not been ultra-strong up to this point in the season, they have progressively improved as time has passed. Furthermore, he has maintained his grittiness on defense and exemplified the type of support for his teammates that every player should want on their side.
This was not a bad trade when you think about fit and culture, however, Pelinka can not be forgiven for re-signing THT over the Bald Mamba only to trade THT for a poor man’s Caruso a year later.