2. Royce O’Neale
Royce O’Neale may not be as prolific of a three-point shooter as Hield but he still would offer great three-point shooting to the Lakers. The small forward is remarkably consistent from three as he has shot between 38 and 39% from three in four of the last five years. The only year that O’Neale didn’t shoot between 38 and 39% he shot 37.7% from three.
O’Neale also offers something that Hield doesn’t: defense. O’Neale is an above-average defensive player who would slot in perfectly as a three-and-D wing on this Lakers team. Los Angeles didn’t have anyone that could defend at a high level and knock down shots on the other end. His offensive game might be limited but O’Neale could do that.
O’Neale is exactly the kind of player that you want in a playoff rotation, even if he is only logging 20 minutes off the bench. Hield is someone that if it is not going well he will not play in the playoffs at all. Look at Beasley.
The Lakers could pull off a magical trade for Royce O’Neale
In a perfect world, Los Angeles could make a similar trade to the Dorian Finney-Smith trade that was previously mentioned. If Los Angeles could swing Bamba and the 17th pick for O’Neale and the 22rd pick it would be a home run.
Would salary relief and moving up five spots be enough for Brooklyn to move off one year of O’Neale? It is hard to say. If that package itself was a guarantee O’Neale would rank No. 1. But it isn’t and there is one player that is still a lot more exciting.