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Grade the trade: Lakers use exception for promising big in proposed deal

By Jason Reed

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 04: Head coach Darvin Ham of the Los Angeles Lakers watches the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on December 04, 2022 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 04: Head coach Darvin Ham of the Los Angeles Lakers watches the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on December 04, 2022 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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Charles Bassey
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) /

Lakers trade for Charles Bassey in proposed package with Spurs

Again, it is important to reiterate that the Lakers are not going to land a star in a trade using a small trade exception. Charles Bassey may not be someone who most Lakers fans are familiar with but he would add something to the team. Here is what the trade package could look like:

It is a very simple trade with very few moving parts. The Lakers would be getting a player and the Spurs would be getting the right to swap second-round picks with Los Angeles in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Lakers have their own second-round pick as well as the Los Angeles Clippers’ pick. The Spurs can get the better of those two picks, with the Lakers getting the worst of the three second-round picks that San Antonio has.

While Los Angeles has several trade exceptions, they cannot be combined so the most the team can add is $2.7 million. Bassey is on the books for $2.5 million and has another two years under contract.

Both of those years are non-guaranteed, though. The Lakers could take it on a year-by-year basis depending how Bassey is playing and do not need to commit to him over the next three years. That is an important part of this trade.

The Spurs currently have over 15 players on the roster and are going to need to trim a player at some point. With three centers ahead of Bassey on the depth chart he becomes the odd one out. Instead of waiving him for nothing, the Spurs would at least get some draft capital, even if it is not a lot.

That is the logic and logistics of the trade but how would it grade out if it were to actually happen?

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