Lake Show Life
Fansided

Proposed Lakers trade brings back fan favorite at high cost

By Jason Reed

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 06: Head coach Darvin Ham (L) and vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers talk before a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at T-Mobile Arena on October 06, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 114-99. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 06: Head coach Darvin Ham (L) and vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers talk before a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at T-Mobile Arena on October 06, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 114-99. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers showcased the ability to pivot on a dime and make changes during the 2023 trade deadline. General manager Rob Pelinka turned one of the most disappointing teams in the sport into a roster that made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals.

There is no denying that the Lakers will do the same thing at the 2024 trade deadline if necessary, especially with the championship window continuing to shrink with LeBron James. If Los Angeles can improve the roster then it certainly will.

There are several teams that the purple and gold should be keeping an eye on in case they become potential sellers at the deadline. One of those teams is the Chicago Bulls, who are falling behind the pack in the Eastern Conference and are a bad first 30 games away from selling.

The Bulls have several potential trade chips that may interest the Lakers, including an old fan favorite that many wish never left. Alex Caruso would be a prime trade chip for Chicago and Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley thinks the Lakers can get a deal done with the following package:

Breaking down this potential Alex Caruso trade for the Lakers:

The immediate reaction to this trade by some fans on social media has not been great. For many, this seems to be an overpay as the Lakers would not only be trading a contributor in Vanderbilt but a 2023 first-round pick in Hood-Schifino.

In a perfect world, the team would be able to get this deal done for less, switching out Vanderbilt for a throwaway contract like Cam Reddish. There will be contending teams offering first-round picks in the 20s for Caruso if he was shopped so the only way to compete with that is to trade JHS.

There is reason to do that for the Lake Show. JHS certainly has potential but he is very young and his potential doesn’t line up with when the team can actually contend for championships. If the Lakers feel as if they can win a championship by making this move then it makes a lot of sense.

It also makes more sense if the team is planning on (or already has at this point) trading D’Angelo Russell. Adding Caruso to the current mix would likely be too much. But adding Caruso to split point guard duties with Gabe Vincent is suddenly a great outlook.

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