The Los Angeles Lakers have created a new identity for their offense by acquiring former Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic. Doncic is an offensive dynamo, posting absurd career averages of 28.6 points, 8.4 assists, and 3.4 three-point field goals made per game.
The reality of playing through Doncic, however, is that for as committed as he is to personal improvement, the ideal supporting cast must include high-quality defensive players.
Los Angeles already has an impressive assortment of defenders, albeit either recently acquired or freshly returned from injury. That group consists of Dorian Finney-Smith, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Gabe Vincent, all of whom have some level of postseason experience.
Trading Anthony Davis means losing one of the best defensive players on the planet, however, and the loss of Max Christie could prove similarly difficult to mitigate in the short term.
Thankfully, there are options on the trade front who could help the Lakers find the depth they need on defense. That includes two from the same team, which opens the door for any number of trade possibilities to be presented and considered.
The question is: Who exactly should the Lakers be looking at as far as cost-effective defensive players are concerned?
Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies
One of the most intriguing names on the open market is Memphis Grizzlies big man Brandon Clarke. Injuries robbed Clarke of the 2023-24 season, but he's bounced back well in 2024-25, appearing in 46 of Memphis' 50 games and continuing to excel in key areas on defense.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reports that Memphis values Clarke, "Quite highly," but much could change between now and the closing hours of the trade deadline.
Clarke is an impact player at power forward who can thrive alongside a second potential acquisition at center. He makes plays both on and off the ball, combining his ability to block shots and create turnovers with a tendency to be in the right place at the right time.
Perhaps this wouldn't answer the questions that the Lakers have about what to do at center, but it would give JJ Redick an effective interior option.
Clarke's current season averages translate to 14.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.5 offensive boards, 1.9 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 block per 36 minutes. Opponents are also shooting 2.1 percent worse when he's the primary defender, including a sharp decline of 6.2 percent within six feet of the rim.
The Lakers have reason to avoid this pursuit due to their need for a center who can defend the post and interior, but Clarke would bring significant value at the 4-spot if they opt to look that way.
Marcus Smart, Memphis Grizzlies
In addition to needing help down low, the Lakers are desperate for depth along the defensive perimeter. One of the most overlooked aspects of the Doncic trade was that Los Angeles parted ways with starting shooting guard Max Christie.
Marcus Smart may not be able to replace Christie's upside, but his defensive acumen would make him an ideal fit alongside Doncic.
Smart is a former Defensive Player of the Year who has forgotten more about great defense than most players will ever learn. Cliché as that statement may be, he's one of the best defensive players of his generation and a force of nature in on-ball situations.
Smart isn't quite the player he was when he won Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, but the three-time All-Defense honoree still brings exceptional value on that end of the floor.
Opponents are shooting 7.3 percent worse from the field when Smart is the primary defender in 2024-25. That includes intriguing margins of minus-4.1 percent on three-point field goals and minus-7.6 percent within 10 feet of the basket.
Memphis will likely be reluctant to move Smart, but if Los Angeles can convince them to do so, he could bring the defensive consistency the team has been searching for.
Day'Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets
The most realistic target on this list is one of the best-kept secrets in the NBA. Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe is a big, bruising interior presence with the production, youth, and untapped potential to give the Lakers both short-term and long-term value.
Still just 23 years of age and headed toward restricted free agency, Sharpe is a player the Lakers should prioritize ahead of the trade deadline.
Sharpe is currently averaging 7.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.9 offensive boards, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks in just 17.3 minutes per game. Those numbers translate to 16.5 points, 13.0 rebounds, 6.0 offensive boards, 2.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks per 36 minutes.
Furthermore, Sharpe ranks No. 3 in the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage in 2024-25 and finished No. 2 in 2023-24.
If that isn't enough to intrigue you, opponents are shooting 5.4 percent worse within six feet of the rim when Sharpe is the primary defender. Despite the fact that he isn't a prolific shot-blocker, he meets opponents at the rim and strongly impacts their success rate.
Owed just $3,989,122 for the 2024-25 season, Sharpe is the type of player who could become a long-term building block in Los Angeles.