Lakers should kick the tires on Chet Holmgren trade while NBA is losing its mind

Chet Holmgren turned in what may have been the worst postseason series of his career against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs during the 2026 Western Conference Finals. Despite the fact that Holmgren finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, the response to his woeful postseason experience was perhaps inevitable in the modern sports landscape: Calls for Holmgren to be traded.

Though it's unlikely that Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti will act in an equally as rash manner, the Los Angeles Lakers should kick the tires on a Holmgren trade to see if everyone has, in fact, lost their minds.

Holmgren, 24, looked outmatched during the battle of the Goliaths down low. He averaged just 10.7 points per game during the Western Conference Finals after putting up 17.1 points per game during the regular season, and was visibly reluctant to assert himself on offense.

In the aftermath of Holmgren's disappointing showing and the Thunder's 4-3 series loss, fans and analysts called for the 7'1" big man to be traded—for a wide variety of assets. That includes moving up at the 2026 NBA Draft.

The calls for Oklahoma City to make the upgrade to two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo were then offered from multiple corners of the NBA world, with Kendrick Perkins making the demand on ESPN's Get Up.

Brett Siegel of Clutch Points echoed the sentiment.

If the Thunder intend to react in a similarly drastic manner and move on from Holmgren this summer, then the Lakers should at least explore what a potential trade might look like.

NBA world calls for Chet Holmgren trade; Lakers should see if it's realistic

Holmgren's stock is at a low point in most NBA circles, but that doesn't change the inherently positive nature of his impact on the game. He's one of the absolute best defensive players in the world, possessing the ability to block shots, protect the paint, and blow up the pick and roll that every team covets.

For a Lakers team that desperately needs an interior anchor, that at least makes Holmgren a player worth briefly considering a trade for.

Offensively, Holmgren is a skilled big man who can space the floor, score inside, and even operate with a degree efficacy in between. He's a carer 36.9 percent three-point shooter who shot 55.7 percent from the field while averaging a career-best 17.2 points per game in 2025-26.

With a top-tier playmaker like Luka Doncic utilizing him in pick-and-roll sets, Holmgren would likely be positioned to become more assertive as a scorer based on usage and quality of playmaking alone.

The question, of course, is not whether Holmgren can make a positive impact. The question is if he can live up to the five-year, $239.25 million extension that kicks in during the 2026-27 season, starting with a $41.25 million salary. If the Lakers believe he can, then at least exploring a trade while hysteria persists would be wise.

It's highly unlikely that Oklahoma City will actually trade Holmgren for anything less than a superstar return, but as the madness takes over the NBA, the Lakers should at least explore its legitimacy.

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