The Trade
Sean Deveney of Heavy.com recently tried his hand at a potential trade between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers. It's a deal that focuses on upside for Brooklyn and the mitigation of risk based on injury history for Los Angeles.
In the proposed trade, the Lakers would receive Cameron Johnson in exchange for Jalen Hood-Schifino, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, and a 2031 first-round draft pick.
The hurdle in a trade for Johnson is the finances, which is why this deal is constructed as it is. He's entering the second season of a four-year, $94.5 million contract that will see him make $23,625,000 during the 2024-25 campaign.
Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent close the gap on that front with a combined $21,714,286 owed to them in 2024-25—and Vincent will be a free agent as soon as 2026.
Jalen Hood-Schifino closes the gap with a salary of $3,879,840, thus making the outgoing salaries actually exceed the incoming. That could have positive cap ramifications, while parting with a 2031 first-round draft pick is easy to stomach—and potentially make up for in future trades.
This trade depends heavily on the Nets wanting to shed salary and add upside plays in Hood-Schifino and a first-round draft pick, but that doesn't mean it's not worth considering.