Grade the trade: Proposal has Lakers bringing back former wing

With the NBA Draft just a few short weeks away, Rob Pelinka and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers' management is undoubtedly carefully mapping out the team's offseason plans. All indicators are that LeBron James will be back in Los Angeles for another season, and the front office will be focused on putting the right talent around him to make another deep run in the playoffs.

The Western Conference remains a gauntlet, and the Lakers will have their work cut out for them. But with Anthony Davis coming off one of the best seasons of his career, there are reasons to be optimistic this team can do something special with the right pieces in place.

For many, the "right pieces" would include getting a third star to put next to LeBron and AD. But do not be so sure that is the best tactic. We are seeing in the modern NBA that a three-star method is decreasing in usefulness, with teams like the Phoenix Suns flaming out and getting left without any draft picks or financial flexibility.

Instead, the Lakers may want to seek out a lower-cost rotation player that they believe is a better fit next to their other two stars. Such methods have been more conducive to a successful team as of late in this league.