Power ranking all of the Lakers' trade assets at the 2024 deadline

Lakers' trade assets, 5-1:

5: 2026 1st Round Pick

Utilizing the same rhetoric tied to the age of the team's present superstars, we are assuming that LBJ is no longer a Laker following the 2025-2026 NBA season. With that in mind, the near future of this franchise is very foggy. Anthony Davis will still be in his prime (33) at the time of the 2026 NBA draft.

However, it is unclear who will be around to support Davis in LeBron's absence, and it is also unclear if (fingers crossed) Davis will be able to remain healthy enough on a consistent enough basis to sustain his untouchable status behind closed doors.

4: 2028 1st Round Pick

With this ranking, we are once again bouncing back to the our common reasoning pertaining to ages and uncertainties. LeBron will surely be relaxing on a beach enjoying his retirement by this time, and Davis will be two years older at the time of this pick compared to the 2026 pick.

Again, there is no guarantee that the Lakers are a worse team at this point as opposed to the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season, but things are much less vivid in terms of the vision stretching through this time.

It is important to note that the Lakers can only trade a first-round pick swap in both 2026 and 2028. But if the opossing team expects LA to be bad in the future then it will still be an extremely valuable pick.

3: Max Christie

In a much more subtle volume than the previously mentioned D'Angelo Russell reports, reports have surfaced recently in regards to strong interest in Lakers' sophomore wing Max Christie. While this may not be a headline-worthy development, it should not be shocking to see Christie's name floated in trade chatter considering he is about to hit restricted free agency.

The soon-to-be 21-year-old stands roughly 6'6" in stature and has bulked up his frame to roughly 190-195 pounds. His 6'9" wingspan aids in his relentless efforts as a defensive disruptor, and he plays with a highly mature style of wisdom on both ends of the court. It took him a while to get going, but he has been impressive since securing a stable spot in the rotation.

2: Rui Hachimura

Hachimura has extended his impressive 2023 postseason play into the 2023-2024 regular season. His numbers may not have jumped very much, but he has been a quality option at either forward spot all year. The soon-to-be 26-year-old has a contract ($15.7 million) which could be very useful in the front office's pursuit of assistance for it's superstars.

1: Austin Reaves

Nobody in their right mind wants the Lakers to trade Reaves, but at the end of the day, the front office has to do what the front office has to do. If that means coughing up their golden boy for a potential needle-mover like Dejounte Murray then do not be stunned if AR is no longer a member of the purple and gold come mid-February.