The Los Angeles Lakers will enter the 2024-25 NBA season with expectations unlike any other franchise. First-year head coach JJ Redick has been tasked with balancing a long overdue youth movement with winning immediately as LeBron James nears the end of his career.
The question is: What if the Lakers are struggling to find their form as a contender when the 2025 trade deadline rolls around?
Under those circumstances, it stands to reason that general manager Rob Pelinka will look to explore the trade market. Some players on the roster should remain untouchable in that scenario, but the Lakers' willingness to part with assets in the pursuit of improvement is well-documented.
In the event that the Lakers find themselves in that position, there are already five players whom the organization should keep an eye on.
Malcolm Brogdon, Washington Wizards
Malcolm Brogdon is the epitome of a good player on a potentially bad team—a team that might accept draft compensation in a potential trade package. He's also a proven veteran entering the final season of his current contract, priced at $22.5 million.
If the Lakers feel the need to upgrade the quality of play in the backcourt, then a trade for Brogdon could be executed for a reasonable price.
Brogdon finished the 2023-24 season averaging 15.7 points, 5.5 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.1 three-point field goals made per game. He shot 41.2 percent from beyond the arc, marking the second consecutive season and fourth time overall that he eclipsed 40.0 percent from distance.
An elite three-point shooter who has a reputation for playing hard and showing up in the postseason, Brogdon would be an excellent fit in Los Angeles.
In a perfect world, the Lakers could land the 2023 Sixth Man of the Year without having to part with D'Angelo Russell. That two-headed monster at point guard would give Los Angeles a 1-2 punch that can be alternated when the situation calls for it, or even paired together in a shooter-friendly lineup.
At 6'4" and 229 pounds with a massive 6'10.5" wingspan, Brogdon also has the physical tools to be the defender that Russell hasn't yet established himself as—making a potential swap easier to stomach.