All eyes have been on the Lakers when it comes to trade talks. The latest reports suggested LA is prioritizing a move for Dejounte Murray in exchange for D’Angelo Russell, their 2029 first-round pick and a pick swap. Those talks have stalled for now, in part because Atlanta is waiting for a better player than Russell to become available, or pushing LA to reroute him to a third team.
Although the Lakers are considered frontrunners for Murray, they could also be outbid by other teams. In an effort to seriously set themselves apart—from Murray and other prominent targets—some have wondered if the Lakers are willing to move on from a couple of their other young players. In an effort to entice other teams while saving their draft capital, should the Lakers trade Jalen Hood-Schifino and Max Christie?
NBA Rumors: Should the Lakers Trade These Two Young Guards?
Background
Both players have developed between the Lakers and their G League affiliate. Christie, in particular, has received more opportunities of the two this season. In 37 games, the second-year guard put up 4.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and one assist per game on .405/.321/.800 splits. Hood-Schifino, the 17th pick of the 2023 Draft, has been recovering from injuries and has struggled in the league. However, he’s had a promising stint in the G League. In seven games with South Bay, he averaged 19 points and nearly five assists on 45% shooting from the field and 43% from three.
Christie and JHS haven’t been able to find their footing in the rotation, but they’ve stayed ready and provided valuable minutes when the Lakers were dealing with multiple injuries. The reaction from Laker fans has been mixed, but they’ve earned the trust of Darvin Ham, LeBron James and Anthony Davis over the course of the season. They’ve also turned heads around the league, leading some teams to express interest in them ahead of the Feb. 8 deadline.
Should the Lakers Trade Hood-Schifino or Christie?
When asked who has more trade value between the two, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha pointed to Christie as the more valuable asset, but didn’t discount Hood-Schifino’s development as of late:
“My sense is Christie is more valuable because he’s shown he can be a rotation-caliber wing — albeit one who still needs some seasoning — before the age of 21. Other teams are asking for Christie to be included in trade talks, but the Lakers have been reluctant to part with him.
The Lakers still hold hope with Hood-Schifino’s long-term development and he’s been playing well in the G League, but has yet to flash his potential in NBA play. It doesn’t help that the three players drafted directly behind him —Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr., Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski and Houston’s Cam Whitmore — have played so well this season. But the Lakers can’t go back and redraft.”
In terms of salaries, both players are on relatively similar contracts. Christie is in the final year of a two-year, $2.7 million deal. Hood-Schifino, on the other hand, is on a four-year rookie scale contract and making $3.7 million.
Both would be valuable assets for teams who are looking for guard depth and wouldn’t mind developing players who have flashed high upside in the past. Whether they’re willing to take one of them as part of a major trade is a different story. Those teams would have to believe that receiving one or both of these players is better than waiting on a 2029 first-round pick. Based on what JHS and Christie have shown so far, that could very well be the case.
The Case for Christie and JHS
Christie and Hood-Schifino are both dynamic two-way guards who can score, facilitate and defend well. They also had several impressive performances for Los Angeles and South Bay, respectively. Christie dropped 14 points (4/8 FG, 1/3 3PT, 5/6 FT) as the Lakers fell to the Suns on Jan. 11. Meanwhile, Hood-Schifino dropped 19 points for South Bay on an efficient 7/14 from the field on Jan. 18.
There is also a case for the Lakers to keep them. Christie has proven he can grow into a solid rotational contributor, and he flashed that potential in big performances earlier this year. It’s also too early to give up on Hood-Schifino only half a season into his NBA career. Even if they’re not getting minutes, they’re relishing the opportunities to learn from stars and other established veterans.
Still, the league is a business, and both of these players deserve to thrive in the Association. The Lakers—aside from their track record of excellent player development—may not be the place for either of them beyond the deadline. It makes sense if other teams show interest in Christie or JHS in the coming weeks. The Lakers should at least consider moving them instead of the very few first-round picks they have left.
