Is an NBA season complete without trade rumors surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers? Probably not. This year is no exception, as the rumors swirl for good reason—the team needs reinforcements. A reunion could be in the cards for the Lakers if they target Dennis Schröder and Day’Ron Sharpe in the Brooklyn Nets’ firesale.
Lakers Will Become Contenders With Dennis Schröder and Day’ron Sharpe Reunion
Promising Start, But Defensive Woes Persist
The Lakers started the JJ Redick era with promise, jumping out of the gates with a three-win streak. They improved to 10-4 barely over a week ago. Unfortunately, after a 1-4 run over the last five games against elite competition, they now own a 12-8 record, good for sixth in the Western Conference.
The Lakers are 8-1 against opponents below .500 but just 4-7 against those above .500. Right now, the Lakers are a good team, but not a great one. Thankfully, they possess assets that can help improve their standing in the West.
Lakers’ Tradeable Assets and Needs
Under the Stepien Rule, the Lakers can trade either their 2029 or 2031 draft pick. One of these picks would be valuable to front offices across the league for obvious reasons. Additionally, the Lakers have team-friendly contracts they can leverage in trades.
For instance, D’Angelo Russell’s expiring $18.69 million contract is a valuable trade piece. Jalen Hood-Schifino’s contract is also expiring after the Lakers declined their third-year team option. The 6’6″ guard, drafted 17th in 2023, still has the physical tools to attract other teams as a developmental project.
Then there’s Gabe Vincent, whose cap hit of $11 million over two years is team-friendly, but his production has been poor. With awful shooting splits of 34.7/23.9/33.3 this season, Vincent is a potential negative asset. However, his performance during the Miami Heat’s Finals run two years ago suggests he may still have something to offer.
The Lakers are 25th in defensive rating but 7th in offensive rating, making their performance a tale of two sides. If they want a deep postseason run, they need drastic defensive improvement. The return of Jarred Vanderbilt could help, but after missing 70 of the last 100 games and undergoing double foot surgery, his impact is uncertain.
Even if Vanderbilt returns at full strength, the Lakers still lack an elite point-of-attack defender and frontcourt depth. Anthony Davis, averaging heavy minutes, needs help on the glass. The Lakers rank fourth worst in rebounds per game at 40.5.
Schröder and Sharpe: The Perfect Solutions for the Lakers
The Lakers had solutions in 2022-23 when they made a run to the Western Conference Finals. They had multiple big men to relieve pressure on Davis and a point-of-attack defender in Schröder. A reunion could solve their current problems.
Schröder, now with the Nets, is having a great season, averaging 18.7 points on splits of 44/1/40.5/89.2. He’s attempting a career-high 6.7 threes per game and averaging career-highs in assists (6.3) and steals (1.2). His $13.02 million expiring contract makes him a low-risk, high-reward acquisition. Schröder also knows how to play alongside LeBron James, Davis, and Austin Reaves, making him a seamless fit.
Meanwhile, Sharpe, another Nets player, offers immense value despite not playing in 2024-25. A deep dive into his 2023-24 stats highlights his impact. His +6.6 on/off rating is in the 84th percentile, and his 9.7% offensive rebounding rate ranks in the 99th percentile. On defense, opposing teams score 3.3 fewer points per possession with him on the court, while opponents’ effective field goal percentage drops by 3.1%.
Sharpe’s rookie contract ($3.98 million cap hit) makes him affordable, and his restricted free-agent status in 2025 gives the Lakers flexibility to re-sign him. At 23 years old and 6’10”, Sharpe could provide long-term frontcourt depth. While his injury history is a concern, his upside makes him worth the gamble.
Flexibility for Future Moves
The best part of this trade is that the Lakers don’t need to use Russell’s contract to acquire Schröder and Sharpe. They can still use Russell in another deal, packaging him with other draft picks to address additional needs.
The Last Word
Reuniting with Dennis Schröder and adding Day’Ron Sharpe could significantly bolster the Lakers’ defense and frontcourt depth. These low-risk, high-reward moves would position the Lakers as serious contenders in the competitive Western Conference. With flexibility for further trades, the Lakers can craft a championship-caliber roster to complement LeBron and Davis.
