Without question, the Los Angeles Lakers came out of the NBA trade deadline on top. They won; it’s as simple as that. If any other team had landed Luka Dončić, say, the Toronto Raptors, they would have won the deadline. But it was the purple and gold who struck gold. With their roster essentially set for the remainder of the season, with all trades complete, the Lakers could add a shooting guard to the mix. Sources connected with the Lakers organization point to the last open roster spot for a player to help in the backcourt, and there could be several options.
Lakers Post-Trade Deadline Move Could Include Shooting Guard
Lakers Made Their Trades; Have Open Roster Spot to Fill For A Shooting Guard
The Athletic’s Jovan Buha pointed to the shooting guard position as the closest need the Lakers could address after all the trade chaos has closed. Rob Pelinka has done an admirable job this season after all the dust has settled. First, he exchanged D’Angelo Russell for Dorian Finney-Smith (and Shake Milton), then swapped Anthony Davis for Dončić. Pelinka’s grand finale was another stunner in shipping away popular rookie Dalton Knecht to the Charlotte Hornets for a much-needed big man, Mark Williams.
Now, Pelinka must turn his attention to filling the final roster spot. They have the perimeter set, paint addressed, and Luka and LeBron James at the top of the lineup. Buha speculated to BasketNews.com what the Lakers are leaning toward and their options.
“Just logically looking at the depth chart, they kind of have everything else. They don’t need a point guard, they have multiple wings that can play 30-plus minutes a night, they have a couple of centers. Looking at the roster and the layout of everything, they need another shooting guard, so I think that’s a direction they’re going to try to go.”
Whose Out There…
Buha also pointed out that the Lakers could end up just going after whichever name is best if a shooting guard doesn’t work out. Players such as Seth Curry, Lonnie Walker IV, Josh Richardson, Jaden Springer, or Reggie Jackson could be targets, provided they’re available. The most intriguing player that will hit the buyout market is Ben Simmons, whom the Brooklyn Nets have decided to move on from. However, despite a friendship connection between Simmons and LeBron, the Lakers are not a team rumored to be in the running to claim the former Philadelphia 76ers superstar. Buha has the sense that the Lakers will make the best decision available, no matter who it is.
“I’ve heard they’re going to be patient. They’re not in a rush to find that potential 15th player. They view the shooting guard spot as the current hole right now, so it seems that’s the type of guy they’re going to try to get.
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