At 6-4 through their first 10 games, the Lakers look similar to last year’s team that was 5-5 at the same mark. It’s still early in the season, but Los Angeles is the No. 7 team in the West and a clear-cut below the likes of the Warriors, Suns, Thunder and Nuggets.
Could a trade be incoming?
The Lakers have their 2029 and 2031 picks available to deal, along with three pick swaps and five second-rounders. They’ve been linked to targets such as Kyle Kuzma, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Walker Kessler, Bruce Brown Jr. and Zach LaVine.
What if they aimed bigger? There is a three-time All-Star who could be out there and change their future.
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Lakers potential trade for Trae Young
One target that the Lakers should seriously consider is Hawks guard Trae Young, according to The Ringer’s Bill Simmons. Simmons noted on his latest podcast that the fit makes a lot of sense if Atlanta decides to start shopping the star.
“You start going through all of the teams, and honestly the only team I could find was the Lakers. That was it,” Simmons noted.
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Simmons proposed a trade including D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino and the Lakers’ two first-round picks in exchange for Young. While that trade is not legal due to salary cap rules, we can fix it with a little bit of tinkering.
Here’s a construct that works better for both sides and is legal after Dec. 15.
The trade
Lakers receive
Hawks receive
- D’Angelo Russell
- Rui Hachimura
- Gabe Vincent
- 2029 first-round pick
- 2031 first-round pick
fanspo.com
Why the Lakers do it
At 26 years old, Young could help bridge the gap between LeBron James and whatever comes after him while simultaneously giving the team the upside they need to make a run at banner No. 18 this year.
Young is a great passer — his 11.5 assists per game rank second only to Nikola Jokic this season. He’s a fantastic pick-and-roll player who is one of the best lob throwers in the game. That would make him a great combination with Anthony Davis, and Davis could clean up Young’s defensive limitations.
“Him and Davis, I kind of like that combo,” Simmons noted.
Young could also help boost the Lakers’ 3-point attempts, as they currently rank 26th in the league in that department. That has been a point of emphasis for JJ Redick, but he hasn’t been able to get his team to shoot more of them. Young doesn’t need any prompting — his 9.3 attempts from deep per game rank seventh in the league.
Zeller is mostly included for salary purposes but he is a playable backup big man, which the team has been seeking to lessen the strain on Davis. He’s currently out of the Hawks’ rotation as he awaits a trade or buyout.
The price that the Lakers are paying here isn’t too bad. Russell has fallen out of favor with Redick, getting removed from the starting lineup nine games into the season. Hachimura has been a good player, but the team will have Jarred Vanderbilt back eventually and can slot him into Hachimura’s place. Vincent hasn’t been able to contribute much since joining the team.
Those picks could end up being very good down the line, but Young is a great player, and that’s what a player like him will cost.
MORE: JJ Redick learning lessons his former coach tried to warn him about the hard way
Why the Hawks do it
The Hawks are just 5-7 on the year. They’ve been 187-231 in games that Young has played in his career. Yes, they reached one Eastern Conference Finals with him, but it was in fluky fashion. They haven’t been able to build more than an average team with him as their centerpiece. Simmons noted that in his analysis.
“Here’s your chance to get out of the Trae Young business and build your team around Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels, which by the way I think is a good idea.”
If the Hawks did want to trade Young, then bottoming out wouldn’t be feasible. They owe their next three first-round picks to the Spurs, and it would be disastrous to send Cooper Flagg to San Antonio if they fall in the standings. Trading for some veterans and a good young player in Hachimura would keep them in contention for a Play-In spot in a weak Eastern Conference while allowing their younger players like Johnson, Daniels and No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to develop.
Johnson and Daniels do look ready for bigger roles. Daniels broke out without Young, leading the Hawks to an improbable win over the Celtics with a career-high 28 points on Nov. 12. And Johnson has been one of the team’s best players, showing great athleticism, playmaking and scoring.
One reason the Hawks might say no is that this offer simply isn’t all that great for a player of Young’s caliber. Simmons suggested that the Lakers would be the only fit, but the Magic have more picks to offer and also need a dynamic young playmaking point guard. So do the Spurs, Nets and Jazz. There are teams out there who would compete for Young’s services.
The Lakers do have those swaps and second-rounders they could throw in to sweeten a deal. Adding Austin Reaves in place of Vincent would certainly make the deal more interesting, but the Lakers seem reluctant to even consider that idea. They would probably have to juice up their offer more than Simmons imagines to land their third star.