Andrew Wiggins, Jrue Holiday, Matisse Thybulle, Michael Porter Jr., Keegan Murray, Benedict Mathurin, and others are among the realistic trade targets for the Lakers this offseason.
The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into a pivotal and challenging offseason as they look to improve their roster and build around their superstar duo of LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
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While the center position is widely viewed as their top priority, especially after being exposed during their playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers may also be targeting upgrades at the guard and forward positions.
According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, several players could emerge as realistic trade targets this summer.
"I see Jrue Holiday, Andrew Wiggins, Michael Porter Jr., Derrick Jones Jr., Royce O’Neale, and Kentavious Caldwell Pope as potential guys that will be available because of their contracts — either due to the money, the years, their age, their performance last season," Buha said on his Buha's Block podcast.
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"With Jrue, Boston’s got to make some tough decisions — though I don’t anticipate them doing the Lakers any favors," he said. "With Wiggins, he’s got a couple more years left. MPJ’s got a couple more years left."
"Derrick Jones Jr. has multiple years, and the Clippers are going to have some financial decisions to make with what they do with James Harden and if they end up trying to flip Norm Powell."
"Royce O’Neale could be someone that’s available based on the direction that Phoenix wants to pivot. KCP is someone I expect to be available in Memphis, and he’s coming off a down year," he added.
Buha also mentioned additional names that could surface in trade discussions, including a promising Indiana Pacers forward and a sharpshooting wing from the Sacramento Kings.
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"And some of these guys are impending restricted free agents — they will be restricted free agents in 2026 — Keegan Murray, Benedict Mathurin, and Ochai Agbaji. Different skill sets there, different positional archetypes, but I think all those guys can help."
"And then Matisse Thybulle is an expiring contract. That’s a trickier one. If you could somehow flip Maxi Kleber plus something for him, I would really like that. Even Gabe Vincent for him, I would consider, just because I think the Lakers need more size, defense, athleticism," Buha noted.
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