lebron james draymond green
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LeBron James hugging Draymond Green.
After a very strong start to the season, the Los Angeles Lakers are on a three-game losing streak. While the Lakers are very good on the offensive side of the court, they are 25th in defensive rating.
Jarred Vanderbilt is one of their best defenders, but he barely gets on the court because he is not a threat to make a jump shot. If the Lakers want to improve on defense, perhaps they could consider adding one of the greatest defensive players ever.
Draymond Green has a reputation for being very difficult to work with. The Golden State Warriors have dealt with it because he’s been an important part of four championships. However, the Warriors aren’t that good this year, and Green’s act seems to be wearing thin.
Recently, Green went straight to the locker room after an argument with head coach Steve Kerr during a timeout. The two have been working together for years, so they’ll be able to work things out, but that doesn’t mean the team wouldn’t consider moving him.
Bill Simmons floated the idea of trading away Green to Los Angeles, which would allow him to play with his close friend, LeBron James.
“Put Draymond on that team, reinvigorated with, I can’t believe they traded me. I’m going to triple down and be a maniac. And that’s kind of what the Lakers need,” Simmons said on “The Bill Simmons Podcast.” “Obviously, he has a long relationship with LeBron and the clutch factor.”
What Would It Cost to Trade for Green?
Green is going to turn 36 this season and isn’t the same player he was in the past. He’s still an impact player, but the Warriors can’t expect a haul for him.
Golden State could easily get into the idea of swapping Green for James outright, but it’s hard to see the Lakers going for that. A package of Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent and Jaxson Hayes would make the salaries work, but the Warriors wouldn’t be getting much value.
Perhaps if Golden State doesn’t think they can win this year, the Lakers could convince them to take a similar deal by attaching a first-round pick. A trade isn’t impossible, but it could get complicated.
Would Lakers Want Green?
Green would certainly help the Lakers’ defensive woes. Center Deandre Ayton is a strong offensive player, but he struggles to make stops. Putting him on the court with Green could create a dynamic frontcourt duo.
Depending on the price, the Lakers could definitely figure out how to integrate Green into the lineup. The Warriors won’t be too keen on helping out a rival unless they make them an offer they can’t refuse.
That’s why this deal is unlikely unless the Warriors get so fed up with Green that they just want to be rid of him. Green can be difficult, but putting him on a veteran team with James and Luka Doncic should keep him content. He’s never made the Warriors a worse team, so it’s hard to imagine he’d make the Lakers any worse.