LeBron James and Luka Doncic
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LeBron James and Luka Doncic are entering their first full season together as teammates.
The Los Angeles Lakers are always an interesting team on the trade block when it comes to making big moves. Last season saw the shocking franchise changing deal of adding Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis and Max Christie. However, this season appears less likely to see the Lakers finding a trade partner for a noteworthy move.
The Athletic’s Dan Woike reports that the Lakers are not likely to trade their most valued asset for a difference maker at the deadline:
“If we’re speaking in a technical sense, the Lakers’ 2032 first-round pick is probably their most valuable trade asset. However, trading that pick would lock the team’s ability to trade the 2031 pick now and the 2033 pick this summer. So, yeah, the 2032 pick probably isn’t going anywhere.”
Lakers management could flip the 2031 pick, but that would remove the most distant 2032 pick from the table. The rule of not trading back-to-back years of first round picks would see the Lakers preferring to keep flexibility. Los Angeles’ 2033 first round pick is not technically trade eligible until the offseason once this current season ends.
Lakers Have Few Realistic Trade Options
The Lakers making many moves in recent years to continue changing up the roster in the LeBron James era has limited their ability to make changes moving forward. Future draft picks are the only real major assets they have, unless they opt to move Austin Reaves before his contract extension is due.
Most of the current roster consists of role players and veterans that hold little value around the league. The Lakers must hope that Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent will be enough to tempt opposing teams into moving “win now” talent. Many believe the Lakers will have to take a risk on a talent with low value and develop said talent for a truly helpful trade to take place.
None of the big stars on the trade block are likely to get moved to the Lakers unless the Reaves situation changes. The Lakers are reportedly locked in on making Reaves a big part of the future, but he is expected to receive massive contract offers once hitting free agency.
Lakers Struggling To Trade Dalton Knecht
Last season saw the Lakers almost acquiring center Mark Williams by moving Dalton Knecht and a draft pick for him. Williams’ physical tests led to the Lakers not trusting his health and backing out of the deal in a shocking move.
However, this is most relevant today due to the difference in trade value for Knecht. Last year’s rookie season saw Knecht having some value as a solid shooter that could help many teams by providing the spacing.
JJ Redick has lost all confidence in Knecht this season to see his playing time diminishing on a team that already holds flawed roster depth. Woike’s report also mentioned that most teams don’t desire Knecht these days to complicate any smaller deals. The Lakers not including their most valued pick as of this moment may block them from making any improvements at the deadline.