Lakers predicted to trade Bronny James for $77M high-level scorer, fan favorite in 4-team mega deal image
The Los Angeles Lakers are still trying to finalize their roster after ending up one player over the roster limit for the upcoming season. There are several options available to them, including making a trade or waiving a player.
The Lakers are officially entering the Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves era this season. However, they still have to make a decision on which players could be moved to get the roster down to 15 players.
“Clearly, the Lakers need to dump someone, and I think it's going to be one of three players," Lakers insider Jovan Buha said. "It's going to either be Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, or Bronny James."
For some time, the Lakers have been trying to figure out what to do with Bronny James after LeBron James left in free agency. A trade involving the younger James could potentially help the Lakers clear roster space while bringing back another useful piece.
“It is still unclear whether the Lakers view Bronny as a potential long-term piece. With the franchise still looking to round out the roster around superstar point guard Luka Doncic, Bronny could be involved in a trade," Heavy.com's Adel Ahmad wrote.
It is now a matter of determining what Los Angeles could get in return if Bronny is included in a trade. Ahmad has put together a four-team trade proposal that would send Bronny to the New York Knicks, while also moving other contracts to the Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons and bringing former Lakers fan favorite Malik Monk back to Los Angeles.
“Lakers receive: Malik Monk, 2030 second round pick (via NYK), 2031 second round pick (via DET). Knicks receive: Bronny James. Kings receive: Jaden Hardy, Dalton Knecht, 2030 second round pick (via LAL), 2031 second round pick (via LAL). Pistons receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Miles McBride,” wrote Ahmed.
Bringing Monk back would be exciting for the Lakers, as they could always use his offensive spark off the bench. He was a major contributor during his time in Los Angeles and played an important role in the Lakers' playoff victory over the Golden State Warriors a few years ago.
Monk is currently on a $77 million contract with the Kings. His time with the Lakers helped get his NBA career back on track, and a reunion with Los Angeles could be beneficial for both sides. Monk can also provide valuable shooting and scoring off the bench, giving the Lakers another offensive weapon around Doncic and Reaves.
More NBA news: