To Trade or Not to Trade, That is the Question.

It seems like a recurring theme this season will be if the Bulls are going to break up their squad and trade their best players, and if the Lakers will be one of their preferred trading partners. Zach LaVine has come up in trade rumors, but I don’t support the Lakers making a deal for him. They would have to give up a lot (likely too much) to get him, and I feel like he wouldn’t make the Lakers better. LaVine is a talented player, but too inefficient for my liking as a volume scorer and only an average defender at best. The Bulls do, however, have a few other players who definitely catch my interest: namely DeMar DeRozan and former Laker champion Alex Caruso.

I'm no trade expert but it seems clear that in order to make the money work, the Lakers would have to part with some valuable contract players of our own, likely Rui Hachimura and D'Angelo Russell. Now, the main thing that sucks about trading those guys is that they have been two of the Lakers most reliable three-point shooters this season. Both of them are shooting 40% + from deep so far this year. LeBron is literally the only other Laker who's shooting a respectable 3-point percentage on a team that's been an embarrassingly bad 3-point shooting team all year. So, to lose these two guys, you better be getting back some quality shooters/scorers in return.

DeRozan is shooting a solid 37% from the 3-point line so far this season and Alex Caruso is shooting a scorching 47% from deep. The Lakers would seem to not be losing much (if anything) in terms of 3 point shooting were they to try and deal Hachimura, D-Lo, and (maybe/hopefully?) Gabe Vincent to the Bulls for DeRozan and Caruso. The Lakers could sweeten the deal for Chicago by including some draft picks as well.

Regardless, I would be excited about the potential of that trade because the Lakers would be gaining an elite iso player in DeRozan who they can just toss the ball to at times and say, "go get a bucket", and one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders in Caruso (Lakers fans would rejoice at having this fan favorite champion come home to L.A.). I feel like that trade would improve the Lakers on both ends of the floor and make them an even more legit title contender.

Not to be too negative, but I just don’t trust D-Lo, who's known to vanish (like Houdini) in the playoffs (as was painfully witnessed last year), and he'll unlikely be consistently helpful on defense either. This is why it's usually AR closing games with D-Lo cheering from the bench. Best for the Lakers to trade D-Lo while his stat averages are solid and his value is high.

Laker fans, imagine closing the last 5 minutes of games with the following:

C: AD

F: King James

F: Deebo (I know; strange nickname for DeRozan)

G: Carushow

G: AR

Maybe that starting/closing lineup is a little undersized against some teams but against most, that's money right there! Plus, to match up against bigger, longer teams, the Lakers would still have athletic defensive aces in their arsenal such as Reddish/Vando, and vets like Prince/Wood as the backbone of the bench. Christie and Hayes can chip in here and there as well.

Lastly, I feel that it would be highly amusing and entertaining to watch the Lakers win another chip with a backcourt pairing of good old fashioned American "golden white boys" (e.g. Reaves and Caruso); mildy reminiscent of the 72' Laker title spearheaded by West and Goodrich (though obviously Reaves and Caruso aren't nearly as great as those Laker legends). In that scenario, I would be the first one to say, "suck it, Euros!" LOL, I jest... Sort of (I've legitimately grown weary of international players increasingly dominating the NBA for the last several years - we haven't had an American born MVP since Harden in 2018! - but that's a different conversation).

That's my take, but please share your thoughts, Laker fans. Does this current Laker roster have enough to get back to the Finals or do they need to make a big move by the trade deadline?

Yeah it seems like a good idea to trade for DeRozan and Carushow because they would improve the team's shooting, add another scorer and perimeter defender, resulting in a strong closing unit in the 4th. Bulls would likely want a lot of assets in return, probably Rui, expiring contracts and picks. The bench would be weakened by such a trade, however.

Yeah it seems like a good idea to trade for DeRozan and Carushow because they would improve the team's shooting, add another scorer and perimeter defender, resulting in a strong closing unit in the 4th. Bulls would likely want a lot of assets in return, probably Rui, expiring contracts and picks. The bench would be weakened by such a trade, however.

All valid points, Dave. As with all trades, you gotta give something of value to get something of value in return (unless you're trading Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol LOL - still the biggest robbery in NBA trade history).

The key for Pelinka would be to not give away too much depth. The Lakers depth, length, and defensive versatility is the team's biggest strength, so every effort must be made to preserve as much of that as possible in any potential trade dealing. Reddish and Vando should be untouchable since they are so vital to the team's defensive scheme on a nightly basis. As much as I'd hate to lose a dynamic player like Rui, the Lakers might have to part with him in order to make any deal for DeRozan possible.

Remember when LeBron was out with injury last season, Dlo was a huge factor in getting us into the playin. We would not of made it there without him, in my opinion. He Is actually a solid defender also. Rui was a stud in the playoffs last year. He also did as well as one could do against Jokic. He's Solid on both ends, a nice big that can shoot and defend. No way we trade him in my opinion. I'd be pissed.

Also everyone keeps saying the Kwame Brown trade was the biggest highway robbery in NBA trade history. It wasn't straight up Pau for Kwame. The Grizzlies also received Marc Gasol in that trade. He was a great player, an All Star, and a defensive player of the year. It worked great for us because we got 2 chips, but the Grizzlies made out pretty well themselves.

Honestly if the team live up to what they are suppose to be, no trades are necessary.

Honestly if the team live up to what they are suppose to be, no trades are necessary.

If they could only play the entire season like they played last night in the tournament game..... Maybe we need to dangle $500,000 per game... Like their salaries are not enough.

If they could only play the entire season like they played last night in the tournament game..... Maybe we need to dangle $500,000 per game... Like their salaries are not enough.

That'd be a shame but I guess if that's what it takes, then so be it.

I would make that trade out of desperation. But seeing our current situation and the fact that they are playing arguably the best basketball in the league (not to mention they reached the inaugural tournament finals), I fail to see the need.

You are bringing in an older player with an archaic ball dominant/ mid range style skill set into the mix. Plus another dude (Caruso) who has been plagued with injury concerns throughout his career. I will roll with the current squad as currently constituted. I like this young athletic team.

Trades are exciting for fans, but you also need to factor in chemistry and longevity. Last year’s core made the Western conference finals while disposing off a very lethal/favored Grizzlies team along with the defending champs GSW. And let’s not forget that team was assembled just after the trade deadline, barely a couple of months before the playoffs. I’m good with things the way they are. Tanks, but no tanks. Lol.

All good points. At this juncture, I think the Lakers have a great team, but is it a championship team? That’s the real question. D-Lo has been great for the Lakers during the regular season, and that’s not in dispute. He’s the team’s 3rd leading scorer and has been one of the Lakers best 3-point shooters all year. I still can’t escape the feeling that because D-Lo is such a question mark in the playoffs, the Lakers may need that reliable 3rd scoring option when on the biggest stage of the playoffs. Say what you will about DeRozan’s game, he’s always been a flat out baller and can score on anyone. I see him as being a more consistent and reliable scoring threat than D-Lo, particularly in the post-season.

But if the Lakers are winning (as they have been lately), then that takes the focus off the team’s weaknesses. We’ll see how they look as we get closer to the trade deadline.

I definitely see your points. It’s hard to seriously consider the possibility of trades when the team is winning. Lakers are 5th in the west and just 1 game back from a top 2 or top 3 seed.

The Lakers defense is second to none, but it often feels like offensively the Lakers may not have enough to win a title. Denver has lost a few games lately, but still look scary and they’re the only team in the west that concerns me; they are the measuring stick. Obviously the Lakers look solid right now, but we’ll see if a trade is something the team will need to revisit as they approach the trade deadline.

The Lakers right now have a pretty good team. About the only spot where I see weakness is the five spot. AD is a good power forward and he can play the five on smaller centers, but when it comes to playing against big centers like Jokic and Embiid he is dominated. We do not have a big center period. That is where I see weakness in this Laker team. Jaxson Hayes is seven foot tall, but he is very thin and still very young. He is 23 years old and weight is 220, but he considers himself as a power forward anyways.

Rui is actually a power forward, but big bodied. I like Rui but I think Ham needs to play him more then what he does. Ham needs to cut down the playing time on LeBron and let Rui come off the bench to back him up. LeBron is playing too many minutes and the season is long. We do not need him playing so many minutes when you have a Rui just waiting for some minutes.

I would never trade Rui for DeRozan or Caruso. Giving up Rui, DA and others for those two is not worth it. Stay with what we have, or look at some of the other players who are not getting much playing time. Like Woods, Vincent, Schifino, Fudge, Lewis.

The Lakers right now have a pretty good team. About the only spot where I see weakness is the five spot. AD is a good power forward and he can play the five on smaller centers, but when it comes to playing against big centers like Jokic and Embiid he is dominated. We do not have a big center period. That is where I see weakness in this Laker team. Jaxson Hayes is seven foot tall, but he is very thin and still very young. He is 23 years old and weight is 220, but he considers himself as a power forward anyways.

I agree with regards to the Lakers lack of reliable strength at the center position. AD, Hayes, and Wood all strike me as lengthy power forwards who play out of position at center. This is the biggest difference between the 2020 Bubble Lakers and this current Lakers squad: we no longer have a big, super strong bruiser center like Dwight Howard to keep a big body like Jokic from getting easy buckets in the paint. Joker is the main reason why I still fear Denver. He’s just flat out bigger, heavier, and throws his weight around better than any of the Laker bigs. AD is more athletic but he just doesn’t have enough in his back pocket to hold off Joker. Unless the Lakers can find some kind of solution at the Center position and bring in a big, strong, defensive minded center purely to beat up on Jokic, I don’t feel confident against the Nuggets. That monster in the rocky mountains is literally the Lakers biggest obstacle to banner # 18.

Wouldn't mind a few smaller trades for these players:

1. Jalen Suggs

2. Daniel Gafford

3. Jalen Johnson

There's nothing we can do. PERIOD.

better do something or start the rebuild.

Unfortunately there is nothing which can done if you have a stubborn coach who refuses to utilize his resources in an optimum manner. His small ball bs, is getting old now. Plus he refuses to make adjustments on the fly and lastly seems averse to call timeouts. Just a clueless HC, who is probably more effective as an assistant coach. Even with this current roster, a more accomplished/seasoned coach would have gotten more out of them.

Yes we do need to shake things up, but it would be an exercise in futility if you roll with the existing coach. He seems to have the ownership’s vote of confidence so it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere, anytime soon.

Trade Today? LOL

Do not trade with these teams that want five good or better then average Laker players for on over priced former super star. Forget about former old super stars and continue with the young player movement. The Bulls is a good example, they want to gut the Lakers.

If the Hawks want to trade Murray make it a straight across for DLO who has a two year contract worth 36 mil. and Murray has a four year contract worth 64 million. Actually DLO gets paid more per year then Murray.

Do not trade with these teams that want five good or better then average Laker players for on over priced former super star. Forget about former old super stars and continue with the young player movement. The Bulls is a good example, they want to gut the Lakers.

If the Hawks want to trade Murray make it a straight across for DLO who has a two year contract worth 36 mil. and Murray has a four year contract worth 64 million. Actually DLO gets paid more per year then Murray.

Just read where Ham wants to trade Rui for Murray. But fan reaction was negative to the trade and actually the fans complained that they were not happy with how Ham was playing his rotation and not including Rui, instead he wants Reddish and Prince to get most of the playing minutes. That is when Rob Pelinka stepped into a discussion and suggested to Ham that he did not have any plans of trading Rui, that he would rather trade Reddish and Prince for Murray.

I’d like to see a trade using Vincent and/or Rui and it doesn’t have to be for an all star. Would Indiana trade Rui + Christie for Hield? Vincent for Schroder now that Toronto is selling? We have to make a move but it doesn’t have to be a home run. We don’t need Murray or LaVine to save us. Health and small moves is all we need.

No on Christie or Rui for Hield. Christie has the potential of being a very good play. He is still a baby and he has shown that he can play given the opportunity, and Rui has been injured, but he is a good back up for LeBron. Got to remember the season is long and LeBron just celebrated his 39th birthday. I remember when Hield was with the Kings and it was either feast or famine with him, that is why they traded him.

There was a lot of talk about trading DLO because there for a while he was not playing good at all, but I really think it was a player on player feud going on with in the team. I really think it was between LeBron and DLO. But it seems like it has been ironed out and now DLO and his mind set is good towards giving a much better effort towards getting involved with the team. The kid can play and he is a real good shooter given a chance to do his point guard job. Just my opinion!

I saw somewhere we were interested in Tyus Jones and Collin Sexton. Those aren’t players I would give a ton for but I like Jones as a backup PG. maybe Gabe Vincent and a second rounder? It is really hard to judge Vincent cause he hasn’t played all year but was supposed to be our big addition.

Both Nunn and Vincent played for the Heat. In future while considering players who played for the Heat..buyer beware. Lol.

Anyone who thinks we should keep Rui is crazy. He gives us nothing. We are going to lose to the Nets tonight. Get his salary off the books.

Any chance they trade Davis and Lebron and start the rebuild?

Just read that Rui does not help the team at all. I agree since he come back from his injuries his shooting has fallen off. But when healthy he did help the Lakers in his shooting and he is a big power forward who can push his way in the painted area. He actually is a good backup for LeBron both about the same size. Lets give him some time to heal up and if he still does not come around by the end of the season, then look for a trade, but on the February trade dead line it is hard to find teams letting good power forwards go. Vanderbilt was also slow coming off injuries, but look at him now. He all over the floor on defense and he is also making some three point shots from the corner. Christie has really improved on his three point shooting and I like it because he is still very young and we sure do not want to trade our most promising draft pick. He just turned 21 years old. Do not make the mistake of trading him for a player that is already thirty. This guy has potential of being a great player as he matures.

Any chance they trade Davis and Lebron and start the rebuild?

Exactly what I've been preaching. Davis stock is at an all time high right now, We could easily get a Rudy Gobert trade type at worst.

I would be ok with it also.

Man you guys really want to scrap the bottom of the barrel trading AD for Gobert. LOL!

Man you guys really want to scrap the bottom of the barrel trading AD for Gobert. LOL!

Are you stupid or dumb? Do you even comprehend? You actually think I'm saying trade Davis for Gorbert? Lmao!!!!!.....Re-read again bro. I'm saying we can get the same type deal the Jazz got for Gorbert or better. SMH. You simply can't make this shyt up....lol.

Trade lebron

Murray and Brown seem to be our targets. I’d like to see them get both.

DLo, JHS and first round pick for Murray

Rui, Gabe Vincent and 2nd for Brown and Schroder

Murray/Schroder

Reaves/Brown

LeBron/Reddish

Prince/Vanderbilt

AD/Wood

Much better than what we have now considering Gabe Vincent won’t ever play.

Can Bruce Brown play PG?

Forget Bruce Brown, get Bobby Brown. Lol.

After watching film on Murray, he would be good for the Lakers.

Probably won't do anything anyway.

Murray is westbrook 2.0, he's a stat chaser. Not sure about his effectiveness to the game....otherwise his second team wouldn't trade him lol

Use any combination of Rui, Vincent, JHS, Christie and a first round pick to get some depth at guard. Doesn’t have to be an all star. Tyus Jones, Schroder, Bruce Brown, etc.

Need a good 3pt shooter

what can we get for Davis? No trade will make us a contender this year keeping Davis and Lebron anyway.