Lakers acquires Trae Young $97.5 Million In a realistic trade
Although supporters and media analysts anticipated a move to increase the Los Angeles Lakers’ prospects of contending this season, the team decided to remain in place at the trade deadline and made no acquisitions. While considering all of their possibilities, the team refused to give up Dejounte Murray or other targets for the amount that other teams were demanding.
Reports indicate the team is aggressively going to search for a star in the summer with a more substantial collection of trade assets following their inability to make a winter deal. Potential targets include Kyrie Irving, Donovan Mitchell, and Trae Young. However, given that Trae is under a long-term contract and Mitchell’s is set to expire next season, the Lakers are more likely to focus on acquiring Trae.
Although Trae has been connected to the Lakers in the past, they lack the resources to seriously pursue him this season. But the Lakers might make an unexpected play for Trae given that they have three tradeable selections in the summer and additional contracts that are about to expire.
Trade Specifics
D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Maxwell Lewis, and the Atlanta Hawks The first-round picks for 2025, 2029, and 2031 are all listed as LAL.
Received by the Los Angeles Lakers: Trae Young
With Anthony Davis, the Lakers would have a formidable tandem and be prepared for a post-LeBron future. With this big three, the Lakers would once again be considered contenders if LeBron remains past the 2019–20 season.
The Hawks Make Acquisitions And Change Course
With Trae Young as their top option, the Hawks have made an effort to succeed, and they have a Conference Finals run to show for it. However, they’ve been a mediocre squad for the past two years, appearing to regress with each passing season. The Hawks are currently lacking resources to reassemble the team around Trae after making the costly error of adding Dejounte Murray. The Hawks might salvage their lost assets by trading Young to the Lakers rather than attempting to assemble a squad around him.
Since D’Angelo Russell’s contract was about to expire, the Hawks could simply transfer him for further assets to a competing team. However, with his averages of 17.5 points and 6.2 assists, the Hawks could decide to retain him on the team without Trae. This season, Rui Havhimura is averaging 11.3 points and 3.7 rebounds. He would be a versatile wing for a team that has struggled with injuries to players like DeAndre Hunter and has one-way wings like Saddiq Bey.
Although their second-round selection, Maxwell Lewis, is a highly sought-after young talent with plenty of space to develop, Jalen Hood-Schifino lacks the value of a No. 17 choice. With both of them and their three tradeable selections, Atlanta is able to reassemble their roster or try to build around Dejounte with significant future assets.
The Lakers Prepare for a World Without LeBron James
The last months of LeBron James’s Laker career are almost upon us. This summer, James will be a free agent, and it is anticipated that his son will be selected in the NBA draft. The Lakers need to be aware that LeBron could easily walk away from LA to join up with his son for a retirement season. Since Anthony Davis is contracted with them through 2028, the club hopes to keep winning till AD’s playing days are up. It could be ideal to get Trae for this uncertain future.
This season, 25-year-old Trae has averaged 27.1 points and 10.8 assists. As a tiny guard, his winning influence has been questioned.
However, Clint Capela has been the finest big man he has partnered with. The dynamic tandem of AD and Trae has the potential to be extremely dangerous in the Western Conference. The squad would need to be a championship contender if LeBron remains.
Trae almost doubles Russell’s output, but the Lakers will need to make smart free-agency decisions to replace Hachimura. If the Lakers sign Trae, they might have a formidable team heading into next season because Lewis and JHS aren’t rotational guys. The price will worry LA because it’s an extremely aggressive all-in wager on an older LeBron and AD team combined with a mercurial superstar like Trae. However, Clint Capela has been the finest big man he has partnered with. The dynamic tandem of AD and Trae has the potential to be extremely dangerous in the Western Conference. The squad would need to be a championship contender if LeBron remains.
Trae almost doubles Russell’s output, but the Lakers will need to make smart free-agency decisions to replace Hachimura. If the Lakers sign Trae, they might have a formidable team heading into next season because Lewis and JHS aren’t rotational guys. The price will worry LA because it’s an extremely aggressive all-in wager on an older LeBron and AD team combined with a mercurial superstar like Trae.
However, if it succeeds, it might be among the best agreements in contemporary history.
The Lakers Put Their Three-Star Model Back in Place
The Lakers have experimented with fielding three superstars since the start of the LeBron era. In addition to actively pursuing Kawhi Leonard into free agency, when he ultimately decided to sign with the Clippers, they were also pursuing Anthony Davis in 2018–19. Had he not, we may have witnessed the Lakers field a LeBron, AD, and Kawhi three—possibly the most menacing combination in recent memory. They traded for Russell Westbrook in 2021 to add a third star, despite their unsuccessful attempt to get Kawhi.
One of the worst moves in league history will be the one to acquire Westbrook.because Westbrook was demonstrably awful and the Lakers lost a half-season’s worth of competition. After trading Russ and adding depth around LeBron and AD, they became a better team again. They used a two-star plan for their 2020 championship bid and success last year, but this year it has failed.
The Lakers may contend for a championship the next year even if they won’t this year. As one of the NBA’s top passers and a prolific scorer, Trae is a complementing star. LeBron and AD would become available to him, and as exceptional weapons beside him, the two veterans would further unleash his potential. Trae can relieve the pair of the scoring pressure. James can play a similar role to what he did in the 2023 playoffs, where he turned into a Swiss army knife on both ends of the court, while AD can concentrate on defense.