Lakers to Lure Cavs for Donovan Mitchell or Jarrett Allen With ‘Tradable’ 1st Round Picks, Claims NBA Insider

The Los Angeles Lakers have found themselves in hot water. Once again, the Denver Nuggets shot them out of the playoffs in the first round. Since then, numerous questions and dilemmas have emerged regarding the storied franchise. With LeBron James having an option to leave, a state of desperation has arisen as the Lakers look to do everything to extend his stay.

Their first action was to fire Darvin Ham, the head coach who spent two years with the franchise. The next step is to rely on their draft picks to upgrade their roster. After the humiliation faced at the hands of Nikola Jokić’s Nuggets, the evident need for a third star was realized. In the upcoming draft, Rob Pelinka has two picks at his disposal to formulate a blockbuster move.

Several candidates have emerged in the short time since the Lakers’ elimination. At first, Chicago Bulls’ savvy scorer Zach Lavine had been heavily linked to return to his hometown. Now, a few new scenarios have come to light. Speaking about the Lakers’ plan of action in the offseason, Jovan Buha provided the possible routes the Purple and Gold could potentially explore.

The most popular could be to reach an agreement for stars within the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen are the prime targets for the Lakers

Being a Lakers reporter for The Athletic, Buha is well-informed about the inside talks of the Lakers. According to him, draft night is likely to be huge for the 17-time champions. He claims they will be “active and aggressive” having multiple draft picks to trade. The Lakers possess the 17th and 55th pick in the upcoming draft, a combination fit to pursue a major trade.

As per Buha, the Lakers could either pick a third star to join James and Anthony Davis or opt to add a solid role player using their draft selections. A few players in the running are Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell and Atlanta’s Trae Young. “Whether that is a significant move like a trade for Trae Young or Donovan Mitchell or a smaller move bringing in a 3-and-D wing or another big man remains to be seen. The Lakers are going to explore their options on draft night,” he said.

Going deeper into the role player option, Buha believes a trade for Cleveland big Jarrett Allen could be a very real possibility. “There are several ways for the Lakers to execute this trade. The base of it would likely have to be Rui Hachimura, though there are ways to make it work with a Jared Vanderbilt or Gabe Vincent,” Buha informed.

Mitchell is a certified postseason performer. He plays with a high motor and is an exceptional three-dimensional scorer. The explosive guard is also characterized as being a sublime passer which could allow the Lakers to exploit LeBron James’ off-ball tactics. Allen, on the other hand, provides improved defense against centers such as Jokic. It will also allow Anthony Davis to play more at his natural position.

Either path the Lakers choose, a new-looking roster needs to be a priority for the Lakers. They evidently lacked a three-point threat throughout the season, a need they could look to fill using their picks. It also diminishes the possibility of them using the pick to select Bronny James, who would be an incentive for Bron to stay for a longer spell.

Which way do you think the Lakers should go – a third star or upgrading their pieces around Davis and LeBron James? Let us know in the comments below.