The trade rumor mill is still in high gear as fresh speculations flood the offseason on a daily basis. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to rebound from last season’s blunders by bolstering their roster with new additions.
Therefore, the franchise has remained active in trade talks. They have two first-round picks ? 2027 and 2029 ? that they can trade; however, they have been reluctant in doing so. Trading for Anthony Davis stripped the franchise of a boatload of draft compensation. As a result, the Lakers have dodged any trade discussions involving their two high-priced draft picks.
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However, the recent reports from the reliable Adrian Wojnarowski say that the Lakers will be willing to part ways with their picks if the right offer comes knocking. According to him, those two picks have great value in the marketplace.
The Lakers have been linked to Kyrie Irving for weeks and would be prepared to give up those two picks for his signature, according to Wojnarowski. The Brooklyn Nets, however, are no longer interested.
“They have 2 real assets to put out there to do a significant trade… The Lakers would be willing to do that in a Kyrie Irving trade… Myles Turner & Buddy Hield they’ve not been willing to give up 2 firsts.”@wojespn on LA's 2027/29 first round pickspic.twitter.com/nFt0aZdQZh
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 18, 2022
With Irving off the market, the Lakers have been in “on and off” talks with the Indiana Pacers concerning Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, according to Woj. However, they will not include both of those first-round picks in any trade packages for the Pacers tandem.
The Lakers are targeting the Pacers tandem to keep LeBron James happy
For most of the offseason, the Lakers were interested in reuniting Kyrie Irving with LeBron James. While the great forward would have been thrilled with the prospect of a blockbuster reunion, the Nets are willing to run it back with their guard. This forces the Lakers to explore elsewhere for ways to keep James pleased.
Welcome to the 40/40 Club! 🔥
Six years ago today, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving dropped 41 points each in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to kickstart the Cavaliers 3-1 comeback over the Warriors. pic.twitter.com/zAahtUs9Pp
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) June 13, 2022
The Lakers offered James a contract extension, which he accepted. This is the first step towards making him satisfied. The only way for the Lakers to keep him happy is to add new players to bolster their roster, which will translate into victory.
LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $97.1M extension, including a player option for the 2024-2025 season, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/f6AmRNEOre
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 17, 2022
The team currently appears to be targeting Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. With Turner in the mix, the Lakers will have a versatile big man who can defend the paint and spread the floor with efficiency. The Lakers struggled to convert from the 3-point line last season. Therefore, adding someone like Hield and Turner is only going to propel the Lakers towards the winning way.
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Furthermore, holding on to those two picks will allow them to make further moves if a favorable opportunity emerges.
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How will the Lakers fair next season? Shower your thoughts in the comments section below.